The New Orleans Pelicans could soon be moving on from former first-round pick Jordan Hawkins.
The New Orleans Pelicans are officially being connected to rumors of an expected offseason move, potentially soon parting ways with a former first-round pick.
NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line reported in the early hours of Thursday that the Pelicans have been active in trade talks involving guard Jordan Hawkins, the No. 14 overall selection in the 2023 draft.
Hawkins' career showed promise early, but he hasn't been able to find consistent minutes as of late. Still, the front office had already exercised his option for this season, meaning he is on the books for just over $7 million and he might not play.
The 24-year-old appeared in 51 games last season, on 13.6 minutes a night. For much of the campaign, though, he was completely out of the picture. Between mid-January to late March, Hawkins appeared in eight games and averaged 1.6 points, 0.4 rebounds and 0.1 assists on 2.9 minutes.
This is not a knock on Hawkins. He is a young player with some untapped potential, who has clearly been in a situation that is not a fit for him. Perhaps a fresh start with new expectations would do him well, as he will need renewed confidence to find his shot.
Reasons Why A Team Would Trade For Jordan Hawkins
1. He was able to score 31 points with ease just seven games into his career.
This is just an arbitrary fact to get across the larger point. Hawkins was, at one point, a very talented shooter. As a sophomore in college, he shot 38.8% on 7.6 shots per game, leading the UConn Huskies to a championship. He had a 25 point game last season. Hit six threes in a game the year before. He has the ability within him, but has never been able to find the consistency to go along with it.
2. He is on an expiring deal.
New Orleans doesn't want to pay that $7 million, as he probably won't play for them, but it's not that much in the long run and he is in the final year of his deal. After next year, that money will be completely off the books. That will certainly help the Pelicans in negotiations, as whatever team trades for him won't have to make any commitments.
3. He is a low-risk, high-reward player.
While Hawkins hasn't had the perfect tenure for the Pelicans, he still hasn't been a headache to manage. He is a player looking for a new opportunity and a fresh start to keep his career alive. There aren't any distractions that will come along with him, which is not always the case.
