Zion Williamson parts ways with CAA

Pelicans Before Zion Williamson and its representatives at the Creative Arts Agency, including agent Austin Brownare going their separate ways, sources tell Joe Vardon and Sam Amick of The Athletic.

It’s unclear why the two parties are ending their relationship, according to The Athletic’s duo, but the National Basketball Players Association has confirmed that CAA is no longer on Williamson’s list of representatives.

The players’ union does not yet have a new agent on file for the former No. 1 overall pick, Vardon and Amick added. A player who separates from an agent must wait 15 days before hiring a new representative.

Williamson is in the second season of a five-year, max-salary contract, so in all likelihood he won’t be negotiating a new deal anytime soon.

However, as Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic previously reported, the 24-year-old’s contract is unique. Currently, the final three years of Williamson’s contract, starting in 2025/26, are non-guaranteed. He can re-guarantee part or all of his salary for 25/26 by meeting the following criteria:

• Appearing in at least 41 games this season: 40% guarantee
• Appearing in at least 51 games this season: 20% extra
• Appearing in at least 61 games this season: 20% extra
• Passing all six weigh-in checkpoints this season (combined weight and body fat percentage must be below 295): 20% extra

These criteria are the same for each season. For example, if Williamson plays at least 61 games and passes all his weigh-in checkpoints during the 2025/26 season, he will automatically guarantee his full salary for ’26/27.

The Pelicans forward is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury and is reportedly not close to returning, so those game thresholds will become increasingly difficult to reach as he gets closer. will remain sidelined, meaning some or all of his 25/26 salary will likely remain unguaranteed.

Still, as Vardon and Amick write, the Pelicans won’t realize any cap savings from Williamson’s non-guaranteed salaries unless they waive it, which seems highly unlikely in the near future. If he remains under contract until July 15, 2025, his 25/26 salary will become fully guaranteed.

When healthy and available, the former Duke star is one of the most dynamic players in the NBA: he holds career averages of 24.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 31.8 minutes per game over 190 outings (all starts). The problem is he’s missed 217 regular season games and counting over his five-plus seasons in the league.