Stephen A Smith: Zion Williamson Doesn't Want To Be In New Orleans

[RealGM Wiretap]

In a recent episode of First Take, ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith discussed Zion Williamson's one-game suspension from the New Orleans Pelicans. Williamson was suspended for a violation of team rules, which was later reported to be chronic lateness, including for a team flight.

According to Smith, this stems from the fact that Williamson no longer wishes to play in New Orleans.

"Zion doesn't want to be in New Orleans, he doesn't want to be there," Smith said. "He wants to be in a major market like LA, New York, or whatever, because he wants the marketability."

Smith went on to say that it's unclear if Williamson cares enough to be a professional. He then reiterated that Williamson doesn't want to continue to play for the Pelicans.

"You look at Zion Williamson right now, it's becoming a joke," Smith said. "You know that this brother has got superstar written all over him as a talent, but he doesn't appear to care enough about being a professional and he certainly, I don't believe, wants to be in New Orleans. I think he wants out, I think that's what this is all about and I think he'd rather be someplace else. But why should anybody want him if this is what you're going to get?"

Via Stephen A Smith/ESPN

[niha17]

he doesnt even care enough to play. the dumb pelicans never should have given him a second contract he should be out the nba

[Barcs]

LMFAO @ Zion thinking that he's got the clout or influence to force a trade when the dude NEVER PLAYS and is ALWAYS injured. Yeah, he want marketability because he knows his NBA career is cooked and needs a backup plan. Dude is another Tim Tebow that has a cult following over his draft position and nothing more.

[BigGargamel]

An ESPN clown trying to get Zion to New York? Must be a day that ends in "Y".

[foreigngrammar]

Water is wet

[shrink]

"You look at Zion Williamson right now, it's becoming a joke," Smith said.

He should have followed this up with

“And believe me, I know what it means to become a joke.”

[JKiddy]

But, does BK want him?

[TheCage4]

He'd be hard pressed to find a city with better food than NOLA.

[mihaic]

He'd be hard pressed to find a city with better food than NOLA.

Toronto.

[ontnut]

He'll get there, the fans will rip him multiple new holes, and then he'll sulk and force his way out again. This guy is not mentally built for a big market.

[fuller4379]

Is there even a market for him? 5 years $197,230,450 is a dumb contract considering he is never healthy.

[Wallace_Wallace]

It's crazy how NOLA has two players that always dealt with weight issue, Brandon Ingram for being too skinny and Zion Williamson for being too heavy.

Maybe they should swap the chefs they're using right now

[Hans1984]

He doesn't want to be a professional athlete.

[puja21]

Is there even a market for him? 5 years $197,230,450 is a dumb contract considering he is never healthy.

Isn't this still in play?

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4913537/2023/12/21/zion-williamson-contract-guarantees/

Because Williamson fell short of a games-played clause in his contract during the 2022-23 campaign, the final 3 years of his deal are not guaranteed (25/26 season, 26/27 season and 27/28 season)

--20 percent percent of his salary for the 2025-26 season will become guaranteed again if he passes all six of his weigh-in checkpoints during the 2024-25 season
^this is $7.89M

--Another 40 percent if he plays in at least 41 games in 2024-25.

--An additional 20 percent if he plays in at least 51.

--The final 20 percent gets re-guaranteed if he plays in at least 61 games.

^he's already missed 32 of 40 games

Doubt they would do it but could always cut bait entirely and roll w/ their lotto pick

[We Are Groot]

Is there even a market for him? 5 years $197,230,450 is a dumb contract considering he is never healthy.

Doubt they would do it but could always cut bait entirely and roll w/ their lotto pick

imo a team wld be doing themselves a disservice if they didn't try to recoop some'a that value. we can say wat we want abt his health and/or motiviation - he's still electric when he's on the floor & healthy. like in that 1%. big if, cosmic freakin if @ this pt. but that's bn enough for some team to roll the dice in the past. the key wld be applying those incentives in such a way as to make his contract more tradable/appealing.

i kno he's not their type, nor wld this team be Zion's ... but a healthy (i kno, i kno) Zion paired with Wemby wld be pretty damn devastating.

also - Stephen A becoming to Zion wat Windy was to Bron somehow feels like providence

[Pickled Prunes]

Is there even a market for him? 5 years $197,230,450 is a dumb contract considering he is never healthy.

Isn't this still in play?

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4913537/2023/12/21/zion-williamson-contract-guarantees/

Because Williamson fell short of a games-played clause in his contract during the 2022-23 campaign, the final 3 years of his deal are not guaranteed (25/26 season, 26/27 season and 27/28 season)

--20 percent percent of his salary for the 2025-26 season will become guaranteed again if he passes all six of his weigh-in checkpoints during the 2024-25 season
^this is $7.89M

--Another 40 percent if he plays in at least 41 games in 2024-25.

--An additional 20 percent if he plays in at least 51.

--The final 20 percent gets re-guaranteed if he plays in at least 61 games.

^he's already missed 32 of 40 games

Doubt they would do it but could always cut bait entirely and roll w/ their lotto pick

All true, but a team doesn't give up major assets for a player just because they might not have to pay him. It means a team might take a chance on him, but the return for NOP might not be that great. Maybe a 1st and a couple of 2nds?

[puja21]

Is there even a market for him? 5 years $197,230,450 is a dumb contract considering he is never healthy.

Isn't this still in play?

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4913537/2023/12/21/zion-williamson-contract-guarantees/

Because Williamson fell short of a games-played clause in his contract during the 2022-23 campaign, the final 3 years of his deal are not guaranteed (25/26 season, 26/27 season and 27/28 season)

--20 percent percent of his salary for the 2025-26 season will become guaranteed again if he passes all six of his weigh-in checkpoints during the 2024-25 season
^this is $7.89M

--Another 40 percent if he plays in at least 41 games in 2024-25.

--An additional 20 percent if he plays in at least 51.

--The final 20 percent gets re-guaranteed if he plays in at least 61 games.

^he's already missed 32 of 40 games

Doubt they would do it but could always cut bait entirely and roll w/ their lotto pick

All true, but a team doesn't give up major assets for a player just because they might not have to pay him. It means a team might take a chance on him, but the return for NOP might not be that great. Maybe a 1st and a couple of 2nds?

No I'm saying they *could* release him outright and restart internally w/ their OWN lotto pick (not likely but possible)

[Pickled Prunes]

Is there even a market for him? 5 years $197,230,450 is a dumb contract considering he is never healthy.

Doubt they would do it but could always cut bait entirely and roll w/ their lotto pick

imo a team wld be doing themselves a disservice if they didn't try to recoop some'a that value. we can say wat we want abt his health and/or motiviation - he's still electric when he's on the floor & healthy. like in that 1%. big if, cosmic freakin if @ this pt. but that's bn enough for some team to roll the dice in the past. the key wld be applying those incentives in such a way as to make his contract more tradable/appealing.

i kno he's not their type, nor wld this team be Zion's ... but a healthy (i kno, i kno) Zion paired with Wemby wld be pretty damn devastating.

also - Stephen A becoming to Zion wat Windy was to Bron somehow feels like providence

Windy has sources and reports on what he hears. Stephen A. probably has sources, but he also just makes stuff up. Paid to make waves.

[Pickled Prunes]

Isn't this still in play?

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4913537/2023/12/21/zion-williamson-contract-guarantees/

Because Williamson fell short of a games-played clause in his contract during the 2022-23 campaign, the final 3 years of his deal are not guaranteed (25/26 season, 26/27 season and 27/28 season)

--20 percent percent of his salary for the 2025-26 season will become guaranteed again if he passes all six of his weigh-in checkpoints during the 2024-25 season
^this is $7.89M

--Another 40 percent if he plays in at least 41 games in 2024-25.

--An additional 20 percent if he plays in at least 51.

--The final 20 percent gets re-guaranteed if he plays in at least 61 games.

^he's already missed 32 of 40 games

Doubt they would do it but could always cut bait entirely and roll w/ their lotto pick

All true, but a team doesn't give up major assets for a player just because they might not have to pay him. It means a team might take a chance on him, but the return for NOP might not be that great. Maybe a 1st and a couple of 2nds?

No I'm saying they *could* release him outright and restart internally w/ their OWN lotto pick (not likely but possible)

They could go that route, but I think they would like to get something back. Realistically, I think they could waive and stretch that partial guarantee over three seasons if they don't get a buyer before next season.

There is a high probability that Stephen A. is just blowing smoke, but if I'm NOP, I'm trying to get out of the Zion business either way.

[bqmuzik]

Stephen A been trying to get him out of NO since he was drafted. He's always trying to get stars out of small markets.