---
title: "New Orleans and Memphis complete late-summer NBA trade"
url: https://www.hereaiken.com/2026/09/08/new-orleans-memphis-complete-late-summer-nba-trade/
date: 2026-09-08T19:03:59-04:00
modified: 2026-09-08T20:33:13-04:00
author: "Lennox Caldwell"
categories: ["Sports"]
site: "HERE Aiken"
attribution: "HERE Aiken"
---

# New Orleans and Memphis complete late-summer NBA trade

> New Orleans is sending Jordan Hawkins, Micah Peavy and two second-round picks to Memphis for AJ Johnson and Taj Gibson.

*Source: [HERE Aiken](https://www.hereaiken.com/2026/09/08/new-orleans-memphis-complete-late-summer-nba-trade/) — September 8, 2026 by Lennox Caldwell*

The New Orleans Pelicans are trading guard Jordan Hawkins, guard Micah Peavy, a future second-round pick and a future second-round pick swap to the Memphis Grizzlies for guard AJ Johnson and forward Taj Gibson.

Hawkins is the highest-profile piece in the deal. The 6-foot-5 guard was selected 14th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft out of UConn and holds career averages of 8 points and 2.3 rebounds per game with a 34.8% mark from three-point range through three seasons. His playing time dropped last season, falling from 23.6 minutes per game as a sophomore to 13.6 minutes per game. He has one year and $7 million left on his contract.

Peavy, a 6-foot-7 guard, was the 40th overall pick in the 2025 draft and appeared in 61 games as a rookie last season, averaging 4.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 15 minutes per game.

Johnson, a 6-foot-5 guard, was the 23rd overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2024 NBA Draft and has already played for three teams in his short career, carrying career averages of 4.9 points, 1.6 assists, 1.5 rebounds and 14.2 minutes per game. Gibson, a 41-year-old, 6-foot-9 forward entering his 18th NBA season, appeared in just 10 games for Memphis last season, averaging 3.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 9.7 minutes per game. This will be Gibson’s ninth NBA team.

With the swap, Memphis now holds 10 second-round picks available to trade and 12 first-round picks over the next seven drafts, nine of which are tradable, as the franchise continues an offseason focused on accumulating young players and future draft capital.