Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
2025 Free Agents - Zion Williamson
When healthy, Williamson has played at an All-Star level and has shown the potential to be one of the best offensive players in the game. When he gets a head of steam, he is nearly unstoppable getting to the rim, as his frequency of rim attempts is insane (although not quite as insane in '23-'24). Posting a 63% true shooting, he finishes well enough to be an efficient player, and coupling that with his volume makes him an elite weapon. The issue is that he only played 114 games over the course of his first four seasons. He was mostly healthy in '23-'24, playing 70 games, but unfortunately got hurt in the play-in game against the Lakers and missed the entire first round. Williams has room to grow offensively by developing his passing and outside shooting, and if he does that he very well could become an MVP candidate. Defensively, Williamson struggles as he doesn't have great awareness or instincts to rotate on time or provide consistent rim protection. He has more lateral quickness than someone of his body type should have but isn't always engaged enough to stay in front of offensive players, so he can get beat off the dribble. Since Williamson is extremely unlikely to actually hit free agency in 2025, I won't go into a full free agency analysis like I normally would. It would take something close to a career-ending injury for the Pelicans to actually waive Williamson, in which case there wouldn't be much to analyze since teams wouldn't be looking at signing him.
Summary
Williamson's $39.4 million salary for 2025-2026 is currently non-guaranteed, with the following seasons non-guaranteed also, and if he is waived he will become an unrestricted free agent and the Pelicans will have no form of Bird rights on him. If Williamson becomes a free agent and demands a starting salary above the $14.1 million Nontaxpayer Mid-Level Exception, only teams with cap space will be able to sign him.
Cap Considerations
Kawhi Leonard (3 years, $150 million, 2024) Kyrie Irving (2+1 years, $120 million, 2023) James Harden (1+1 years, $70 million, 2024)