After signing a new contract with the Memphis Grizzlies this past offseason, Jaren Jackson Jr. has officially become trade-eligible six months later. With the trade deadline approaching, that means the window for the Portland Trail Blazers to land their dream trade target is now Jan. 13 - Feb. 5.
While Jackson previously appeared to be in "pipe dream" territory, it's suddenly become increasingly likely that the Grizzlies would be willing to part ways with their star frontcourt piece. Memphis' season hasn't gone as expected, as they currently sit 10th in the Western Conference with a 17-22 record. As a result, they are now exploring trade offers for their other star, Ja Morant. If Morant does get moved by the deadline, many have wondered if that means Jackson would be the next domino to fall.
Jaren Jackson Jr. is officially trade eligible
Memphis already moved part of its core in a blockbuster Desmond Bane deal with the Orlando Magic this past summer. After hitting on their first-round picks in back-to-back years with the selections of Zach Edey and Cedric Coward (at the expense of the Blazers), they suddenly have a promising young core worth rebuilding around.
While the Blazers should have little to no interest in Morant this trade season, Jackson would be an entirely different story. He's the ideal modern-day big man as someone who can provide a two-way impact with his elite rim protection and floor spacing ability. The idea of pairing him alongside Donovan Clingan, who has suddenly developed a similar skillset of his own, has to be intriguing for the Blazers.
General manager Joe Cronin has established a defensive identity in Portland, but they still appear to be one piece away from becoming a truly elite defensive team. Adding JJJ, the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year, would raise the Blazers' entire rebuilding ceiling.
Portland finds itself ahead of Memphis in the standings, largely thanks to Deni Avdija's star ascension. That makes it much easier to justify making an aggressive move to add a star at the deadline. Of course, the major caveat is whether that star is the right fit.
Jackson fits that requirement as an ideal co-star who doesn't need the ball in his hands to make a significant impact. Avdija's increased point-forward role should have Portland considering how these potential acquisitions fit into their newfound offensive system. They're finally at that point in their rebuild where they can accelerate the timeline and make a splash to return to playoff relevance if the right fit comes along. Jackson is a piece who makes a lot of sense. He's just 26 years old and would be the perfect fit for Avdija and Co., both in terms of timeline and roster needs.
While he's still a dream trade target whose true availability ultimately depends on Morant's trade situation, Jackson's eligibility is an encouraging development for Portland. It's been hard to find a match for the Blazers specific roster situation this trade season, but now they officially have one worth going all-in on.