The source, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was not officially announced, added that the two teams also exchanged future picks in the second round of the draft.
Hawkins, a proficient shooter from beyond the arc and penetrating, was selected 14th overall in the 2023 Draft; That is, two years before the management change that saw Joe Dumars replaced by David Griffin as president of basketball operations.
Hawkins has struggled to find a starting spot in New Orleans’ lineup since joining the league, as he averaged 8 points in 18.2 minutes per game during his first three seasons.
As for Johnson, Milwaukee selected him 23rd overall in the 2024 draft, and he also played for Washington and Dallas during his first two seasons, scoring an average of 9.4 points in 2.14 minutes.
Gibson is a veteran player with 17 years of experience, averaging 3.8 points and 7.5 rebounds during his career. Since Gibson’s latest contract was not fully guaranteed, the Pelicans may release him to free up approximately $3.8 million in space within the NBA’s salary cap.
