The Grizzlies and the Pelicans finally executed a Jordan Hawkins trade that both teams had been linked to since late July. The Grizzlies sent away Taj Gibson and AJ Johnson while receiving Jordan Hawkins, Micah Peavy, a future second-round pick, and a future second-round swap.
While Hawkins is the main name of the trade, the Grizzlies may have just dealt the Pelicans an underrated blow in acquiring Micah Peavy. Micah Peavy was selected 40th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, just 8 spots ahead of Grizzlies' Javon Small. It remains to be seen what Peavy's Memphis future is, but the Grizzlies should absolutely explore keeping him.
Peavy is a flyer worth taking for the Grizzlies
Micah Peavy didn't have the most productive rookie season in New Orleans, averaging 4.3 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 61 games. However, there is still plenty to like and reason to believe he can become a rotation piece.
It's no secret that the Grizzlies are trying to get bigger as a roster, and Micah Peavy fits that perfectly. Listed at 6 foot 7 and 220 pounds, Peavy is another big wing that also has some clear upside, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Peavy will have to make a major improvement as a perimeter shooter, but his isolation defense looks promising, and it wouldn't be surprising to see an uptick in defensive playmaking. The Grizzlies should be a strong defensive team as long as Zach Edey and Isaiah Stewart are healthy, but Peavy could end up being another quality defensive wing that the Grizzlies needed.
The Grizzlies could also weaken a division rival in New Orleans
It's also fair to consider that the path to playing time in New Orleans would have been difficult for Peavy if the team was at full strength. However, if anything, that could end up being to the Grizzlies' benefit, stealing a high-upside defensive option from a division rival.
Even though Jordan Hawkins has the higher salary and is a former lottery pick, an argument can be made that Micah Peavy could end up being the more impactful player. The Grizzlies still have multiple spots to clear in order to get to 15 roster spots, but Peavy could end up being a worthy flyer early in their rebuild.
This has been a very good offseason for the Grizzlies, and there is still plenty more work to do to clear roster space. But if there is a move that could end up being underrated, it could be acquiring Micah Peavy in the Jordan Hawkins trade.
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