The New Orleans Pelicans continue to reassemble the roster for the first season under new head coach Jamahl Mosley, and the latest move sends a pair of former draft picks.
The Pelicans have agreed to trade Hawkins, Micah Peavy and a future second-round pick to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for AJ Johnson and Taj Gibson, according to a report from Shams Charania of ESPN. Gibson, a 41-year-old forward, is expected to be bought out his contract and become a free agent. The deal also includes a future second-round pick swap.
Peavy was a second-round pick out of Georgetown last season and saw significant run as a rookie, appearing in 61 games with averages of 4.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and an assists, while contributing at a high level on the defensive end.
Johnson was the No. 23 overall selection in 2024 and has appeared in 77 career games (11 starts) split between the Bucs, Wizards and Mavericks. He has career averages of 4.9 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists.
The deal brings to an end a disappointing three years in New Orleans for Hawkins after the Pelicans selected him No. 14 overall in 2023 on the heels of a national championship at UConn. Hawkins was billed to be an elite movement shooter and showed flashes, including a stretch in his rookie season where he scored in double figures in 6 of 8 games, including a 34-point outburst in a win over the Mavericks. But Hawkins' efficiency waned drastically, particularly from the perimeter, and he largely fell out of the rotation even as the Pelicans struggled to a record of 47-117 over the past two seasons.
Even with the move, New Orleans opted to bring back largely the same roster for Mosley's debut season, with the lone major addition being forward Bennedict Mathurin, who was signed to a 2-year, $16 million contract last month. The core of the roster will continue to feature Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones, alongside Mathurin, and with the team eyeing guard Jeremiah Fears and center Derik Queen for major development in Year 2 of their careers.
