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Bobby Marks predicts what is 99.9 percent likely to happen to Zion Williamson this offseason over his Pelicans future

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Jonah Kubicek | Last updated Jun 19, 2025 7:10 PM ET

Since 2019, the New Orleans Pelicans have tried to build a winner around Zion Williamson, although the star has struggled to stay healthy enough for the team to compete.

The New Orleans Pelicans, it seemed, had one of the brightest futures in the league just six years ago. In 2019, after trading away Anthony Davis, they were able to draft Zion Williamson and quickly turned Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, and Josh Hart into quality players.

However, in large part due to Williamson’s inability to stay on the court, the Pelicans have made the postseason only twice since 2019, losing in the first round both times.

With very real concerns surrounding Williamson’s health, weight, and off-field drama, it’s hard to imagine the Pelicans being able to right the ship. As a result of his injury history, the Pelicans did not guarantee the final three years of his contract, and new executive Joe Dumars will have to decide if he wants to stay the course or not.

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Bobby Marks makes Zion Williamson prediction

When Williamson is healthy, he is one of the best players in the league. The most physically dominant interior player since Shaq, he has averaged 24.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in his career while being a solid defender.

The Pelicans and their goals are linked to Williamson, which is why they are expected to guarantee the final three seasons of his contract.

“At the end of the day, a lot of this comes down to Zion,” said Bobby Marks of the Pelicans’ chances of success.

“His contract, I would say, is 99.9 percent going to get guaranteed on July 15th.”

His contract includes a rare stipulation that he must meet body fat and weight restrictions, which so far, he has been able to do.

“If Zion is healthy, you’ve got a chance,” said Marks. “If he’s not healthy, and history tells you the likelihood is he’s not going to be healthy. He has played in just 46 percent of games since he was drafted in 2019. He played 30 games this year.”

The Pelicans are 109-105 when Williamson plays, and are a lowly 100-158 when he sits. With Dejounte Murray coming back next season, along with CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, and Trey Murphy III barring a trade, New Orleans should be able to compete for a playoff spot.

Pelicans’ patience is wearing thin

As mentioned, when Williamson plays, he is an All-Star. As Marks pointed out, he has sat out of the majority of his career games, which has limited the Pelicans’ success.

In the only season of his career where he has played at least 70 games, the Pelicans went 49-33, their best season since 2008. However, it’s getting harder and harder to count on Williamson’s reliability.

“It gets to a point where you’re basically like, ‘You’ve got to s— or get off the pot,’ as far as how you’re going to build the roster,” he continued.

“And can you trust him? It feels like we go into every season keeping our fingers crossed that Zion can stay healthy, and then New Orleans can have a chance. And when he doesn’t stay healthy, this team is a lottery team.”

If the Pelicans guarantee his contract, linking them to him through the next three seasons, it will signal to the rest of the league that Dumars believes that his core can compete, although with extensive injury history up and down the roster, the Pelicans will need more than just Zion to quell the injury concerns.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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