The Memphis Grizzlies and Jordan Hawkins have mutually agreed to part ways, leaving Memphis with two more roster spots to clear before opening night.
The Memphis Grizzlies and Jordan Hawkins have mutually agreed to part ways, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Friday night. Charania reported that Hawkins, the 14th pick in the 2023 draft, will become a free agent once he clears waivers.
The move came the same day Memphis wrapped training camp at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Hawkins had been with the Grizzlies for less than a month.
Memphis acquired Hawkins on Sept. 8 from the New Orleans Pelicans along with Micah Peavy, a future second-round pick, and a second-round pick swap. AJ Johnson and Taj Gibson went to New Orleans.
The Grizzlies carried 18 players on standard contracts through camp, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks. Once Hawkins is waived, Memphis will be at 17, with two more spots to clear before the Oct. 21 opener against the Utah Jazz.
Hawkins Reflects on His Time in New Orleans
Hawkins was heading into his fourth NBA season, and shooting was only part of what he took from three years in New Orleans. He spoke at media day Monday in an availability the Grizzlies posted.
"I was talking to my college coach [Dan Hurley] the other day actually," Hawkins said, "and he was just telling me like, 'Going into New Orleans, like a new situation from college, it's tough for anybody just coming into the league.' But honestly, I didn't take full advantage of the opportunity that I had in New Orleans, and that just wasn't to my standard. So, just continue to work hard and stay in the gym and just be in the league going into my fourth year.
"Just taking all what I've learned and know it's just not about the shooting," Hawkins continued. "Well, the shooting's a big part of it. Just playing on both ends of the floor and just being a factor on the court without being able to shoot or score the ball, that's probably like the biggest thing I've learned."
New Orleans drafted Hawkins out of UConn, where he started on the 2023 national championship team. He appeared in 51 games for the Pelicans last season and started one, averaging 5.1 points and 1.7 rebounds in 13.6 minutes. He shot 34.8 percent from 3-point range.
The season before, Hawkins averaged 10.8 points in 56 games. Over 174 career games, all with New Orleans, he has averaged 8.0 points and made 34.8 percent of his 3-point attempts.
Grizzlies Still Have More Roster Decisions Ahead
Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report and The Stein Line had listed Hawkins among the players at risk on the day of the trade. On that Sept. 8 livestream, Fischer said Hawkins had a chance to stick in Memphis and that several teams would be interested if the Grizzlies let him go. He named D'Angelo Russell, Kris Murray, Walter Clayton Jr., and Peavy as the others, and he said Olivier-Maxence Prosper should be safe.
Memphis released Russell on Sept. 25. Two days after his livestream, Fischer reported that Clayton was expected to survive the cuts.
Peavy has missed camp after turning his ankle. Murray came from Portland in the June 29 trade that sent Ja Morant to the Trail Blazers. Oct. 19 is the deadline for Memphis to sign him to a rookie-scale extension.
Hawkins had been eligible for the same kind of extension through Oct. 19.
The Grizzlies hold an open practice Sunday at FedExForum. They open the preseason Monday at the Atlanta Hawks, with tip-off at 6 p.m. CT.
