The Pelicans should find more minutes for Jordan Hawkins moving forward

When the New Orleans Pelicanswere missing the services of sharpshooter Trey Murphy III to startthe season, head coach Willie Green turned to rookie JordanHawkins. The 21-year-old from Connecticut can shoot the lights outand he filled in the shooter role nicely, becoming a release valvefor drive and kicks to stretch out the defense.

In nine games as a starter,Hawkins averaged 15.4 points while playing 35 minutes a game. Asthe Pelicans got healthier, his minutes decreased. For his first 20games, Hawkins averaged 26 minutes a game, stepping up as areliable bench piece even as a rookie.

However, once Murphy returned,Green relegated Hawkins back to the bench, and he hasn't seendaylight since. Over his last 20 games, the shooting guard hasaveraged just 9 minutes per game (including four DNPs). He has beenburied on the bench behind guys like Jose Alvarado, Dyson Daniels,and Naji Marshall — all of who have playedspecific roles for the Pelicans over the past two years.

Despite this up-and-down role,Hawkins has delivered every time he has been given anopportunity.

While shorthanded against theDallas Mavericks, Green started Hawkins again and the rookie had 34points with 6 triples on 11-of-19 shooting from the field. He added5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals, leading the Pelicans as theystole a game on the road without Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamsonand Murphy.

Hawkins has shown signs ofimprovement as the season has progressed. In his first few games, the usual scoutingreport on him was to run him off the three-point line. But on twoseparate occasions in the first quarter against the Mavs, hedisplayed an expanded way of attacking closeouts: dropping it offto his teammates twice (one to Daniels and one to Herb Jones) foran assist.