Whether it's four or five games, it's only a matter of time before the Memphis Grizzlies lose to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
The Grizzlies are talented enough to be a playoff team in a loaded Western Conference, which is an accomplishment in itself. However, the issue with their roster construction is that the trio of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane is closer to the top 50 players than the superstar tier needed to make a deep playoff run.
It's unclear if they will make any of these three players available this summer. But if Memphis decides to shake up its roster, the Blazers must aggressively target JJJ.
Jaren Jackson Jr. would be a perfect fit for the Blazers
The Alliteration is still entering his prime at 25 years old with two All-Star appearances and a Defensive Player of the Year award on his resume. He's already more accomplished than any player currently on Portland's roster and would fit in seamlessly with their defensive-minded and lengthy roster.
The fact that Jackson is a 37.5 percent shooter from beyond the arc is a bonus for a Blazers team that desperately needs to address that flaw this summer after ranking in the bottom five the past two seasons. His floor spacing ability would also give Chauncey Billups plenty of flexibility with his rotations, giving him the option to play Jackson at center or the four alongside one of their many centers.
Clingan, Jackson, and Robert Williams III anchoring the middle with Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, and Matisse Thybulle's versatility out on the perimeter has the potential to be the best defense in the entire league.
Offensively, it would be more of a question mark. This trade would be betting on Avdija being the primary offensive initiator, with their backcourt of Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe developing into more reliable and consistent secondary playmakers.
Jackson's versatility makes him an ideal modern-day big man. It would also make things easier for Portland's decision-making down the road. They won't have to worry about how each move they make to complete their half-baked roster fits alongside their star's style of play.
JJJ is a two-way player who doesn't need the ball in his hands to be impactful, making him a rare unicorn in a league with ball-dominant superstars. Adding him into the mix would elevate Portland's defensive identity without hindering any progress their young core has made this season.
If the Blazers make an aggresive move to get back to the playoffs, they need to be highly selective. No star checks all their boxes more effortlessly than Jackson.