The New Orleans Pelicans still have one more move to make this offseason, and it involves Jordan Hawkins.
They already wanted to move on from him, but the signing of Bennedict Mathurin has turned that into a necessity. If a trade doesn’t come together, the Pelicans could simply cut Hawkins and stretch his contract over a couple of years. That would get the money off the books, but New Orleans would rather avoid that route if it can swing a deal instead.
Hawkins’ time in New Orleans has gone from promising to shaky in a hurry. He came out fast, then his sophomore season took a real step backward, and this past year was even tougher. The former No. 14 overall pick still has the kind of shooting stroke teams notice, but the results haven’t held up nearly often enough.
There have been flashes. In just his seventh career game, Hawkins drilled seven threes.
But those kinds of nights have been too rare, and his role has never felt stable either. A team that can give him defense, playmaking, and the freedom to simply score might be able to get something out of him.
Three destinations stand out.
Memphis is the most obvious one, at least based on the buzz already out there. Reports have linked the Grizzlies to Hawkins, and there had been talk of a possible swap involving AJ Johnson before the Pelicans’ Bennedict Mathurin addition changed the equation. Memphis also fits on the basketball side if the team is building around Cedric Coward, since Hawkins could provide spacing next to him.
Sacramento is another logical landing spot. The Kings were flat-out desperate for offense last season, and they could still use another shooter off the bench even after adding Darius Acuff Jr.
They finished dead last in three-point attempts at just over 30 per game, and that kind of volume matters. Getting more shots up changes how defenses guard you, and it can open the floor for everyone else.
Domantas Sabonis also had the worst year of his career at the rim last season, and that was no accident.
Dallas rounds out the list. The Mavericks still have Kyrie Irving, but they’ve also leaned into a reshuffle as they build around Cooper Flagg.
They already have defense, rebounding, size and plenty of wing options, but another bench guard who can bring some scoring pop would fit. Dallas was already a poor shooting team last season, and that problem looks even more pronounced now without Klay Thompson.
In Other News...
Bennedict Mathurin Could Force A Tough Pelicans Roster Decision
The Pelicans added another scoring piece to the mix by signing Bennedict Mathurin to a two-year, $16 million contract, and it is the kind of move that can ripple through a roster quickly. After averaging 16.2 points per game last season, Mathurin arrives with a clear chance to matter in New Orleans, especially as the team looks to sort out how its rotation will take shape entering the new season.
What makes the signing even more interesting is the roster math surrounding it. New Orleans already has 16 players, which means another move will have to come before the team can get down to the leagues 15-man limit, and that puts some pressure on the front office to decide where Mathurin fits and who, if anyone, has to be moved aside to make it work. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Are Betting Big On A Rebuild Fans Know Too Well
After a sub-30-win season, the Pelicans have leaned into a reset built around Jamahl Mosley, whose arrival signals a clear push toward culture change and player development. New Orleans is trying to put more structure around a roster that has too often searched for its identity, and the front office has already made a notable move by signing restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin as part of the next phase.
Mosleys track record points to a patient approach, one centered on defense, internal growth and turning young talent into a more reliable nightly group. For a fan base that has seen versions of this rebuild before, the hope is that this one looks different because the Pelicans are treating the process as more than a short-term fix, even if the early payoff still has to be earned on the floor. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Still Have One Real Reason To Believe In 2026
The Pelicans have spent too much of the last two seasons looking up at the standings to pretend otherwise, but there are still reasons the organization can talk itself into a brighter 2026. Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen give New Orleans a younger core to point at, and the arrival of Jamahl Mosley brings a coach with a reputation for helping teams climb out of the mud, just as he did with Orlando.
Money may end up being the quietest reason for optimism. With several large contracts set to come off the books over the next two years, the Pelicans could finally have some salary cap breathing room to reshape the roster instead of constantly working around it. For a team that has needed both talent and flexibility, that combination at least gives New Orleans something real to build around. [Read more 🡒]