The Los Angeles Lakers started their season with a strong 15-4 record. However, the squad has slid over its next 20 games, going 9-11. Even worse, since defeating the Phoenix Suns on Dec. 14, the Lakers have played four teams with a .500 or better record and lost all of them. Unsurprisingly, trade speculation has popped up. However, no one caused more of a stir than Rich Paul did.
The agent and close associate of Lakers star LeBron James shocked everyone by proposing that the Lakers trade Austin Reaves for Memphis Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. Now, days after Paul’s comments, Jackson has spoken up about the proposal.
Jaren Jackson Jr. Laughs Off His Lakers Trade Chatter
On Jan. 12 episode of his “Game Over” podcast, Paul made his comments. According to Lakers insider Jovan Buha, that rubbed many in the organization the wrong way. In fact, Reggie Berry of AMR Agency, one of Reaves’ agents, reportedly chatted with Paul for five minutes on the sidelines at Crypto.com Arena during halftime of the Lakers’ Jan. 13 game against the Atlanta Hawks. Jackson, however, had a more lighthearted response.
“There’s just a lot of podcasts,” Jackson was quoted as saying by The Athletic. “At first, I didn’t think it was real. You have to figure out if it’s real, usually now, and I’m not as versed technology-wise as these people younger than me. I was figuring out if it’s AI, deepfake, all that stuff. That’s all I had, I didn’t really have much of a reaction.”
Jaren Jackson on Rich Paul’s trade idea of sending him to the Lakers for Austin Reaves:
“There’s just a lot of podcasts. At first, I didn’t think it was real. You have to figure out if it’s real, usually now, and I’m not as versed technology-wise as these people younger than me.… pic.twitter.com/RFvaCuCzio
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 17, 2026
Jackson is the type of player who could solve many of the Lakers’ problems. The 6-foot-10, 242-pound forward-center is comfortable at both power forward and center and won the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award three seasons ago. In 38 games, he is averaging 18.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 48.2% from the field and 36.8% from beyond the arc.
The Lakers rank 26th in defense and 28th in pick-and-roll opponent field-goal percentage (58.4). So, logically, one cannot deny Jackson a potential fit on the Lakers’ roster. However, Reaves has been a fan favorite in Los Angeles. In fact, according to Sam Amick, “[Jeanie Buss] is the captain of the Austin Reaves Fan Club… And Rob Pelinka is a huge fan as well… All signs point to them paying Austin Reaves that massive amount coming his way this summer.”
The Arkansas native has given the Lakers even more reason to adore him with his breakout performance this season. In 23 games, he has posted career-best averages of 26.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists. This includes a career-high 51-point eruption against the Sacramento Kings, steering the Lakers to victory without James and Luka Dončić.
Reaves is in the second-to-last year of a team-friendly contract worth $13.9 million this season. He is expected to opt out this summer, and both sides are reportedly interested in reaching a new deal.
Hypothetically, if the Lakers decide to acquire Jackson in exchange for Reaves, they would need to include expiring contracts such as Maxi Kleber, Gabe Vincent, and Rui Hachimura to match salaries. Jackson is in the final year of his four-year, $104,720,000 rookie extension, which pays him $35 million this season. However, he will be eligible for a supermax extension next year that could raise his salary to $49 million.
