Jaren Jackson Jr. Traded to Jazz From Grizzlies in Reported 8-Player Deal amid Ja Morant Rumors

The Memphis Grizzlies were previously believed to be exploring trades for star guard Ja Morant, but they wound up shipping away their other star player.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Grizzlies are trading star forward Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz along with guard Vince Williams Jr., forward John Konchar and center Jock Landale. Memphis reportedly received guard Walter Clayton Jr., forwards Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks and Georges Niang and three future first-round picks in the deal.

Charania noted the deal creates a $28.8 million trade exception for the Grizzlies, the largest in NBA history.

NBA insider Jake Fischer added that the Jazz are sending their most favorable 2027 first-round pick (Cleveland/Minnesota/Utah), the Los Angeles Lakers' 2027 first-round pick and the Phoenix Suns' 2031 first-round pick to the Grizzlies.

Last month, Charania reported that Memphis was "entertaining offers" for Morant, and "multiple teams" were pursuing him in trade talks. The report came after there was apparent tension between the two-time All-Star guard and the Grizzlies' coaching staff.

Instead, Jackson is the first member of Memphis' core to be on the way out. The eight-year veteran has appeared in 45 games this season and is averaging 19.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.0 steals.

Jackson is a two-time All-Star and the 2023 NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He led the league in blocks in back-to-back seasons in 2022 and 2023, so he should bring some stability to a Jazz team that ranks last in the league with 127.0 points allowed per game this season.

There's still time between now and Thursday's trade deadline for teams to try to convince the Grizzlies to ship away Morant as well, which would kick off a full-scale rebuild for a team that entered the year with playoff aspirations.