The Memphis Grizzlies are a team that should be closely monitored as we approach the Feb. 5 trade deadline. Memphis has two of the top ten trade deadline targets, according to Bleacher Report's latest NBA trade block big board. Ja Morant comes in at No. 9, while Jaren Jackson Jr. takes the top spot.
If the Portland Trail Blazers go all-in at the deadline and sacrifice former No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson in the process, it only makes sense for them to do so for an actual needle mover. They are in a prime position where they don't need to force the issue at the deadline unless the right fit and opportunity present themselves.
So why not go for the headliner?
Blazers should sacrifice Scoot Henderson to land Jaren Jackson Jr.
Jackson's trade situation is dependent on what first happens with Morant. Should the Grizzlies ultimately part ways with their star guard, many have wondered if JJJ would be the next domino to fall. If that's the case, it makes sense for the Grizzlies to be interested in Henderson as a Morant replacement.
There's some overlap in terms of playstyles as two athletic guards that like to get downhill, meaning Memphis wouldn't have to drastically alter its offensive scheme to cater to an incoming piece. If the Grizzlies were to trade their two stars, it would signal a shift toward their underrated young core with pieces like Cedric Coward, Zach Edey, and Jaylen Wells.
Henderson is just 21 years old, and his best basketball is clearly ahead of him, making this a perfect fit for their potential new timeline. He's also drastically cheaper and more reliable than Morant, both in terms of off-court issues and injury-proneness (despite Henderson's lingering hamstring injury).
Meanwhile, the Blazers would be adding a piece that suddenly fits their new timeline in Jackson. Portland now sits at .500, overcoming adversity with a brutal early-season schedule and multiple injuries. With the level Deni Avdija is playing at, they are now officially just a piece away from making the postseason. JJJ fits that timeline at 26 years old and is a perfect fit for the defensive identity the Blazers have established with their moves this past offseason.
Ultimately, it comes down to who else the Blazers would have to include in a Henderson package to make the salaries match and how much draft capital they'd have to attach. But their relative success this season in Henderson's absence, as well as the anticipated return of Damian Lillard next season, should have the Blazers reevaluating Scoot's future with this team.
The Blazers don't need to trade Scoot, but he also shouldn't be considered untouchable if the right player becomes available at the deadline. Jaren Jackson Jr. is that player.