Jaren Jackson Jr. Contract Extension Reportedly Interests Grizzlies After Bane Trade

The Memphis Grizzlies are reportedly focused on keeping Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama around after gaining cap flexibility with the Desmond Bane last week.

NBA insider Marc Stein wrote on Saturday that the Grizzlies are "focused on preserving as much financial flexibility as possible" in order to extend Jackson and retain Aldama.

Jackson is signed for one more season at $23.4 million, but Stein indicated the Grizzlies could renegotiate his deal as part of an extension.

Aldama is currently set to hit restricted free agency following the expiration of his previous four-year, $10.2 million deal.

The Grizzlies traded Bane last Sunday in exchange for a package including Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and four first-round picks.

The team took on more salary than they sent out in the trade, going from a projected $7 million in cap space to just $4.5 million after the deal, per Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

The Grizzlies did gain flexibility by adding two players on shorter-term contracts and moving on from the four seasons remaining on Bane's five-year, $197 million deal.

Stein's statement that the Grizzlies plan to use this flexibility on extending Jackson rather than pursuing outside stars matches a Wednesday report from Cole, who wrote that Memphis was previously interested in Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant at the trade deadline but hadn't pursued him this offseason.

ESPN's Tim Bontemps previously reported that the Grizzlies have "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."

Bontemps added that "the belief is that an extension will get done," and that trading Bane "gives Memphis an avenue to give Jackson even more on that deal and lock him in long term."

CBS Sports' Sam Quinn noted that the Grizzlies need to clear about $14 million in cap space in order to give Jackson the 40 percent raise in first-year salary allowed by the NBA's veteran contract extension rules.

The Grizzlies may also need to prepare for another team making an offer to Aldama. NBA insider Jake Fischer said last week that the Detroit Pistons have been linked to an interest in Aldama through either a free agency offer or a sign-and-trade with the Grizzlies.