On a day that began like any other in Memphis, the franchise confirmed a move that signals a dramatic shift in direction: Jaren Jackson Jr., the cornerstone of the Memphis Grizzlies‘ present and future, is headed to the Utah Jazz.
Just one year after signing a five-year, $240 million renegotiation-and-extension, Jackson has been traded to the Utah Jazz in a blockbuster deal that reshapes both franchises and firmly places Memphis on a new timeline.
Ja Morant dismisses trade rumors in London as Grizzlies wait to make a move
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Memphis Grizzlies will receive seven total assets in return: guard Walter Clayton, swingman Kyle Anderson, forwards Taylor Hendricks and Georges Niang, plus three future first-round picks.
For a player who had spent his entire career in Memphis after being selected fourth overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, the move is seismic.
Memphis Grizzlies pivot toward full-scale rebuild
Jackson‘s rsum made him an unlikely trade candidate on the surface. A two-time All-Star and the 2023 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, the 26-year-old has remained one of the league’s most versatile two-way bigs.
This season alone, he averaged 19.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists across 45 games, anchoring both ends of the floor. That production is precisely what makes the decision so telling.
Memphis is no longer making marginal adjustments. The return package, headlined by multiple rotation players and three future first-rounders, pushes the Grizzlies‘ total to 13 first-round picks over the next seven years.
It’s the type of asset stockpile associated with franchises preparing for a comprehensive roster reset.
The Jackson trade also intensifies speculation around Ja Morant‘s future, something league insiders say is already in motion.
Speaking on SportsCenter, Charania said conversations surrounding Morant are actively unfolding across the league.
“The Memphis Grizzlies‘ conversations on Ja Morant and entertaining offers is continuing around the league,” Charania said.
“There are multiple teams with interest in Ja Morant. Trade conversations between now and Thursday are continuing to heat up.”
For the first time since drafting Morant second overall in 2019, Memphis is openly listening. The two-time All-Star is under contract through the 2027-28 season and is eligible for a three-year, $178 million extension this summer, which only increases both his value and the stakes.
On the court, Morant‘s production has dipped. He’s averaging 19 points and 7.6 assists in 28.3 minutes per game while shooting a career-low 40.1 percent from the field.
Availability has also been an issue. Injuries and a one-game suspension have limited him to just 18 appearances during the 2025-26 season.
Jackson’s era in Memphis ends after controversy
Off the court, his tenure in Memphis has been defined by controversy. In March 2023, Morant was first seen waving a gun during an Instagram Live at Shotgun Willie’s in Glendale, Colorado, resulting in an eight-game suspension and a brief stay in a private counseling facility.
Ten weeks later, he was again caught in a similar incident, leading to a much harsher 25-game ban.
With Jackson now gone and Morant‘s name firmly embedded in trade conversations, the picture is clearer than ever. Memphis isn’t retooling. It’s rebuilding.
The franchise that once envisioned a long-term core built around Jackson and Morant is turning the page, armed with draft capital and flexibility.
What comes next remains uncertain-but the Memphis Grizzlies have made one thing unmistakably clear: an era in Memphis is over.
