Grizzlies send Jaren Jackson Jr. to Jazz in eight-player trade.
The Memphis Grizzlies are sending star forward Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz as part of an eight-player trade, according to sources cited by ESPN’s Shams Charania.
In return, Memphis will acquire Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang, and three first-round draft selections, sources informed Charania.
The Jazz also obtained John Konchar, Jock Landale, and Vince Williams Jr. in this transaction, which was finalized two days prior to Thursday’s trade deadline.
Jackson, 26, is a two-time All-Star and was recognized as the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year for the 2022-23 season. He has three years left on a five-year, $205 million contract that includes a player option for the 2029-30 season.
The 6-foot-10 Jackson joins a Jazz team in the midst of a rebuild, which features third-year guard Keyonte George, rookie Ace Bailey, and fourth-year center Walker Kessler, who is sidelined for the season due to a shoulder injury.
Jazz star forward Lauri Markkanen, currently the NBA’s eighth-leading scorer this season, has been frequently mentioned as a potential trade target but could form a strong frontcourt partnership with Jackson in Utah.
Jackson is posting averages of 19.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks over 45 games this season for the Grizzlies (19-29), who were just three games behind the Portland Trail Blazers (23-27) for the No. 10 position in the Western Conference as of Tuesday.
This trade also indicates a complete rebuild for the Grizzlies, who now possess 13 future first-round picks—the highest total in the NBA. Additionally, the Grizzlies generated a significant $28.8 million trade exception through this deal—the largest ever recorded in the NBA, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
