Former Husky star and national champion Jordan Hawkins will be sporting some new threads when the NBA season tips off next month. The New Orleans Pelicans guard was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday morning along with Micah Peavy and two second-round picks in exchange for AJ Johnson and Taj Gibson.
In two years at UConn, Hawkins emerged as one of the best shooters in recent program history as a sophomore. He averaged 16.2 points per game and helped lead the Huskies to the 2023 title, shooting a blistering 21-41 from 3-point land during the NCAA Tournament. He had seven games in his UConn career with at least five 3-pointers made, including six in the Elite Eight against Gonzaga.
Hawkins played his first three seasons in the NBA with the Pelicans after being picked with the 14th pick in the 2023 draft, registering up-and-down results. He played 67 games as a rookie, averaging 7.8 PPG. His second year was even better, averaging 10.8 PPG in 23.6 MPG across 56 games. Last year was a step backwards, as Hawkins struggled to stick in the rotation and put up just 5.1 PPG in 51 games.
The deal to Memphis gives the Grizzlies two former UConn players on their roster for this upcoming season, as Hawkins joins 2024 national champ Cam Spencer. Spencer has emerged as one of the top players on the team, putting up 11.1 PPG and 5.6 APG a year ago.
Hawkins is joining a deep guard room that features Spencer, Scotty Pippen Jr., Cedric Coward, Walter Clayton Jr., Ty Jerome and Javon Small. It may not be easy to crack the rotation, but if he can ignite the spark that he had two years ago, it may be tough to keep him out of it. Things didn’t end well in New Orleans, but a fresh start may be exactly what he needs.
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