The Memphis Grizzlies brought a spark to the 2025-26 NBA trade deadline on Tuesday without moving their most heavily-rumored and much-discussed star, Ja Morant.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Grizzlies agreed to send forward Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz, alongside three other rotation players, in exchange for three future first-round picks and a four-player package centered around guard Walter Clayton Jr. and forward Taylor Hendricks.
It marks a significant moment for the direction of both teams. While the Jazz go all-in on potential contention by next year, adding defensive star Jackson to a young squad, the Grizzlies may be signaling that they’re ready to enter a rebuild. That raises an obvious question: What does it mean for Jackson’s longtime running partner and beloved Grizzlie, point guard Ja Morant?
Here’s a look at the Grizzlies-Jazz trade and how it could impact Morant’s future.
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Jaren Jackson Jr. Grizzlies-Jazz trade details
Grizzlies acquire: Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang, three future first-round picks
Jazz acquire: Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr.
According to Charania, Memphis is set to acquire Clayton and Hendricks, two younger players, alongside Kyle Anderson and Georges Niang, a pair of veteran forwards, in the trade to pair with the draft compensation. Per Jake Fischer, the Jazz's picks on the move will be their most favorable 2027 first-round pick (Cleveland/Minnesota/Utah), the Lakers' 2027 first-round pick, and Phoenix's 2031 first-round pick. Memphis will also be creating a $28.8 million trade exception, which is the largest in NBA history.
Utah is getting Jackson, forwards John Konchar and Jock Landale, and guard Vince Williams Jr.
It's a messy, eight-player deal, but the foundation of it is Jackson being swapped for a significant package of three first-rounders. Memphis, which has gone 19-29 so far in 2025-26 and has continually come up short of deep playoff runs in the Morant-Jackson era, is finally shaking things up by opening up its future, both financially and with more key draft picks after the summer's Desmond Bane deal.
Perhaps more intriguingly, the 15-35 Jazz are cashing in some of their deep assets for a 26-year-old forward/center who has earned two All-Star selections as one of the league's best defenders. Jackson is set to become a foundational piece of Utah's future alongside Lauri Markkanen and Ace Bailey in the frontcourt — and the Jazz appear to have their eyes set on 2026-27 contention with a core of Keyonte George, Markkanen, Bailey, Walker Kessler and Jackson.
Below is a breakdown of the contracts on the move in the trade via ESPN's Bobby Marks:
Here are the contracts going out:
To Utah
Jaren Jackson Jr: $35M, $49M, $50.5M, $52M, $53.5M (P)
John Konchar: $6.2M, $6.2M
Jock Landale: $2.3M
Vince Williams Jr: $2.3M, $2.5M
To Memphis
Kyle Anderson: $9.2M, $9.7M ($0 GTY)
Georges Niang: $8.2M
Taylor Hendricks: $6.2M,…
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 3, 2026
How Ja Morant is impacted by Jaren Jackson Jr. trade
For the past six-and-a-half seasons, the future of the Grizzlies’ franchise has revolved around the Morant-Jackson pairing. In 2018, Jackson was drafted with the fourth overall pick. In 2019, Morant was selected second overall. Since then, they’ve been one of the NBA’s best guard-big man duos — and now, Jackson’s departure from Memphis could signal what’s ahead for Morant.
Heading into the trade deadline, Morant was the Grizzlies’ star and a heavily speculated trade candidate. He’s had chemistry issues within the organization all season, is averaging his fewest points per game (19.5) since 2020-21, and with the Grizzlies falling behind in the standings this season, few signs point to Morant having a long-term future with the franchise as initially expected.
On one hand, the Jackson-to-Utah deal could mean the Grizzlies are open to trading Morant, ready to take the best offer available and build draft capital to rebuild the franchise. Without Jackson, there’s little hope for a playoff push this season; Memphis may be better off moving Morant now rather than later, giving another team 2.5 seasons of the star guard before he hits the open market in 2028.
Trading Morant would allow the Grizzlies to go all-in on a rebuild, cash out on their two best players, and finally admit that the Morant-Jackson pairing never worked out as hoped. Whether there will be many suitors for Morant is another question, however.
On the other hand, the Grizzlies could view the Jackson trade as a stepping stone to rebuilding the franchise around Morant. At his best, he is one of the NBA’s top guards, having proven capable of leading the Grizzlies to the playoffs with two All-Star selections. With Morant under contract for two more years, Memphis could hold onto him, use the new draft capital to land young star talent or make another major trade, and hope Morant remains the answer at point guard.
What’s most likely, however, is that the Grizzlies will end up splitting with Morant, either before the trade deadline or this summer. The Jackson trade should signal that Memphis is prepared to go full rebuilding mode.
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Grizzlies draft picks
Memphis already owned a significant collection of picks before the Jackson trade. Now, it adds three first-rounders with its most recent deal — according to Bobby Marks, the Grizzlies' 13 first-round picks in the next seven years is tied with Brooklyn and Oklahoma City for the most in the NBA.
The Grizzlies are in control of their next seven own first-rounders, adding three picks to their capital. They have significant control over the Magic's picks, thanks to the offseason's Desmond Bane deal, with potential selections in 2026, 2029 and 2030 via Orlando.
Here's a breakdown of the Grizzlies' collection of first-round draft picks, per Marks:
2026: Own 1st-round pick, more favorable 1st between Magic/Suns
2027: Own 1st-round pick, top-4 protected 1st from Lakers, most favorable first between Cavaliers, Timberwolves or Jazz
2028: Own 1st-round pick
2029: Own 1st-round pick, top-2 protected swap with Magic
2030: Own 1st-round pick, unprotected 1st via Magic
2031: Own 1st-round pick, unprotected 1st via Suns
2032: Own 1st-round pick
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