One of the top defensive players in the NBA is on the move.
The Grizzlies have traded forward Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz in an eight-player deal that will see Memphis net three future first-round picks, ESPN's Shams Charania reported Tuesday.
Along with Jackson Jr., the Grizzlies are sending John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr. to Utah, while the Jazz are trading Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks and Georges Niang.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Grizzlies will receive the most favourable 2027 pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz, the Los Angeles Lakers' 2027 first-round pick and the Phoenix Suns' 2031 first-round pick.
Jackson Jr. has established himself as a premier defensive forward, twice leading the league in blocks in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons and earning Defensive Player of the Year honours in the latter year. He has been named to three all-defensive and two all-star teams over his eight-year career.
However, the 26-year-old has taken a step back this season after earning his second all-star nod last year. Over 45 games with the Grizzlies, he's averaging 19.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, one steal and 1.5 blocks in 30.7 minutes a night.
He was drafted by the Grizzlies fourth overall in 2018 and led the team on four playoff runs over his eight seasons in Tennessee. He'll now join a Utah team currently sitting 13th in the Western Conference standings and last in the NBA in defensive rating at 123.4.
On the other end, Clayton Jr. and Taylor Hendricks — along with the first-round picks — are the key pieces heading back to Memphis in the deal.
Clayton Jr., 22, was the 18th overall pick from the 2025 draft after a standout season and a national championship at Florida. The point guard is averaging 6.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 18 minutes a night over 45 games.
Hendricks, meanwhile, was the ninth-overall pick in 2023, but has yet to live up to his billing after some injury-plagued seasons to start his career. The 22-year-old forward is averaging 4.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 14.9 minutes a night over 33 games this year.
Of the four Utah players moving to Memphis in the deal, none averaged more than 7.1 points per game this season. Niang has yet to play because of injury; he was with Atlanta last season, got traded to Boston in July and then sent to Utah in August.
According to Charania, the Grizzlies are also actively shopping star point guard Ja Morant, effectively signalling the start of a new era in Memphis.
-- With files from the Associated Press
