The Utah Jazz rebuild may finally be coming to an end.
NBA Trade Grades: Did The Jazz Get Revenge On Grizzlies With Triple J Trade, & What The Trade Means For Utah Going Forward
In a surprising move, Utah acquired Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Memphis Grizzlies as part of an eight-player transaction. The Jazz also received Jock Landale, John Konchar, and Vince Williams Jr. Meanwhile, the Jazz sent the Grizzlies Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, and Georges Niang. The trade also cost the Jazz three first-round picks.
The first-round picks headed to Memphis include two 2027 picks and Phoenix’s 2031 selection. According to Tim McMahon of ESPN, the 2027 picks will be the Los Angeles Lakers and the more favorable of Utah, Cleveland, and Minnesota. The Lakers pick is top-4 protected, while the Suns selection is unprotected. After the trade, the Jazz project to have seven future first-round picks, possibly eight if they can keep their top-8-protected pick, and at least eight second-round selections.
The trade left Utah, owning the sixth-worst record in the league at 15-35, extremely shorthanded as the Jazz head to Indiana tonight with just nine healthy players. But the Jazz made the move as an indication they are finally looking to take the next step. The Jazz, who have just two fewer wins than all of last season, have not made the playoffs since 2021-22.
This trade is the sixth trade between the Jazz and Grizzlies. The last deal between the franchises was in August 2021, where the Grizzlies fleeced the Jazz. In that deal, the Jazz sent Santi Aldama to Memphis for Jared Butler, a 2022 2nd-round draft pick (Jabari Walker), and a 2026 second-round selection.
The JJJ deal is also the second biggest trade between the teams. In 2005, the Jazz and Grizzlies were part of a five-team deal that eninvolved5 players, feincludingddie Jones, Antoine Walker, and Jason Williams.
