The Utah Jazz have one roster spot still sitting open as training camp gets going, and it’s the kind of decision that could quietly shape how they handle the season ahead. There are a few paths on the table: they could leave the spot unused for flexibility, bring back Kevin Love, or promote one of their two-way players.
One name that has started to circulate among Jazz fans is Jordan Hawkins, who was just released by the Memphis Grizzlies.
“The Memphis Grizzlies and guard Jordan Hawkins have mutually agreed to part ways, allowing the 2023 lottery pick to find a new home in free agency once he clears waivers, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/2N2osIWF0n
- Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 3, 2026”
At 24, Hawkins still has some appeal as a scorer, but he’s not close to being a finished product. And for a player who went 14th overall in 2023, the expectation would be that he’d be further along by now.
His best stretch may have come in 2024-25, when he averaged 10.8 points, 2.8 boards and 1.2 assists in 23.6 minutes per game.
Across three NBA seasons with the Pelicans, Hawkins has shot 37.4% from the field and 34.8% from three. Memphis traded for him this past summer, but he never appeared in a game for the Grizzlies.
For Utah, the case against him is pretty straightforward: they don’t need him.
The Jazz already have plenty of backcourt and wing options, and those players need minutes to keep developing. Keyonte George, Darryn Peterson and Ace Bailey are all set for significant run this season, while Josh Okogie, Josh Green, Brice Sensabaugh and Svi Mykhailiuk are also in the mix.
Hawkins might provide the occasional scoring burst that Utah has missed since Jordan Clarkson was on the roster, but the tradeoff would come with real frustration. His inconsistency and defensive issues would be a tough fit on a team trying to push toward the playoffs.
If the Jazz were still in a rebuild, he might have made more sense as a buy-low swing. But at this stage, the better move is to keep the focus on the young core already in place. Love remains another possibility if Utah wants to avoid cutting into those minutes, but Hawkins doesn’t look like the answer.
The Jazz should pass and wait for a better opportunity.
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