The NBA trade deadline is just days away, and teams are beginning to get a sense of urgency. On Tuesday, NBA insider Shams Charania dropped a bomb about a blockbuster trade between the Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz.
Grizzlies, Jazz Catch NBA Off Guard with Massive Trade
The deal involves eight players and three draft picks, with Jaren Jackson Jr. as the prize. Jackson will head to the Jazz, along with some role players, while the Jazz send some young talent and three first-round picks to the Grizzlies.
Until last weekend, the only trade of this season so far had been the Trae Young deal. Then, on Saturday, the Cleveland Cavaliers sent De’Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings, and the Atlanta Hawks sent Vit Krejci to the Portland Trailblazers on Sunday. Today, the Grizzlies and Jazz are involved in the biggest trade yet.
BREAKING: The Memphis Grizzlies are trading star forward Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr. to the Utah Jazz for Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three future first-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ax6oQpZx0S
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2026
According to Charania, the deal looks like this:
- Jazz get:Â Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Jock Landale, Vince Williams Jr.
- Grizzlies get:Â Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang, three future first-round picks
For the Grizzlies, the motivation for making this deal is clear. The team moved on from Desmond Bane last offseason, and Ja Morant has been floated in trade rumors for months. Trading Jackson likely signals the end of an era in Memphis, and it won’t be surprising to see Morant sent out next.
The Grizzlies add a couple of interesting, young players in Clayton and Hendricks, but the picks are the main prize. The Grizzlies now have 13 first-round picks over the next seven years.
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For the Jazz, it seems like the team felt this was their best chance to get a star player. Utah isn’t a top free agent destination, and the team can afford to part with some assets as it looks to escape the cellar of the Western Conference.
Now, the Jazz add Jackson to a lineup that features Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, Ace Bailey, and Brice Sensabaugh, among others.
Jaren Jackson Could Elevate Jazz in Loaded Western Conference
The Jazz are definitely better in the 2025-26 season than they were in 2024-25. Last year, the team finished with just 17 wins, marking the worst record in franchise history.
This year, ahead of the deadline, the team is 15-35. Trading for Jackson obviously won’t make the team a contender this year, but the star forward is under contract through 2028-29, with a player option for 2029-30.
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In Utah, Jackson could play at the four or five. For now, the Jazz have Jusuf Nurkic and Walker Kessler at the five, but Nurkic is expected to be moved, and Kessler could land a massive deal elsewhere in the offseason.
Jackson is averaging 19.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists so far this season. The Michigan State product has never been a great rebounder, but he’s a solid defender and can space the floor with his shooting.
