The Memphis Grizzlies just cut Jordan Hawkins, a former NCAA national champion and 2023 lottery pick, via waivers, just three weeks after bringing him to the team in a four-player trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. This move is a head-scratcher, leaving Hawkins, who was on a $20 million rookie deal, searching for a new home. He could still get claimed off waivers, which means he might not even get to pick his next spot. Talk about a whirlwind!
The Wild Ride: From Trade Target to Free Agent in Weeks
It all went down Tuesday, as ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news that the Grizzlies and Hawkins were parting ways. Memphis acquired Hawkins, Micah Peavy, a future second-round draft pick, and a future second-round pick swap from the Pelicans. In return, the Grizzlies sent AJ Johnson and Taj Gibson to New Orleans. For the Pelicans, that deal was about clearing roster space and freeing up salary flexibility to ink Bennedict Mathurin to a two-year, $16 million deal. For Memphis, it looked like they were adding a promising young talent, a high-volume shooter, to their squad. Then, BAM! Just three weeks later, they decide he is not part of their plan. It makes you wonder what exactly happened behind closed doors during that short window. The Grizzlies are clearly trying to shape their roster, and it seems like they made a swift, decisive call that Hawkins just wasn’t the right fit.
Grizzlies’ Offseason Shake-Up Continues After Morant Era
This isn’t the first major move the Grizzlies have made this offseason as they try to reshape their entire organization. Back in the summer, they made a massive trade that fundamentally changed the team’s outlook. Memphis traded away their franchise star, Ja Morant, to the Portland Trail Blazers. ESPN reported the deal, stating it allowed Memphis to “start anew” and gave Morant “a chance to revive his career” in Portland. The Trail Blazers sent Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to the Grizzlies to complete that blockbuster. That was the start of a “handful of deals” this summer, and clearly, the decision to waive Hawkins is just another aggressive step in a larger plan to completely overhaul the roster. They are definitely building the team they want, even if it means quick turnarounds on recent acquisitions.
What’s next for the Grizzlies after this latest move? The squad is clearly not messing around when it comes to roster construction, and every player needs to prove they belong. It’s going to be fascinating to see who they target next to fill out their rotation.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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