Pelicans will fully guarantee Zion Williamson's salary for 2025-26: Source
If the Pelicans had placed Williamson on waivers before Tuesday, they would've been on the hook for only a portion of his $39.4 million salary for the upcoming season. The final two seasons of his contract would've also been wiped off the books.
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Instead, New Orleans remains committed to its oft-injured star, hoping he can pick up where he left off last season and again show potential as a franchise cornerstone.
Given his extensive injury history, the Pelicans included stipulations to Williamson's current contract to protect the team in case the former No. 1 pick continued to miss significant time due to injuries or ongoing issues with conditioning.
Twenty percent of Williamson's salary for each season becomes guaranteed if he passes all six of his weigh-in checkpoints during the prior season, another 40 percent if he plays in at least 41 games in the previous season, an additional 20 percent if he plays in at least 51 and the final 20 percent if he plays in at least 61 games.
Williamson, 25, appeared in only 30 games last season, so New Orleans could have waived him at any point before July 15. However, that brief stretch may have been the best he's looked in his career. He averaged 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and a career-high 5.3 assists while playing just 28.6 minutes per game.
Much like this summer, Williamson's contract will also become fully guaranteed in 2026-27 if he remains on the roster beyond July 15, 2026. The same applies to the 2027-28 season if he remains on the roster after July 15, 2027. He can re-guarantee portions of his salary for the 2027-28 season as well by hitting those same milestones in the preceding season.
While there have been persistent rumors surrounding Williamson's future in New Orleans over the past few months, Pelicans lead executive Joe Dumars has spoken publicly about the franchise's commitment to keeping Williamson and building the roster around him.
'We're going to continue to go forward with him as the face of the franchise,' Dumars told WDSU News in New Orleans. 'I told him we're going to do this, but there's responsibility and accountability that comes with this. I know what it looks like.'
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Will Dumars' commitment to Williamson continue beyond 2025-26? That will likely be determined by Williamson's performance this season and if he can uplift a young roster that suddenly has pressure as a Western Conference playoff contender. The team sent an unprotected 2026 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in a draft-day deal to acquire former Maryland star Derik Queen with the 13th pick in the 2025 draft.
If Williamson struggles with his availability again this season, his future in New Orleans will become a major point of contention, and Dumars' decision to trade his unprotected 2026 pick away will receive even more scrutiny.
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