The Memphis Grizzlies and guard Jordan Hawkins have agreed to part ways through waivers, allowing the 2023 lottery pick to find a new team in free agency, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The move comes less than a month after Memphis traded for him.
A short stay in Memphis
The Grizzlies acquired Hawkins from the New Orleans Pelicans on September 8 in a four-player trade. Memphis sent Taj Gibson and AJ Johnson to New Orleans, and Hawkins arrived with forward Micah Peavy. The Pelicans made the deal to cut costs and attached a second-round pick and a second-round swap.
On paper, Hawkins looked like a reasonable gamble for a rebuilding club. He was the No. 14 pick in 2023, a UConn product who had shown flashes of offensive potential, and he was entering the final year of his rookie contract at roughly $7 million. Memphis was widely expected to give a scorer like him a look.
Why it didn’t work out
The main problem was a crowded roster. The Grizzlies have to get down to 15 players by the start of the regular season and were facing a crunch. Head coach Tuomas Iisalo has emphasized developing young players such as Jaylen Wells, Scotty Pippen Jr. and Cam Spencer, which left Hawkins in a tough fight for backcourt minutes.
His recent production didn’t help his case either. Over his first two seasons, he averaged 9.2 points on about 20 minutes a game across 123 appearances, but his role shrank in 2025-26 under a new New Orleans front office. He averaged 5.1 points in 13.6 minutes over 51 games. His shooting suffered, at 36.6% from the field and 34.8% from three.
What it means for both sides
The Grizzlies are still carrying a cost. If Hawkins clears waivers, Memphis still has to pay his full $7 million salary this season. The decision also shows where the franchise is headed. The cut reinforces a youth-focused direction built around players like top-three pick Cameron Boozer and center Zach Edey. Memphis isn’t done trimming either. Even after this move, the team still has 16 players on guaranteed standard contracts, plus Jaylen Wells on a partially guaranteed deal.
For Hawkins, who is only 24, the outlook is mixed. Earlier reporting suggested several teams would be interested if he hit the open market, but it’s unclear what kind of offers he’ll get with so few standard roster spots available around the league. He still has a clear skill as a floor-spacing guard, and a team that needs shooting could give him a fresh start after clearing waivers.
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