'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABcAAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACBAAAgEFAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDAAQFBhEhIiQBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIDEQEAAgMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABACERMYEi/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwCYdG1vWhlLnE3WLgujFqV8hmlRG/RcsoSUKV8MZf5bvamR40ido2PWQlSQo9IpSlryat6rLoLlLo4BP//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Ziaire Williams is a second-year forward playing for the Memphis Grizzlies. Williams is under a rookie contract of four years. His contract is worth $19.90 million, and he will make an average of $4.97 million per year. If he decides to sign a rookie contract extension, he could \\ make an extra $8.35 million in the 2025-26 season.
If Ziaire Williams doesn't exercise his club option by October 31 this year, he will become a restricted free agent in 2025. Based on how Williams has been playing so far, his future seems to be a blur with the Grizzlies.
Looking at Ziaire Williams' NBA career so far
Ziaire Williams was drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2021 as the tenth overall pick.
Later that night, Williams was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, where he signed his four-year rookie contract with. He was a solid role player for the squad in his rookie year. Williams averaged 8.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game and started 31 of his 62 games last season.
However, it doesn't seem like Williams has progressed since his rookie season. This year, it appears that he's become worse and hasn't made any significant improvements in his game. He's averaging 6.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game, and shooting percentages have gone lower too.
Last year, Williams shot 45% from the field and 31.4% from beyond the arc. This season, his numbers have dropped. He's shooting a much lower 42.4% overall and a disappointing 26.2% from the 3-point land. As a result, Williams is now playing only 18.1 minutes per game compared to the 21.7 minutes in his rookie year.
Wlliams has only started in one of 21 games this year. It doesn't look like the Memphis Grizzlies are going to start him any time soon if he remains the way he is. However, not all hope is lost for the young Williams. Memphis is a strong team on the second seed in the West. The Grizzlies forward will eventually be forced to keep up with his team's pace.
