2023 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Traded to the Utah Jazz
It looks like the Memphis Grizzlies are heading back into rebuild mode, as Shams Charania reported that the Utah Jazz are trading for the 2023 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Jaren Jackson Jr., along with Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr. Memphis will receive Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, and Georges Niang. Although they have 15 wins on the season, the Jazz now have a young core they can rebuild the franchise with in Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, and Keyonte George. A lethal frontcourt consisting of the 2023 NBA Defensive Player of the Year and Markkanen will be tough for other Western Conference foes to compete against. With this trade, basketball fans are waiting to see whether the Grizzlies trade point guard Ja Morant before the NBA Trade Deadline on Thursday. Many teams would be interested in snagging Morant, especially teams like the Lakers who are willing to make a final push for a championship roster. Trading JJJ and Morant would mark the end of an era for Memphis as they look to retool and build a championship contender for the future.
Jackson Jr. has three years remaining left on a five year contarct worth $205 million. The two-time all-star has played in 45 games this season. In 31 minutes a night, the 2023 NBA Defensive Player of the Year is averaging 19 points, six rebounds, two assists, a steal, and two blocks. During his last game as a member of the Grizzlies, Jackson Jr. scored 30 points along with pulling down six rebounds, in a 137-128 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. This was the fourth time this season that the two-time all-star recoded 30 + points. Next to Markkanen, who’s averaging 27 points a game, this Jazz frontcourt should be scary. Utah is in the midst of a six-game losing streak. Adding Jackson Jr. could end the suffering and allow a new era to peak in the middle of the 2025-2026 NBA season. With a dangerous frontcourt and George, who’s grown tremendously over the past three seasons, the Jazz are ready to be a playoff contender once again.
Currently, the Jazz are in 13th place within the Western Conference at 15-35. They are eight games behind the 10th-seeded Portland Trail Blazers for the final Play-In Tournament spot in the West. Over their next stretch of games for the month, they play the Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings, Trail Blazers, and the Grizzlies. These are matchups Utah can take advantage of with the newest addition to the roster. As we head closer to April, the Jazz could very well be a Play-In team if this new core finds success over the next two months. This was a surprising move by the Grizzlies trading away Jackson Jr.; however, Memphis could very well be inclined to trade Morant to a suitable franchise as well. For Utah, it’s clear the rebuild is ending soon. With a new piece getting accumulated to the roster, once the Jazz team gets into a groove, it may be hard to stop this team, desperately looking to make it back into the playoff conversation. Especially with a two-time all-star and former Defensive Player of the Year hungry to see more deep runs in the playoffs.
