Jordan Hawkins and the Pelicans: A Costly Conundrum in the Rotation
Jordan Hawkins’ situation in New Orleans is becoming harder to ignore - and even harder to untangle. Once seen as a promising young shooter with upside, the 23-year-old now finds himself on the outside looking in, stuck in a rotation he can’t seem to crack, while the Pelicans are left holding a contract they might wish they hadn’t picked up.
Let’s start with the numbers. Hawkins is in his third season, but you wouldn’t know it from his floor time.
After averaging 23.6 minutes per game a year ago, he’s now down to just 14.1 per night - and that’s when he plays at all. He’s been a healthy scratch in each of the Pelicans’ last four games, a clear signal that he’s fallen out of favor with the coaching staff.
The production hasn’t helped his case. Hawkins is averaging just 4.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game, while shooting a rough 32.0% from the field, 30.1% from three, and 77.8% from the free throw line.
That’s a steep drop for a player who came into the league with a reputation as a smooth shooter and offensive weapon. Instead, he’s struggled to find rhythm, often settling for long mid-range shots - the least efficient look in modern basketball - and converting them at alarmingly low rates.
The advanced metrics paint an even bleaker picture. According to Cleaning the Glass, Hawkins ranks in the 1st percentile among qualified wings in points per shot attempt, 2nd percentile in effective field goal percentage, and dead last - 0th percentile - in two-point field goal percentage.
His assist-to-usage ratio sits in the 11th percentile, and even his three-point shooting, the supposed bread-and-butter of his game, is in just the 24th percentile. He’s not just struggling - he’s statistically among the least efficient wings in the league.
Defensively, it’s not much better. Hawkins has been a net negative on that end, and the Pelicans are being outscored by 4.7 points per 100 possessions when he’s on the floor. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a team trying to stay competitive in the Western Conference playoff race.
And here’s where the financial side makes things even trickier. The Pelicans picked up Hawkins’ fourth-year option this past offseason, locking him in for just over $7 million next year.
That’s a guaranteed salary for a player who can’t currently find his way into the rotation on a team with only 12 wins. It’s a puzzling move in hindsight - one that limits their flexibility and puts pressure on the front office to find a solution.
So what’s next?
The most realistic path forward might be attaching Hawkins as a filler piece in a larger trade. His contract could help match salaries, and maybe - just maybe - there’s a team out there willing to take a flyer on the former UConn standout, hoping a change of scenery and a new system can unlock the potential he once flashed.
Because make no mistake: Hawkins has shown glimpses. His shot still looks smooth.
There’s a natural scoring instinct buried in there somewhere. But right now, it’s being drowned out by poor decision-making, inefficient shot selection, and a lack of defensive impact.
The Pelicans didn’t do him any favors by picking up that option without a clear role in mind. Now they’re staring at a tough reality: either find a trade partner willing to take on a reclamation project, or pay $7 million next year for a player who isn’t contributing.
It’s a tough spot - for the team, for the player, and for anyone who believed in the upside Hawkins once represented.