The Toronto Raptors tried to acquire Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Memphis Grizzlies, who wound up trading the All-Star to the Utah Jazz.
According to Michael Grange of Sportsnet, the Toronto Raptors tried to acquire Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Memphis Grizzlies, who wound up trading the All-Star to the Utah Jazz.
The Grizzlies traded Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr. to the Jazz for Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three future first-round picks.
"Leading up to the trade deadline in February, the Raptors were working hard to try and make a deal that would land them Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Memphis Grizzlies before he was ultimately traded to the Utah Jazz in a package that included three first-round picks, according to multiple league sources," Grange wrote. "The sticking point was finding someone to take on Jakob Poeltl's four years and $104 million the 30-year-old has owed to him."
Jackson Jr. appeared in 452 games with the Grizzlies. He made two All-Star teams and three All-Defensive teams and won the 2022-23 Defensive Player of the Year Award. The Michigan State product finished his Memphis career averaging 18.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.9 blocks per game.
The Grizzlies only won one postseason series in the Jackson Jr. era. That was in 2022.
Memphis is in deep rebuild mode after trading Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic last offseason. All signs point toward the Grizzlies trading Ja Morant this offseason.
The Grizzlies did the right thing by not taking Poeltl's massive contract in a Jackson Jr. trade. They got a great return for JJJ, as three future first-round picks will help Memphis restart through the draft.
It will be interesting to see where the Grizzlies trade Morant. According to ESPN, Morant has told people that he's done playing for the Grizzlies, who selected the guard with the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Murray State.
A two-time All-Star, Morant still hasn't gotten over the Grizzlies suspending him earlier this season for conduct detrimental to the team.
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