As much talk as there has been about a potential Ja Morant trade, the Memphis Grizzlies' other All-Star could net the team more in a deal. On Friday morning, ESPN's Tim Bontemps reported that teams around the league are wondering if the Grizzlies would move on from Jaren Jackson Jr. if they were to trade Morant.
Bontemps highlighted the five-year, $240 million extension that Jackson signed this summer, which would assure teams that he'd stay around if they traded for him. His deal runs through the 2029-30 season, a $53.5 million player option. Jackson's salary in his new deal could be enough to turn some teams away, but certainly not to the point where he'd have no suitors.
A scout referred to Jackson as a "perfect complementary guy" who "fills a rare archetype." He has his shortcomings, like not being a strong rebounder for someone who is six feet ten, but again, that alone wouldn't deter teams from calling Memphis about him.
Bontemps theorized that a Jackson trade could be similar to deals over the past few years that involved Desmond Bane (2025), Mikal Bridges (2024), and Rudy Gobert (2022). Those are three complementary players.
Now, this doesn't mean that the Grizzlies are trying to trade Jackson, as they aren't open to trading Morant. We're less than three weeks into the start of the season. It's too early for Memphis to decide to tear things down. Still, the chance that JJJ could become available (he can't be traded until January 14 because of his extension) has already piqued the interest of those around the league.
Jaren Jackson Jr. trade speculation is already brewing
Memphis is 3-6 on the season, and if the losses continue to pile up and Morant's unhappiness doesn't change, the star guard could request a trade. That isn't the direction that the Grizzlies want to go in, but they may have no choice.
Teams would absolutely call Memphis about Jackson if the Grizzlies made Morant available. Memphis already received a haul of first-round picks over the summer for Bane, and could add to that by trading Jackson. It'd mean the Grizzlies would enter a full rebuild mode. If you trade Ja, you might as well listen to offers for your other top player.
It's a scenario that Memphis hopes won't come true. Although the deadline is still three months away, the chatter is growing louder by the day. The spotlight is currently on Ja Morant, but if he leaves, it will shift to Jaren Jackson Jr.