New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamsonand Creative Arts Agency are parting ways, multiple league and industry sources tell The Athletic, with the oft-injured star’s contract situation in doubt because of his history of health issues.
Williamson, 24, is a two-time All-Star who has played just six games this season due to a lingering hamstring injury and has missed well over half of the games since the Pelicans drafted him No. 1 in 2019
It is not immediately clear why Williamson and CAA are splitting, but the players’ association confirmed that CAA is no longer listed as his representative. The union does not have new representation for Williamson on record, but a player must wait 15 days after firing an agent before hiring new representation.
Austin Brown, Williamson’s primary representative at CAA, did not return messages seeking comment.
Williamson signed a five-year, $197 million contract extension with the Pelicans in 2022 that was to begin in the 2023-24 season, but the final three years of the contract are not guaranteed because Williamson only played in 29 games in 2022-23 — triggering a clause that gave New Orleans flexibility with him.
According to previous reporting by The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov, the Pelicans have the contractual power to waive Williamson after this season with no financial ramifications. There are also avenues for Williamson to have portions of, or even his entire salary, become guaranteed again. Twenty percent of his salary for next season will become guaranteed if he passes all six of his weigh-in checkpoints this season (his body fat percentage must be less than 295), another 40 percent if he plays in at least 41 games and an additional 20 percent if he plays in at least 51. The final 20 percent gets guaranteed again if Williamson plays in at least 61 games, but he is already in jeopardy of missing that mark. Williamson has missed 11 of a possible 17 games so far.
Williamson can re-guarantee portions of his salary for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons by hitting the same milestones next year and the year after. There are also several vesting dates in the deal that tie the team and the player together.
Williamson’s contract for the 2025-26 salary is 100 percent protected so long as he’s not waived on or before July 15, 2025.
While it is highly unlikely the Pels would cut Williamson loose — if he ever stays healthy, he would instantly become one of the best players in the league. His unique contract status gives the Pelicans rare power and flexibility in a financial relationship with a star player by NBA standards.
Williamson has been dominant when he plays, with career averages of 24.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and a shooting percentage near 60 percent.
Williamson’s career has been marred by injury. He didn’t play in the entire 2021-22 season (which is why his current contract included a clause to make the final three years unguaranteed) and has missed huge swaths of four other seasons. Though he appeared in 70 games for the Pels last season, he was hurt at the end of a close Play-In Tournament game against the Los Angeles Lakers that New Orleans ultimately lost.
