The New Orleans Pelicans need to free up some money and have one player in particular circled as they try to figure out how.
It was revealed a few days ago that the New Orleans Pelicans would be signing guard Bennedict Mathurin to a two-year deal worth $16 million. The team was finally able to pull off an addition they have waited months to make, but now they need to make a corresponding move so that the team has enough space in both the cap and the roster.
There is one contract that has been circled all offseason, and a report just confirmed that the team is looking to move it. Keith Smith of Spotrac just laid out the two options that the team has in opening up the money being taken up by Hawkins. He says the team has been actively looking at trade options, but could also waive-and-stretch him at any time if need be.
The handling of Hawkins is a microcosm of what has gone wrong with the Pelicans over the past couple of years. Accepting the fourth-year team option was an ill-informed decision in the first place, and now they may have to face the consequences in considering it dead money.
It is fair that he was the No. 14 pick just three years ago, so Joe Dumars and co. would naturally want to keep first-rounders on the team through their rookie deals as they develop. His play as a sophomore, though, didn't necessarily warrant $7 million. Sure, he put up 10 points a night and an overall bad team was worse with him on the court.
Of course, his junior season came around, and he fell out of the rotation. He posted 5.1 points a night on 36.6/34.8/85.2 shooting splits.
Hawkins was a once-promising lottery pick, so it wouldn't be too surprising if a team around the league believes they have what it takes to fix him, though. There have been games and moments where he has looked like a potential star, but his shot has never been consistent enough.
In theory, he would be the perfect compliment to a team of defenders as someone with as pure of a stroke as possible. It just doesn't fall with enough consistency.
Waiving him and then stretching the money would be the worst-case scenario, as it impacts future spending, but it would solve both the roster and money issues almost immediately. That seems like the most likely scenario at this current point, as New Orleans has had plenty of time to find a trade parter.
