Jordan Hawkins

Current Sentiment

The New Orleans media and fanbase have completely soured on Jordan Hawkins, with multiple outlets openly campaigning for his trade deadline exit — a brutal reality for any second-year player, let alone a former lottery pick. The negativity stems from his disastrous production this season, posting a replacement-level 5.6 PER while frequently receiving DNPs that signal he's essentially fallen out of Willie Green's rotation entirely. What makes this particularly damaging is the stark contrast between expectations for the 14th overall pick in 2023 and his current status as the franchise's most glaring draft whiff in recent memory. At just 22 years old with an affordable rookie contract, the fact that New Orleans appears eager to cut bait speaks volumes about how thoroughly he's lost organizational confidence. The narrative could potentially shift if Hawkins found consistent playing time elsewhere and showcased the shooting stroke that made him attractive pre-draft, but right now he's viewed as dead weight on a Pelicans roster trying to maximize Anthony Davis's prime years. This level of negative sentiment for a young, cost-controlled asset reflects just how steep his fall has been — from lottery investment to trade deadline afterthought in barely 18 months.