The Utah Jazz show some surprise aggression on the trade market by trading for Jaren Jackson Jr.

The Jazz got Jackson Jr., along with Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr. The Memphis Grizzlies got Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three future first-round picks. The Grizzlies are now tied with the Brooklyn Nets and Oklahoma City Thunder for the most draft picks in the next seven drafts.

Jackson Jr. was drafted with the fourth pick in the 2018 NBA draft. In 2023, he won Defensive Player of the Year and made his first career All-Star appearance. He also made the All-Star game two seasons later with a 22 points per game average. 

A once-promising Grizzlies core has quickly deteriorated as they are currently the No. 11 seed. Ja Morant trade rumors have been a running story for the Grizzlies recently. The Jackson Jr. trade could signal a commitment to rebuilding.

The Jazz get one of the best defenders in basketball for almost nothing. None of the picks they gave up are super valuable. They gave up the Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round pick, a pick swap in 2027 where the Grizzlies will now get the most favorable of the Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers or Minnesota Timberwolves picks and the Phoenix Suns’ 2031 pick. The Jazz will get the second-best pick in that 2027 swap. The Suns will get the least favorable pick in that swap. The projected order would be Grizzlies getting the Jazz pick, Jazz getting the Cavaliers pick, and Suns getting the Timberwolves pick. 

The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. EST. The Grizzlies will be looking for a trade partner for Morant. The Jazz could look to trade Lauri Markkanen to move in a more defensive direction, but there are no rumors of a move as of now.

The Memphis Grizzlies and All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. are expected to agree to a five-year, $240 million maximum renegotiation-and-extension, with a player option in the final year of the deal in 2029-30, sources told ESPN on Monday.

The new contract adds four years to the existing 2025-26 season on Jackson’s deal. The co-head of CAA Basketball, Austin Brown, and CAA agent Max Saidman have been negotiating a new agreement with the Grizzlies for the three-time All-Defensive Team member, securing a massive new deal to keep a cornerstone of the franchise in Memphis for the long term.

Jackson’s extension was the main focus for the Grizzlies this offseason. The 25-year-old, who is one of the best big men in the NBA after becoming the only player to record 1,500 points and 100 blocks last season, is a leader for the Grizzlies. Jackson recorded his fourth straight season with at least 100 made 3-pointers and 100 blocks, the longest streak in NBA history. He is also one of two players to defend guards, forwards and centers for at least 900 half-court matchups last season, along with Cleveland Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley.

Jackson averaged 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals over 74 games last season. The No. 4 pick in the 2018 draft out of Michigan State, Jackson has improved his offensive game each season. In 2024-25, he made the most floaters of any player in the league (155).

The move will be executed during the upcoming transaction window once the Grizzlies clear the necessary salary cap space. The Grizzlies started that process by trading Desmond Bane for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony and draft capital earlier in the summer. The Grizzlies are working with Anthony’s representatives at Excel Sports toward a resolution that creates space for Memphis and allows Anthony to find his next destination, sources said.

Jackson and fellow franchise star Ja Morant are now under contract together through the 2027-28 season. Morant is also eligible for an extension this summer.

The Grizzlies have also agreed to a three-year, $52.5 million deal with Santi Aldama and a two-year, $4.5 million fully guaranteed contract with guard Cam Spencer, according to sources.

The NBA announced Wednesday that Steph Curry will receive the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award. Curry will become the third player to receive the award for his work to promote voting participation in marginalized communities.

For winning the award, Curry will receive $100,000 to donate to the organization of his choice. He has reportedly selected the University of San Francisco Institute for Nonviolence and Social Justice.

“Curry prioritizes uplifting communities by fostering equity and creating access to opportunity,” the league said in a statement. “As a co-chair of former First Lady Michelle Obama’s ‘When We All Vote’ initiative, Curry uses his platform to drive voter registration, education and turnout, most recently during the 2022 election season. His role encouraged millions of new voters to participate in the political process and make their voices heard through civic engagement.”

The award, named after NBA legend and civil rights activist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was created in 2021 to honor players making strides in the pursuit of social justice. Carmelo Anthony was the inaugural winner in 2021 for his decades-long efforts to ensure equal representation for black communities. Veteran player Reggie Bullock won in 2022 for his support of the LGBTQ+ community through philanthropy and work with a number of local organizations.

Over the years, Curry has delivered several emphatic statements promoting increased voter participation in national and local elections, including an impassioned address to the Senate in 2021 to pass the Freedom to Vote Act. The bill aimed to limit voter suppression, gerrymandering and other partisan election practices but stalled on the Senate floor.

“Curry is also committed to raising awareness around issues of community safety, utilizing the Warriors’ 2023 White House visit to engage directly with President Biden and participate in a White House press briefing with head coach Steve Kerr to publicly address the matter.”

Curry was one of five players nominated for the 2023 award, along with Jaren Jackson Jr., Tre Jones, Grant Williams and Chris Paul. While the Warriors star receives $100,000, the other four nominees will receive $25,000 which they can donate to programs of their choice as well.