Nobody was expecting Danny Ainge to go out and acquire major pieces ahead of the NBA trade deadline. He proved everyone wrong on Tuesday morning, sending away four players and three draft picks to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for 26-year old superstar Jaren Jackson Jr. and three bench pieces.
The details:
Jazz receive: Jaren Jackson Jr., Jock Landale, Vince Williams Jr. and John Konchar
Grizzlies receive: Walter Clayton Jr., Taylor Hendricks, Kyle Anderson, Georges Niang and three first-round picks.
What this means for the future:
Utah’s coveted NBA team has been in a rebuilding phase for three seasons. Ever since the Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert days ended in 2022, the Jazz have been nothing more than an easy win on opponents’ schedules, but the tides seem to be changing.
Ainge has constructed a roster consisting of playoff-contending pieces. Through drafts, trades and signings, the Jazz have suddenly become one of the Western Conference’s top teams ahead of the 2026-27 season. A starting lineup of Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler gives Utah a young core that is here to stay and can be built around.
This move will not turn Utah into a contender this season. In fact, it is in the Jazz’s best interest to continue losing. If the team’s first-round pick lands outside of the top eight in the 2026 NBA draft, the selection will be forfeited to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Therefore, if the Jazz continue to lose, their odds of maintaining another top selection in the draft rise. That pick could add yet another young piece to the core, especially with a loaded 2026 draft class.
A starting lineup of dreams
For the 2026-27 season, a projected starting-five consists of George, Bailey, Jackson Jr., Markkanen and Kessler. These five players aren’t only young, with an average age of 23.8, but they’re extremely tall.
The average height of the Jazz starters stands at a whopping 6’10. This will give coach Will Hardy plenty to work with as his team pursues a playoff berth for the first time under his lead. While the 2026-27 season is still a ways away, this trade has instantly given Jazz fans excitement that they haven’t experienced in years.
Look forward to plenty of exciting seasons, so long as the Jazz’s front office keeps making the right decisions.
