Jaren Jackson Jr. trade grades: Why Grizzlies earn slightly better mark than Jazz
The blockbuster move sending Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah is the kind of swing that reshapes timelines for both franchises, but a close look at the deal gives the Memphis Grizzlies a slightly stronger grade than the Jazz.
For Memphis, the decision is as much about identity as it is about assets. Jackson is a former All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year, yet his fit alongside Ja Morant and Desmond Bane had never fully crystallized into consistent contention. By moving him now, the Grizzlies appear to be choosing clarity: recouping draft capital, creating financial flexibility, and opening frontcourt minutes for a different kind of big who might better complement Morant’s downhill game and Bane’s perimeter scoring.
From a team-building standpoint, that’s savvy. Big men who can protect the rim and stretch the floor are valuable, but they are also among the most volatile archetypes in terms of health, foul trouble, and playoff reliability. Memphis effectively sells high on a premium skill set while avoiding the risk of being locked into an expensive core that had plateaued. That strategic reset, without plunging into a full rebuild, earns the Grizzlies a solid “B+” range grade.
Utah’s side is more complicated. The Jazz get the best single player in the deal, and that matters. Jackson fits their defensive needs and gives them a frontcourt anchor with real offensive upside. For a franchise searching for its next star, adding a 20-something big with proven impact is a justifiable gamble.
However, Utah likely parts with meaningful draft equity and/or young pieces to make it happen. In a Western Conference crowded with established contenders and rising threats, tying so much of the future to a non-elite but very good big man carries risk. If Jackson doesn’t make an All-NBA level leap or struggles with availability, the Jazz could find themselves stuck in the middle.
That blend of upside and uncertainty places Utah’s grade slightly lower, in the “B” range, while Memphis edges ahead for threading the needle between competitiveness and long-term flexibility.
For Memphis, the decision is as much about identity as it is about assets. Jackson is a former All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year, yet his fit alongside Ja Morant and Desmond Bane had never fully crystallized into consistent contention. By moving him now, the Grizzlies appear to be choosing clarity: recouping draft capital, creating financial flexibility, and opening frontcourt minutes for a different kind of big who might better complement Morant’s downhill game and Bane’s perimeter scoring.
From a team-building standpoint, that’s savvy. Big men who can protect the rim and stretch the floor are valuable, but they are also among the most volatile archetypes in terms of health, foul trouble, and playoff reliability. Memphis effectively sells high on a premium skill set while avoiding the risk of being locked into an expensive core that had plateaued. That strategic reset, without plunging into a full rebuild, earns the Grizzlies a solid “B+” range grade.
Utah’s side is more complicated. The Jazz get the best single player in the deal, and that matters. Jackson fits their defensive needs and gives them a frontcourt anchor with real offensive upside. For a franchise searching for its next star, adding a 20-something big with proven impact is a justifiable gamble.
However, Utah likely parts with meaningful draft equity and/or young pieces to make it happen. In a Western Conference crowded with established contenders and rising threats, tying so much of the future to a non-elite but very good big man carries risk. If Jackson doesn’t make an All-NBA level leap or struggles with availability, the Jazz could find themselves stuck in the middle.
That blend of upside and uncertainty places Utah’s grade slightly lower, in the “B” range, while Memphis edges ahead for threading the needle between competitiveness and long-term flexibility.
