Zion Williamson’s contract extension with the Pelicans contains a weight clause, per report

Zion Williamson’s new contract extension with New Orleans Pelicans contains a weight requirement, According to Christian Clark. Williamson will have periodic scales for the life of the deal, and if his plus-weight body fat percentage is above 295, he could lose money.

Despite some speculative discussions about Willamson’s future with the Pelicans over the past few months, there was no drama when he became eligible to sign a new deal. Soon, Williamson and the team agreed to a five-year start-up cap extension of at least $193 million. The new deal will begin at the start of the 2023-24 season, and the number could rise to $231 million if Williamson creates an All-NBA team or wins a big prize next season.

“For the swans to come give me this Christmas present, I won’t let them down.” Williamson said After he officially signed the extension on his birthday, July 6, “I won’t let the city down. I won’t let my family down. Most importantly, I won’t let myself down.”

“The ultimate goal is to win a championship. That’s what we all strive for. We are hungry.”

1 pick overall in 2019, Williamson’s career has been plagued by injuries and concerns about his condition. He missed almost his entire season after undergoing knee surgery, was suspended early in his second season with a broken toe and did not play at all last season due to a broken foot that required surgery and did not heal as quickly as expected.

When he was on Earth, he was amazing. In his second season, when he played 61 games, he averaged 27 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 61.1 percent of the field, earning the All-Star title. His combination of size, strength and athletic performance is something we rarely see in the league and makes him a must-see attraction.

All this is why the Pelican, despite its injury history, was eager to extend it as quickly as possible. At the same time, giving $193 million to a player who’s been on the field just 85 times is a risky proposition, and the Pelicans were looking for a little protection for their top sheet and bottom line if Williamson couldn’t stay healthy or in shape.

Adding this clause, which seems easily achievable, given Williamson’s listed playing weight is 284 pounds, seems like a fair compromise. Williamson is still getting his huge extension despite injuries, and the Pelicans have a safety net if things go wrong.