The Memphis Grizzlies have found themselves right in the middle of the NBA trade rumor mill, and this time, the chatter is circling around none other than Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. According to a report from ESPN's Shams Charania, Memphis has shown a willingness to at least explore the possibility of moving Morant-a move that would send shockwaves through the league. If that scenario were to play out, some reports suggest the Grizzlies could pivot to building around Jackson Jr., their versatile big man and former Defensive Player of the Year.
That idea alone has sparked plenty of debate among fans. Jackson is a gifted two-way player, no doubt, but shifting the franchise's foundation from Morant to Jackson would be a seismic change in philosophy. Morant is the engine that’s driven Memphis' rise in recent years, but Jackson brings a unique blend of rim protection, floor spacing, and untapped offensive upside that could make him the centerpiece of a new era in Grind City.
Adding fuel to the speculative fire, Klutch Sports agent Rich Paul recently appeared on the “Game Over” podcast with Max Kellerman and tossed out a bold trade idea: sending Lakers guard Austin Reaves to Memphis in exchange for Jackson Jr. It was the kind of hypothetical that gets NBA Twitter buzzing, and now Jackson himself has weighed in.
“There’s just a lot of podcasts,” Jackson said, via Joe Vardon of The Athletic. “At first, I didn’t think it was real.
You have to figure out if it’s real, usually now, and I’m not as versed technology-wise as these people younger than me. I was figuring out if it’s AI, deepfake, all that stuff.
That’s all I had, I didn’t really have much of a reaction.”
It’s a candid response from Jackson, who’s clearly not losing sleep over trade talk-especially when it’s coming from outside the organization. But Rich Paul’s comments weren’t exactly subtle. He’s known for advocating hard for his clients, and floating a one-for-one swap like Reaves for Jackson Jr. certainly raised eyebrows across the league.
From a basketball standpoint, the hypothetical trade is intriguing but complicated. Jackson would undoubtedly give the Lakers a much-needed defensive anchor.
L.A. has struggled to contain opposing offenses this season, and Jackson’s shot-blocking and switchability could be a game-changer on that end of the floor. But for Memphis, the question becomes: what does Austin Reaves bring to a team that’s already in transition?
Reaves has proven himself as a capable playmaker and shot-creator, and he’s earned a reputation for stepping up in big moments. But at 27, he’s not exactly a young prospect anymore.
If the Grizzlies are truly looking to reset around a younger core, it’s fair to wonder if Reaves fits that timeline. Trading away Jackson for an older guard, even one as skilled as Reaves, would be a curious move for a franchise that’s long prioritized player development and long-term growth.
For now, it’s all just talk. The Grizzlies haven’t made any public indication that they’re actively shopping Morant or Jackson.
But with the trade deadline looming and Memphis sitting in a season of flux, don’t be surprised if more rumors start to swirl. The team is expected to return to the court Thursday night against the Orlando Magic, and all eyes will be on how they respond-not just on the scoreboard, but in the way they carry themselves amid all the noise.
Whether this is just another round of midseason speculation or the start of something bigger, one thing’s clear: the Grizzlies are a team to watch as the trade market heats up.