The Memphis Grizzlies are back in the trade market, and this time they’ve turned two roster pieces into a young shooter, a rookie forward and future draft capital.
According to ESPN on Sept. 8, Memphis is sending AJ Johnson and Taj Gibson to the New Orleans Pelicans in a four-player deal. In return, the Grizzlies are getting Jordan Hawkins, Micah Peavy and a future second-round draft pick.
Hawkins is the headliner. The 6-foot-5 guard entered the league as the No. 14 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft after helping UConn win a national championship.
In three seasons, he started 20 games and averaged eight points across 174 appearances. He also arrived with a reputation as one of the draft’s better shooters, and his numbers backed that up: 34.8% from 3-point range on 4.4 attempts per game.
Peavy brings a different profile. The 6-7 forward played in 61 games as a rookie last season and finished with 4.3 points per game while shooting 38.5% in 61 appearances.
For Memphis, the move also clears out players who were on different spots on the roster timeline. Johnson came to the Grizzlies in a July trade with the Dallas Mavericks, but he was viewed as a longshot to make the team.
Gibson, meanwhile, joined Memphis in February and appeared in 10 games, posting 3.4 points and 2.7 rebounds. The 41-year-old big man’s time with the Grizzlies was brief, but it still became part of a deal that brought back a future pick.
It’s the latest sign that Memphis is using its financial flexibility to work the market. Hawkins and Peavy would be unexpected additions to the 15-man roster, but the Grizzlies come away with another asset, while New Orleans trims salary.