Windhorst Says 'All Signs Point' to Jaren Jackson Jr. Getting New Grizzlies Contract
It sounds like center Jaren Jackson Jr. remains a part of the Memphis Grizzlies' long-term foundation following the trade of Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported Sunday on the Hoop Collective podcast that "all signs point toward Jaren Jackson Jr. being able to get a contract extension this summer and therefore not being traded."
Colleague Tim MacMahon chimed in to add Bane's exit further clarifies Memphis is building around Jackson and Ja Morant.
ESPN's Tim Bontemps provided a follow-up report Monday.
"Sources told ESPN that the Grizzlies are not looking to deal either of their two remaining franchise cornerstones," Bontemps reported. "The team has spent the past several months clearing salary cap space to complete a renegotiation and extension of Jackson's contract this offseason, preventing him from hitting free agency in 2026. The belief is that an extension will get done, sources said. But the Bane trade gives Memphis an avenue to give Jackson even more on that deal and lock him in long term."
Beyond the draft capital Memphis received from Orlando, swapping Bane for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony cleans up the franchise's payroll a bit.
Bane is signed through 2028-29, and his salary begins to exceed $40 million in 2027. Caldwell-Pope, on the other hand, will be a free agent in 2027 assuming he picks up his $21.6 million player option for 2026-27. Anthony has a $13.1 million club option for that season, so he may also be hitting the open market at the same time as KCP or even a year earlier.
Jackson is in the last year of his contract and re-signing him will mean giving him a sizable pay raise over his current $23.4 million salary. Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman is probably thinking about the cost of an extension for Morant as well even though he's under team control for three more years.
Now that Bane is no longer part of the equation, there will be a lot more salary cap space down the road to tailor the roster around Jackson and Morant. Kleiman may also put some of that newfound flexibility to use in short order if JJJ gets a new deal before opening night.
