The Grizzlies shock the league, landing a haul of draft picks and key players for their Defensive Player of the Year.
The Memphis Grizzlies detonated the trade market days before the deadline, sending a franchise cornerstone west and signaling a decisive shift in direction.
The Grizzlies agreed to trade star forward Jaren Jackson Jr., along with John Konchar, Jock Landale, and Vince Williams Jr., to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang, and three future first-round draft picks, sources confirmed to GrizzliesRoundtable.
Those picks include Utah’s most favorable 2027 first-rounder — a selection that will come from Cleveland, Minnesota, or Utah — the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2027 first-round pick, and a 2031 first-round pick from the Phoenix Suns, according to a source. The package underscores the premium Utah was willing to pay to secure Jackson ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline.
Trade chatter surrounding Jackson had intensified over the past week as Memphis openly listened to offers on point guard Ja Morant. Around the league, rival teams increasingly viewed Jackson as the more valuable asset, both because of his two-way impact and the belief that his market could produce a cleaner, draft-heavy return.
Jackson, 26, had spent his entire eight-year career in Memphis and emerged as one of the defining players of the franchise’s rise earlier this decade. A two-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year, he is averaging 19.2 points and 5.8 rebounds this season and carries career averages of 18.5 points and 5.6 rebounds.
After Memphis’ recent win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at FedExForum, Jackson addressed the swirling uncertainty surrounding his future and the trade deadline.
Speaking about how he approached the situation amid leaguewide speculation, Jackson emphasized professionalism and routine.
“You have to be a pro about it,” Jackson said on Feb. 2.
He continued by explaining how he’s tried to narrow his focus despite the noise.
“You have to be a pro every day, coming into work doing what you’re asked and being ready to play,” Jackson said. “At the end of the day, being out there on the court is the most fun part of all this, so get your mind right for that and let everything play out.”
Even as trade discussions accelerated, Memphis and Jackson remained in regular contact. That line of communication has been a constant through previous organizational crossroads, including last season’s decision to part ways with coach Taylor Jenkins, and sources indicate it remained intact throughout this process.
When asked about those conversations, Jackson made clear that dialogue with the organization never stopped.
“I talk to them all the time,” Jackson said.
Pressed further, he hinted at the private nature of those exchanges.
“I probably won’t tell you that,” Jackson said. “That’s probably the whole point of us talking when y’all aren’t around.”
For Utah, the move signals an aggressive bet on Jackson as a foundational piece, pairing elite rim protection with a frontcourt scorer capable of anchoring a long-term rebuild. For Memphis, the deal represents a reset — converting a homegrown star into multiple first-round picks and rotation pieces while opening a new chapter as the deadline approaches and broader roster questions remain unresolved.