The Grizzlies’ interest in Jordan Hawkins has been around for a while, but the latest wrinkle makes the idea feel a little off from Memphis’ side.
Memphis is still working through the process of getting its roster down to 15, and there are a few names in that mix. Taj Gibson and D’Angelo Russell look like obvious candidates to be moved on from next, while AJ Johnson is also part of that conversation. Johnson’s future was already expected to be short in Memphis after the Grizzlies brought him in, with the assumption that he would be traded or waived before the season.
Now, Michael Scotto has added another layer by expanding on the earlier Hawkins buzz and noting that Johnson is involved in those talks.
On paper, a Jordan Hawkins swing does not look like a priority for Memphis anyway. The bigger issue is what the move would do for New Orleans. If the Pelicans shed Hawkins’ $7.02 million salary, they would stay below the luxury tax and still have room to use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception in their push for restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin.
That’s where the deal starts to look strange for the Grizzlies. Why help a Southwest Division rival create more flexibility unless the return is clearly worth it?
Mathurin is not a finished product, and his shooting can be inconsistent, but he is still only 24 and brings real scoring upside. Even with his limitations in other areas, he could give New Orleans another needed offensive weapon.
From Memphis’ perspective, there is at least a case for turning Johnson into something rather than simply waiving him. A Johnson-for-Hawkins swap would also help a Pelicans team that has not had a strong offseason. Still, Hawkins has not done enough yet to make it feel like a major loss if the Grizzlies pass.
The Grizzlies do have flexibility here. They can use their full $28.9 million trade exception from the Jaren Jackson Jr. deal, and they can keep looking for future assets while trimming the roster. But at first glance, an AJ Johnson-for-Jordan Hawkins move looks more favorable for New Orleans than for Memphis.
And that matters because the Grizzlies have otherwise put together one of the better offseasons in the league. With free agency and a strong 2026 NBA Draft class on paper, they have a chance to accelerate their rebuild. For now, though, Memphis would probably be better off exploring other AJ Johnson options instead of jumping straight to Hawkins.
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