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The Memphis Grizzlies traded one of their cornerstone pieces in a blockbuster move ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
Jaren Jackson Jr., whom the Grizzlies took fourth overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, headlined a trade package to the Utah Jazz that also included John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr., ESPN reported.
The Jazz are returning Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three future first-round picks.
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Memphis Grizzlies power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (8) shoots a three-point shot in the second quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at FedExForum on Jan. 28, 2026. (Matthew Smith/Image Images)
Utah is making a major change with this move, adding Jackson to a team that includes Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George and Walker Kessler, among others.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies are showing their desire to rebuild, as they have first-round picks and also have a good, young core to build around.
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The Grizzlies have a whopping 13 first-round picks over the next seven seasons, tied with the Brooklyn Nets and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Memphis also made NBA history, creating the largest trade exception in history worth $28.8 million with this deal. It’s the kind of upgrade the 19-29 Grizzlies need.
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (8) runs with the ball during an NBA basketball game between the Orlando Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
The Jazz have fared worse this season, going a brutal 15-35 after losing their sixth straight game on Sunday night.
Jackson was a top player in the NBA Draft out of Michigan State in 2018, and the Grizzlies added the 6-foot-10 forward/center to make him versatile for their team long-term.
He has done exactly that, earning two All-Star nods and averaging 18.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.9 blocks per game in 452 career games in Memphis.
Jackson is one of the best defenders in the NBA, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award during the 2022-23 NBA season and finishing on the All-Defense second team last season.
Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts in the first half against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center on January 26, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Jackson is today’s modern big man, and he has the ability to shoot both from the perimeter and around the rim. He has averaged 35.9% from three-point territory and 47.5% from the field this season, while averaging 19.2 points per night.
