Jordan Hawkins’ future with Pelicans could spark mixed reactions among fans

The countdown to the NBA trade deadline is here, and NBA insider Jake Fischer's most recent report dropped a ton of intel surrounding the Pelicans front office's plans ahead of the February 5th deadline. Many fans are already well aware that the Pelicans are likely to hold on to core players like Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, and Herb Jones. Two names that appeared in Fischer's report as players the Pelicans were open to parting with were Jordan Hawkins and Yves Missi.

Although I do think parting ways with Missi would be a costly mistake by Joe Dumars and the front office, trading Hawkins wouldn’t be a mistake—it would actually be the best move for both him and the Pelicans.

Hawkins needs a fresh start

I wanna start by saying my reasoning for the Pelicans parting ways with Hawkins being a positive has nothing to do with him as a player or the stats he's put up in his three-year career in New Orleans. Instead, it's about giving him another chance.

Lottery picks often struggle to find a groove early in their careers, spending most of their rookie contracts on the bench, which can make it hard to land a second NBA contract. However, by parting ways with Hawkins, the Pelicans can do their part in making sure the young shooter gets another chance in the league before it's too late.

There's always been potential with J-Hawk, as when the Pelicans drafted him 14th overall back in 2023, he was expected to be an elite floor spacer for years to come. Early on, it looked like that idea was going to work out with Hawkins getting an extended opportunity at the start of his rookie season because of the injuries New Orleans was dealing with. Hawkins averaged 13.5 points per game on 37.1 percent shooting from three-point land through the first 19 games of his career.

But when the team got healthy, his spot in the rotation fell way off, and since then, it's been a downward trajectory, as he's dealt with back injuries. Last season, Hawk shot below 34 percent from three, and this season he's shooting just 30.3 percent from beyond the arc, which has been disappointing for a player whose main value is his shooting.

Hawkins was a 37.6 percent three-point shooter in college, and at 23 years old, that skill hasn't vanished, which is why I think Hawkins could thrive with a change of scenery. This report suggests he may finally get that chance. If he ends up on a playoff contender in need of floor spacing, like the Lakers, Magic, Raptors, or Pistons, don’t be surprised if he gets his career back on track.

Jordan Hawkins has been nothing but professional during his time in New Orleans, and because of that, he deserves another real opportunity to prove himself. While fans may be upset to see a former lottery pick go elsewhere, it may be his only hope to stick around in the NBA. Trading Hawkins may not change the Pelicans’ future, but it could change his in a big way.