As the NBA class of 2024 begins taking part in private workouts ahead of the draft, the class of 2023 is already going into a contract year. Only the first two seasons of a player's first NBA contract are guaranteed. Now, Jordan Hawkins will have his third-year option picked up, there is no doubt. However, the New Orleans Pelicans need to see a huge developmental leap from the 22-year-old this summer.
The conveyor belt of global hoops talent always has a replacement ready. It's a nature of the business 2022 selection Dyson Daniels is learning now. Hawkins was likewise humbled in a hit-and-miss rookie year.
The NCAA champion out of UConn played in 67 games and started 10. However, he was out of the rotation over the last few weeks and looked out of rhythm whenever called upon in spot minutes. That's to be expected. but the NBA is a stay-ready make-or-miss league.
Pelicans wanted a back-up point guard
Hawkins was brought in as a backup ballhandler capable of being the opposite-wing sniper who allows Trey Murphy III and Zion Williamson to play in plenty of space. Instead, he was stuck to the bench during the most important month of the season. There were encouraging signs though. Overall the two-year college contributor averaged 7.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, one assist, and 0.3 steals while hitting 36.6% from three-point range and 83.8% from the free-throw line in his debut season with the Pelicans.
The problems could come down to usage. The Pelicans puts Hawkins in no-win situations far too often. Willie Green going with Hawkins as the lead guard down the stretch against the Chicago Bulls resulted in a bad, predictable home loss. Hawkins logged only 15 minutes versus the Bulls after having topped 20 minutes nine times over the past 20 games. He played more than 10 minutes just five times over the final 16 games.
That inconsistent role kept Hawkins out of rhythm. It was unfortunate given that he'd spent the first three months of the season breaking rookie shooting records. It's also easy to see how it would lead to a lack of confidence from both coach and player. That Coby White strip steal felt huge in the moment while watching from the press box. It still feels like the bow that wrapped up an underwhelming end to a positive start to a professional career.
The evidence suggests Hawkins must play off the ball to be most effective. He was the second-best floor-spacer among rookies but still should be the lead PG during Summer League action though. Working on initiating offense effectively while dealing with pesky defenders is the only pathway to a big second payday for the Gaithersburg, MD native. Clips of Hawkins doing dribbling cone work are bound to trickle out on an IG story soon.
Willie Green always goes Defense-First
Hawkins has to bulk up and get better at sliding around screens to earn more trust from Willie Green, who tends to always go with the more defensively stout rotational option. Hawkins was not that, finishing 29th in Defensive Win Shares and 20th in Defensive Rating among rookies. He wound up 70th in Defensive Win Shares among first- and second-year players. Hawkins will be one of the oldest players in Las Vegas for the Summer League sessions. He has to square and snatch away more than 0.3 steals per game.
Hawkins did address the defensive shortcomings during the team's exit interviews.
”It's very important, I think I learned this year just how important the defensive end is, so that's probably going to be top of the list for sure,” Hawkins admitted. “I had a great chance to see (CJ McCollum), (Larry Nance Jr.), and (Jonas Valanciunas) and how they carry themselves. Even (Trey Murphy III). He carries himself like a vet too with the way he gets his work done. So I was watching those guys, I'm very observant, what their routines were.”
The problem is that working on defense routines in a gym alone is tough. The open-run summer sessions tend to be light on defensive emphasis. Offensive highlights for social media and cardio work take precedence for the most part.
Hawkins has to let everyone know with the first step on the court, they'll have to earn that cardio with an NCAA champion in their chest. Call it the Not on Herb effect. Hawkins couldn't find a better example of that approach than Herb Jones, who was just named to the NBA First-Team All-Defense squad and was honored by the state of Louisiana.
Jordan Hawkins already prepping for NBA Summer League
The UConn connections are worth playing college in the frigid cold temperatures. Hawkins has already been spotted working out with Paige Bueckers. Some Pelicans have been offering up words of encouragement as well. Trey Murphy III was no stranger to rookie-year struggles and is now negotiating a contract extension that could be worth over $200 million, via team reporter Jim Eichenhofer.
“I’m super excited for him,” Murphy shared. “This is the part of the process that is so important. In my rookie year I didn’t play as much at first – started to play more at the end. But I used that motivation of not playing to really fuel that summer (of preparation). So I’m just really excited to see what he does when he comes back.”
Hawkins is heeding that advice.
”This is a very important summer for me,” Hawkins said. ” I know I need to take that step, make that leap that I know I'm capable of doing so it's very important…Working on my body, becoming a better shooter, a better shooter off the dribble, finding different ways to create my shot.”
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