The Los Angeles Lakers may be gearing up for another blockbuster trade, with reports swirling around their interest in acquiring Defensive Player of the Year winner Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Memphis Grizzlies.
After sending Desmond Bane to Orlando in a massive deal, Memphis appears to be toeing the line between retooling and full-scale rebuilding, and the Lakers, in desperate need of a reliable two-way center, are ready to pounce.
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Jaren Jackson Jr.
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht, Maxi Kleber, 2031 Los Angeles Lakers first-round pick
According to NBA insider Bailey Bassett, a proposed trade would send Jackson Jr. to Los Angeles in exchange for Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht, Maxi Kleber, and a 2031 first-round pick.
With LeBron James and Luka Doncic at the helm, the Lakers have a glaring void at center after trading Anthony Davis to Dallas earlier this year. They were forced to rely on patchwork lineups featuring Jaxson Hayes, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Rui Hachimura during the playoffs, none of whom could provide the interior defense, rim protection, or scoring that Jackson Jr. brings.
Jaren Jackson Jr. is not just a stopgap big man. He averaged 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.5 blocks during the 2024–25 season. He shot 37.5% from three-point range and has emerged as a legitimate scoring threat inside and out. He’s also just two seasons removed from leading the league in blocks and winning Defensive Player of the Year.
Adding him would give the Lakers the modern stretch-big they desperately need and elevate them into serious contention.
From Memphis’s perspective, the deal is tempting but not a slam dunk. After the Bane trade netted four first-round picks, a pick swap, and two rotation-ready players, the bar for moving a franchise cornerstone like Jackson is sky-high.
The Lakers’ offer includes Reaves, who averaged over 20 points this past season, and Knecht, a sharpshooting rookie, along with veteran Maxi Kleber and one late pick. It’s solid, but not overwhelming.
However, the clock is ticking for the Grizzlies. Jackson is under contract through 2026, but without an All-NBA selection, he’s not eligible for a supermax extension. That makes retaining him long-term a financial risk, especially with Ja Morant also locked into a max deal. Trading Jackson now could allow Memphis to maximize value, clear cap space, and reshape the roster with young, controllable assets.
Bill Simmons, who couldn’t help but fire off a tongue-in-cheek prediction after the Desmond Bane blockbuster. The Ringer founder joked, “Now watch Rob Pelinka trade Rui [Hachimura] and a 2032 first for Jaren Jackson,” clearly mocking the Lakers’ reputation for getting away with wildly lopsided deals.
The Lakers, meanwhile, are in win-now mode. LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time minutes leader, can’t be expected to carry interior defensive duties deep into his 40s.
Luka Doncic also thrives when surrounded by versatile shooters and rim protectors, making Jackson a seamless fit. Acquiring JJJ would create a new big three in L.A.—LeBron, Luka, and Jaren, poised to dominate both ends of the court.
Still, other teams with more draft capital and younger assets may outbid the Lakers if Jackson becomes available. But if Rob Pelinka can pull off another heist like the Luka trade, the Lakers could enter the 2025–26 season as overwhelming favorites.
