Pelicans Have No Intention Of Waiving Zion Williamson

[RealGM Wiretap]

The New Orleans Pelicans are 4-18 and mired in a nine-game losing streak. That's gone hand in hand with Zion Williamson being out since November 6. This continues a trend of Williamson missing more than half of all available games since he entered the NBA.

Despite the chronic injuries, combined with Williamson's unique contract structure, the Pelicans have no intention of waiving Williamson this offseason. New Orleans could get out of Williamson's contract with somewhere between $0 and $7.9 million owed, depending on the forward meeting weight clauses in the contract.

The Pelicans continue to send signs that their priority is to find a way to get, and keep, Williamson healthy. The team is also continuing to search for ways to optimize the roster around Williamson.

Via Shams Charania/ESPN

[hyberx]

And some people here have compared this guy to Shaq's dominance. Zion is always one ankle twist and a burger away from becoming Robert "Tractor" Traylor.

[the_process]

This guy is less healthy than Embiid.

Pelicans ought to shop him around and offer Ingram slightly less than a full max.

Someone will pay at least half price (good young player, 2 1sts) for Zion and I don't see anyone offering Ingram a full max.

[Lockdown504090]

And some people here have compared this guy to Shaq's dominance. Zion is always one ankle twist and a burger away from becoming Robert "Tractor" Traylor.

Traylor still has more career rebounds and 4 seasons playing over 65 games. put some respect on bro name. Ironically, both players are listed at 284 pounds.

[dubbmotta]

New Orleans is cursed..trade Zion for whatever you can get, trade BI he's not going to move the needle for nor is he worth a fat contract. And move the team to Vancouver...Pelicans have one of the worst attendance in basketball.

[Pickled Prunes]

This guy is less healthy than Embiid.

Pelicans ought to shop him around and offer Ingram slightly less than a full max.

Someone will pay at least half price (good young player, 2 1sts) for Zion and I don't see anyone offering Ingram a full max.

Agreed. An opposing team will likely offer Ingram a non-bird max (4 years/5% raises) if he's on the market this summer. I feel like Ingram would take that from NOP and is worth that, particularly if they actually built around him. Their current plan of putting the organization on hold while they wait for Zion isn't working so well.

[Skipwhethers]

If only this guy cared about basketball whatsoever...

I feel like the fact that someone even needs to say they aren't waiving Zion is sad, and where there's smoke, there's fire. It might make sense to get him back playing for a month or two and sell high on him with a trade at the deadline.