The Los Angeles Lakers are in dire need of a strong frontcourt presence after shipping Anthony Davis to Dallas in the blockbuster Luka Dončić trade. While most teams would’ve made that same move, the Lakers can’t keep relying on Dorian Finney-Smith and Rui Hachimura to hold things down at center.
Following the shocking trade that sent Desmond Bane out of Memphis, many around the league have speculated whether the Grizzlies are entering a rebuild and might be open to dealing key players like Ja Morant or Jaren Jackson Jr.
When asked if Jaren Jackson Jr. could potentially be a trade target for the Lakers to pair with Dončić, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst shot down the idea.
“No chance. No chance. Absolutely not worth a discussion. Look, I think Jaren Jackson is now in position to sign a contract extension of over $200 million. I would feel very strongly that’s going to happen. On the Ja Morant front, that’s a different discussion. I’d be kind of surprised if the Grizzlies were willing to give him a $200 million extension at this point.”
This signals that Memphis views Jackson as a core piece for the future. Despite moving on from Bane—likely because they didn’t believe he maximized their ceiling—the team appears committed to building around Jackson, even though his potential extension could limit their financial flexibility.
Jackson just wrapped up arguably the best season of his career, posting 22.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game with improved efficiency compared to 2023–24. Though he’s not swatting shots at the same rate as during his Defensive Player of the Year campaign and still struggles with foul trouble, the Grizzlies are clearly sold on him as a foundational player.
