It's not a new development that the Grizzlies have had some interest in trading for Jordan Hawkins. However, a recent update on where that interest stands makes a deal a bit more confusing from the Grizzlies' perspective.
The Grizzlies are still in the process of trying to trim down their roster to 15. While other names such as Taj Gibson and D'Angelo Russell seem like clear choices to move on from next, AJ Johnson is in the same conversation. But the conversation is now shifting in a way that's a bit strange for the Grizzlies.
It was already expected after the Grizzlies acquired AJ Johnson that he would be traded or waived before the season. Now, Michael Scotto expanded on the previous Grizzlies' interest in Jordan Hawkins and mentioned that AJ Johnson is involved in those talks.
Pelicans would gain more flexibility to pursue Bennedict Mathurin
Taking a swing on a Jordan Hawkins bounce-back campaign already isn't on the top of the list of priorities for the Grizzlies. But there is another bigger drawback if the Grizzlies were to do the trade. The Pelicans would gain additional flexibility in their pursuit of restricted free-agent Bennedict Mathurin.
"Shedding Hawkins’ $7.02 million salary from their books would keep New Orleans below the luxury tax while using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception to make a run at Mathurin."
Now, this just doesn't seem like a logical idea for the Grizzlies to potentially strengthen a Southwest division rival when they don't have to. Bennedict Mathurin may not be the most consistent shooter, but he is still 24 years old and possesses plenty of scoring upside. Mathurin may lack in other areas but could still be another boost to a Pelicans team in need of another scoring option.
In theory, it makes sense for the Grizzlies to get something for Johnson instead of waiving him; a Johnson for Hawkins swap could bail out a Pelicans team that hasn't had a great offseason. Plus, Jordan Hawkins, despite being a former lottery pick, has not yet proven that it would be a big missed opportunity if the Grizzlies fail to land him.
The Grizzlies have access to their full $28.9 million TPE from the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade and could simultaneously still look to gain more future assets as they cut down their roster. However, on a surface level, an AJ Johnson for Jordan Hawkins swap seems like a deal that is much more favorable for the Pelicans than the Grizzlies.
When looking at the rest of the league, the Grizzlies have had one of the better offseasons in the NBA. Thanks to free agency and a strong 2026 NBA Draft class on paper, the Grizzlies could significantly speed up their rebuild. But for now, the Grizzlies should likely try to pursue other AJ Johnson deals instead of a direct swap for Jordan Hawkins.
Add us as a preferred source on Google