Memphis Grizzlies and Jordan Hawkins mutually agree to part ways

The Memphis Grizzlies and guard Jordan Hawkins have mutually agreed to part ways, the team announced on Oct. 2, leaving the former first-round draft pick searching for a new NBA home less than three weeks before the start of the regular season.

The Roster Crunch That Forced Memphis to Let Go of Jordan Hawkins

As training camps opened across the league, the Grizzlies faced a severe roster crunch. Team leadership needed to pare down a crowded player ledger to meet the regular-season limit of 15 standard contracts. Carrying too many guaranteed deals left front office executives with little flexibility, making Hawkins’ $7 million salary for the 2026-27 season an immediate target for roster relief.

A Short-Lived Stint in Tennessee Following a September Trade

Hawkins arrived in Memphis only weeks earlier at the start of September in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans that also involved veteran Taj Gibson and guard AJ Johnson. Rather than remaining in a logjamed backcourt where his playing time and future looked uncertain, Hawkins and the franchise opted to terminate the agreement.

Three Contrasting Seasons in New Orleans Before the Move

Drafted 14th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, Hawkins departs at age 24 after three uneven years with the Pelicans. During his rookie campaign in 2023-24, he appeared in 67 games—averaging 17 minutes and 19 seconds per night—while putting up 7.8 points per game and shooting 36.6 percent from beyond the arc. His numbers shifted during the 2024-25 season across 56 games, where he logged 23 minutes and 35 seconds of floor time per contest and bumped his scoring average to 10.8 points while converting 33.1 percent of his three-point attempts. By the 2025-26 season, his role shrank to 51 appearances with 13 minutes and 34 seconds per game, resulting in 5.1 points and a 34.8 percent clip from deep.

Uncertain Free Agent Market Awaits the 24-Year-Old Guard

Known primarily for an explosive outside stroke and the ability to heat up quickly in a bench role, Hawkins hits the open market at an awkward juncture on the basketball calendar. With training camps already underway and rival rosters largely locked in for the upcoming campaign, finding a guaranteed contract before opening night presents a steep challenge.