Memphis Grizzlies Waive Jordan Hawkins Three Weeks After Trade

The Memphis Grizzlies waived guard Jordan Hawkins on Saturday, October 3, ending his tenure with the team just 25 days after acquiring him via trade. The move comes as the franchise continues a significant roster overhaul and navigates a difficult numbers game ahead of the regular season opener.

The decision to part ways was reportedly a mutual agreement between the Grizzlies and Hawkins, according to reporting from TSN, intended to allow the 22-year-old guard to seek a new opportunity in free agency. Hawkins was acquired by Memphis on September 8 in a deal that sent AJ Johnson and veteran Taj Gibson to the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Memphis Roster Crunch

The release of Hawkins is the latest step in a “roster crunch” for a Memphis front office tasked with trimming the squad to the league-mandated 15-player limit for standard contracts. Even after waiving Hawkins and recently releasing veteran D’Angelo Russell, the Grizzlies roster currently stands at 17 standard contracts. This necessitates at least two more cuts before the start of the regular season.

Memphis must finalize a 15-player standard contract roster before the season begins.

The move signals a shift in backcourt priorities under new head coach Tuomas Iisalo. The Grizzlies appear focused on developing younger prospects, including recent draft picks Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer, as the team transitions into a deep rebuilding phase.

Financial Impact and Performance

Despite the waiver, the Grizzlies remain responsible for Hawkins’ financial compensation. He is owed a fully guaranteed salary of $7,021,895 for the 2026-27 season, which was the fourth year of his rookie-scale contract. While this adds to the team’s “dead money” on the books, the Grizzlies must still reduce their roster from 17 to 15 standard contracts to meet league requirements.

Hawkins entered the league with high expectations as the 14th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft out of UConn. However, he struggled to find a consistent rhythm during his sophomore season in New Orleans. During the 2025-26 campaign, Hawkins averaged career lows of 5.1 points and 1.7 rebounds across 51 games.

By entering free agency now, Hawkins will have the opportunity to join a team before the conclusion of the preseason, while the Grizzlies continue to evaluate the remaining players on their “bubble” to finalize the 15-man roster.

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