The Memphis Grizzlies are approaching a franchise-defining crossroads, and while the spotlight remains fixed on Ja Morant, the ripple effects are beginning to touch the rest of the roster, most notably Jaren Jackson Jr..
League sources indicate Memphis' internal plan is clear: Jackson remains the organizational cornerstone whether Morant is traded or not. But once the Grizzlies signaled a willingness to listen to Morant offers for the first time in his career, rival front offices took notice. According to Jake Fischer, opposing teams are preparing to test Memphis' resolve on keeping Jackson, with "numerous executives whispering about him all season."
That alone changes the league's calculus. When a franchise even slightly opens the door on a star, everything else becomes negotiable in the eyes of competitors.
Why Jackson's Value Is Sky-High
On paper, Jackson is exactly the player a team builds around during a retool rather than a teardown. At 26, the former Defensive Player of the Year is producing 18.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from three. He remains one of the NBA's most disruptive interior defenders, holding opponents to just 42.1 percent shooting as the primary defender. The offensive growth is real. The defensive impact has never wavered. That combination is rare and expensive.
Jackson is under contract through the 2029-30 season, with his five-year, $240 million extension not yet kicking in. There is no immediate cap pressure forcing Memphis' hand. If anything, the deal strengthens their leverage. They can keep Jackson as the foundation of a reshaped roster or, if they ever pivot fully, command one of the largest returns on the market.
Rival Teams Are Watching Closely
Despite Memphis' insistence that Jackson is untouchable, league skepticism persists. Fischer noted that teams such as the Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks are monitoring the situation closely as both search for a long-term frontcourt anchor. Jackson's ability to protect the rim, stretch the floor, and fit a younger timeline makes him an ideal target, especially as those same teams have been linked to Anthony Davis, whose recent left-hand injury has added uncertainty to the big-man market.
The timing matters. Memphis sits at 16-22 and outside the West's true contender tier with the Feb. 5 trade deadline looming. If the front office commits to a post-Morant identity, rival teams will push aggressively to see whether Jackson is genuinely off limits-or simply the most valuable asset in a broader reset.
For now, the Grizzlies are holding the line. But in an NBA where leverage shifts quickly and perception becomes reality, Morant's uncertain future ensures that Jackson's name will not fade from trade conversations anytime soon. Whether Memphis continues to resist that pressure may ultimately define what the next era of Grizzlies basketball looks like.
Newsweek