The Memphis Grizzlies and Jordan Hawkins have mutually agreed to part ways via waivers, bringing an unexpectedly quick end to the former lottery pick's time with the franchise.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the decision will allow Hawkins to find a new home in free agency once he clears waivers.
Memphis only acquired the 24-year-old from the New Orleans Pelicans on September 8 as part of a four-player trade.
The Grizzlies received Hawkins, Micah Peavy, a future second-round pick and a future second-round pick swap, while AJ Johnson and Taj Gibson went to New Orleans.
Hawkins was selected with the No. 14 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft after helping UConn win the national championship.
Across three seasons with New Orleans, the 6-foot-5 guard averaged 8.0 points and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 34.8 percent from three-point range.
His role declined last season, when he averaged 5.1 points across 51 appearances for the Pelicans.
Hawkins' departure also forms part of a wider roster squeeze in Memphis. The Grizzlies now have 17 players on standard contracts and must make at least two further moves to reach the regular-season limit of 15.
Memphis also waived veteran guard D'Angelo Russell on September 25.
Hawkins will now wait to clear waivers before potentially choosing his next NBA opportunity.
This is a strange ending to a Memphis spell that barely had time to begin.
When the Grizzlies acquired Jordan Hawkins in September, there was at least the possibility that a change of scenery could give the former lottery pick another opportunity to establish himself.
Instead, he's leaving before playing a regular-season game for them.
The bigger context here is Memphis' roster situation. The Grizzlies entered camp with too many standard contracts and Hawkins found himself caught in that squeeze.
But it's still striking that a 24-year-old former No. 14 pick, acquired only weeks ago, was the player Memphis decided it could move on from so quickly.
For Hawkins, this could ultimately work in his favour.
He needs minutes more than he needs another crowded backcourt. His three-point shooting hasn't developed as consistently as expected since he entered the league, but he's still young enough for another team to believe there is something worth developing.
LEAN EDGE VERDICT
Jordan Hawkins arrived in Memphis looking for a fresh start and leaves less than a month later still searching for one.
The Grizzlies' roster crunch clearly played a part, but this remains an unusually quick exit for a player they only just acquired in a trade.
Now the interesting part begins.
A 24-year-old former lottery pick is about to become available just before the season starts. Hawkins' next destination may tell us considerably more about how the rest of the NBA currently values him.
