Jaren Jackson Jr. Traded EMERGENCY POD

Summary

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The Athletic NBA Daily – Jaren Jackson Jr. Traded EMERGENCY POD

Date: February 3, 2026
Hosts: Dave DuFour, Andrew Schlecht, Keith Parish (Grits and Grinds / Memphis Grizzlies podcast), S. Baraheni

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Overview:

The emergency pod dives into the seismic Jaren Jackson Jr. trade between the Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz. The hosts analyze the motivations, implications, and future outlook for both franchises in the wake of a major roster shakeup at the NBA trade deadline. They also briefly detour into breaking trade news involving the Bulls, Pistons, and Timberwolves.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. Trade Breakdown & Initial Reactions

[01:06–03:06]

• Trade Details:

  • Utah Jazz receive: Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Jock Landale, Vince Williams Jr.
  • Memphis Grizzlies get: Three future first-round picks (most favorable 2027 pick from Cleveland/Minnesota/Utah, Lakers’ 2027 first, unprotected Phoenix Suns’ 2031 first), Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang.

• Immediate Emotion and Uncertainty

  • Keith Parish, as a Memphis fan, expresses sadness and mild shock:
    “We tore down a good team to get picks. You’re never gonna get the high five return from me.” [01:38]

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2. Implications for the Utah Jazz

[03:06–06:20]

• Jazz get the “best player” in the deal and can now build around Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen
• Concern over future team construction:
  • Is Markkanen staying or could the Jazz double down and deal him too?
  • The fit of a big front line with Markkanen, Triple J, and potentially Walker Kessler—“not the sturdiest front line as far as protecting the rim ... actually grabbing defensive rebounds ... But we still have to wonder what are the next steps for the Jazz and what's their vision?” (Keith Parish, [04:18])
• Tanking to secure draft assets:
  • Possible resting/"creative load management" for Markkanen and Triple J to protect a valuable pick.
  • Both the Grizzlies and Jazz seem prepared to ‘race’ to the bottom:
    • “This doesn't feel like ... the finishing touches on our roster ... [It’s] a talent grab here and we'll see what happens.” (Andrew Schlecht, [05:20])

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3. Memphis Goes All In On The Rebuild

[07:02–11:10]

• Grizzlies’ Intentional Tank: Already announced before the trade, now fully committed. “The tank is in ... You get four first round picks for Bane and now three more for Jaren Jackson.” (Dave DuFour, [08:16])
• Questioning the philosophy:
  • “You traded good players for seven first round picks. ... Isn't it to try to win basketball games?” (Keith Parish, [08:46])
  • The concern that collecting picks is not synonymous with building a winner.
• Rationale behind the teardown:
  • “This might be the most competitive thing that the Grizzlies can do at this point, because I don't think they were going anywhere with this current roster.” (Andrew Schlecht, [09:14])
  • It's hard to climb from “the middle” to contention; easier to rebuild from the bottom or build atop a superstar.

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4. The Superstar Dilemma: Ja Morant and Team Trajectory

[11:10–13:00]

• Only as good as your stars:
  • “You are only as good as your superstars are. And so because Ja Morant didn't keep ascending ... the build didn't make as much sense anymore.” (S. Baraheni, [11:10])
• Lost potential:
  • “We never really got to see Zach Edie and Ja Morant.” (Dave DuFour, [12:00])

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5. Counterargument: Skepticism of Full Rebuilds and Pick Stockpiling

[14:29–17:43]

• Rarity of successful “from scratch” rebuilds:
  • “It's hard for me to get thrilled ... there’s very few [teams] that came from a total tear down ... The Thunder success was largely Paul George trade return.” (Keith Parish, [14:48])
  • Oklahoma City’s tank succeeded only due to SGA's leap and a couple of great picks.
• Grizzlies’ recent approach criticized:

  • Pushed off using cap space, didn't use mid-level exception, prioritized future flexibility over strengthening the present, and ultimately “short-circuited” their best years with Ja/Jaren/Desmond Bane.

  • Key quote: “They didn't even build up the team as good as it could have been because they were worried about paying people in 2027 ... and now we're starting over.” (Keith Parish, [17:05])

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6. Reality Check: The Odds Against Tanking and Trying to Outwait the Competition

[18:09–20:54]

• Waiting out dominant teams not viable:
  • “Who are they trying to out? ... are they trying to wait out Victor Wembanyama? ... What's the point?” (Keith Parish, [19:12])
• Draft luck, not just picks, matters:
  • “Who was the last number one pick to win for the team that drafted him? ... Tim Duncan is the last guy ... except for LeBron, but he left and came back.” (Dave DuFour, [18:47])
• Winning isn’t linear: stars arrive unpredictably (Jokic, Giannis, SGA in a trade).

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7. Are These Picks Really That Valuable for Memphis?

[21:11–22:55]

• The “every rebuild gets an A+” phenomenon:
  • “Every review of this trade is going to be complimentary for the Grizzlies ... trading good players for picks, you always win the trade when you're trying to lose ... There's no accountability because the goal is not to win.” (Keith Parish, [21:23])
• Was this core ever going to be a title contender, anyway?
  • “I do not think this team could have won a title with Ja Morant as a best player, period.” (Keith Parish, [22:55])
  • Parish prefers perennial playoff relevance (“I'll take that over wandering in the wilderness, praising draft prospects ... are we paying Zach Edie and Cedric Coward max contracts then?” [23:45])

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8. Value Received For Jaren Jackson Jr. — Did the Grizzlies Get Enough?

[25:00–25:58]

• Was there really no better deal?
  • “I'm just surprised they didn't get more for Jaren Jackson Jr. ... did Memphis do themselves a disservice by not just shopping him?” (S. Baraheni/Dave DuFour [25:00–25:12])
  • “Once the Ja news comes out, their phone's blowing up for Jaren.” (Keith Parish, [25:32])
  • Possible that Jaren’s camp also influenced the trade location.

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9. Live Reaction: Another Trade Breaks

[26:41–29:02]

• New three-team trade: Bulls, Pistons, and Timberwolves send Jaden Ivey, Mike Conley, Kevin Huerter, and Dario Saric between teams with picks and swaps involved.
• Immediate reactions to value and purpose—Minnesota appears to be clearing salary for a bigger move (“precursor deal” [27:25]), possibly for a Giannis pursuit down the road.

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10. Final Thoughts:

[29:59–31:33]

• Grizzlies nostalgia:
  • “The Grizz getting Kyle Anderson back, one of my favorite Grizzlies players, bring back Mike Conley obviously ... Just come home man.” (Keith Parish, [30:17])
• Jazz’s next move and big-picture team-building:
  • Jazz seem to want to keep Walker Kessler and envision a big Kessler-Triple J-Lauri frontcourt:
    • “I really like that ... With that much size behind Keonte [George] ... you can do some interesting things defensively ..." (S. Baraheni, [31:03])

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Notable Quotes

• Keith Parish (Grizzlies Fan):
  • “You traded good players for seven first round picks. ... Isn't it to try to win basketball games?” [08:46]
  • “It's hard for me to get thrilled ... there’s very few [teams] that came from a total tear down ... The Thunder success was largely Paul George trade return.” [14:48]
  • “I do not think this team could have won a title with Ja Morant as a best player, period.” [22:55]
  • “I'll take [playoff relevance] over wandering in the wilderness, praising draft prospects ...” [23:54]
• Dave DuFour:
  • “Who was the last number one pick to win for the team that drafted him?... Tim Duncan ... except LeBron, but he left and came back.” [18:47]
  • “Draft picks certainly set you up, but like you need to have good players, period. And they don’t have [them].” [18:48]
• Andrew Schlecht:
  • “This might be the most competitive thing the Grizzlies can do ... at best stuck in the middle, which is the worst place to be.” [09:14]
• S. Baraheni:
  • “You are only as good as your superstars are ... Ja Morant didn’t keep ascending, ... it was a downward spiral…” [11:10]
  • “If there is one team that can take advantage of having a million first round picks, I think OKC and Memphis are the two teams.” [20:54]

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Important Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |:----------:|:------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:06 | Show opens, emotions on the Jaren Jackson trade | | 02:04 | Full details of the JJJ trade, picks explained | | 05:20 | Jazz strategy and frontcourt fit; talent grab analysis | | 08:16 | Grizzlies’ intentional tank and asset stockpiling | | 10:07 | "If you’re stuck in the middle ..." NBA organizational philosophy | | 14:48 | Rarity of “from scratch” rebuilds | | 17:05 | Grizzlies’ cap/roster missteps prior to the trade | | 18:47 | Success rate for #1 picks, luck vs. planning discussion | | 21:23 | Rebuilds always “win the trade” on paper; accountability | | 22:55 | "This team could not win a title with Ja Morant as best player" | | 25:00 | Did Memphis get enough for JJJ? | | 26:41 | Breaking news: Bulls/Pistons/T-Wolves multi-team trade | | 31:03 | Jazz’s envisioned frontcourt and defensive potential |

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Closing Thoughts

With the Jackson Jr. deal, Memphis has pressed the full reset, betting on their strong draft record and asset flexibility. Utah, meanwhile, grabs a young star in his prime, but future roster vision and competitive timeline are still murky. Both teams now find themselves in the tank race, and the pod closes with a bit of gallows humor around the unpredictable, cyclical nature of NBA rebuilding.

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For more deep-dive discussion, follow Keith Parish on the Grits and Grinds podcast, and stay tuned to The Athletic NBA Daily for trade deadline week updates.

Transcript

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[D]

Welcome back to the NBA Daily. Did you miss us? The Jaren Jackson Trade Emergency Podcast edition. I'm Dave DeFore here with Andrew Schlecht and our good friend, host of the Grits and Grinds podcast, the Memphis Grizzlies podcast, Mr. Keith Parish. Keith, sad day for you around your parts.

[B]

I feel sad. Yes. I am not the. I'm still we're all processing the trade. Yeah, the high five. We tore down a good team to get picks. You're never going to get the high five return for me.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

So I'm saying, what exactly is the plan? Jaren's extension hasn't even kicked in yet that it seemed like they've been jumping through hoops to sign him to. But I guess we can get more into that in a second. No, I'm in a state of mild, mild shock.

[D]

Yeah, but I. I like that you came in hot. Let's talk about the trade. Okay, so Jaren Jackson Jr. Going to the Utah Jazz along with John Conchar, Jacques Lawndale and Vince Williams Jr. Memphis is going to get three future first round picks. Walter Clayton Jr. Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks and George's Niang. The reunion of Kyle Anderson and Memphis Grizzlies really the big story here. S Barry Henney just joined us. S. What were those picks that that Utah is sending out? Yeah.

[E]

So Utah is sending out the most favorable of their 2027 pick between Cleveland, Minnesota and Utah, which, spoiler alert, will be the Utah Jazz pro. Most likely there and then the Lakers 2027 first round pick and the Phoenix Suns 2031 first round pick. And based on what the reports are, it seems like that's unprotected. So an unprotected 2031 Suns pick as well. Those are the three.

[D]

Before we go back to the grizzly side of this and blowing up a good team, Keith, let's talk about the the Utah Jazz. They got the best player in the deal, Jaren Jackson, Jr. Lowry Market, Keonte George seems like their young core of the future. That's pretty good. What a turnaround for Danny Ainge.

[E]

Yeah, I really like that. And, and on top of that, I, I'm curious to see what they end up doing to finish out this year. Like if they tank, obviously they probably should because as Great Bake just said, the Utah Jazz have a top eight predicted pick that might go to OKC if it's outside of the top eight. So I'm curious to see how much tanking and perhaps creative resting is what we should call it when it comes to load managing some of these guys towards the end of the year. Lowry, Markkanen, load managing a knee or an ankle a lot over the next 30 games, whatever you want to call it, I think that's going to happen because I think Utah will try to tank as much as possible to get one more guy to add to this core. Now you might say Ace Bailey is that guy or someone else, but it would be a huge win if they could add one of the top picks here for the Jazz. So.

[B]

Yeah, well, one of the dangers of recording during trade deadline week, does this mean, could they, could they double dip the Jazz? Are we sure Larry Markkanen is part of the future? I mean so they have, they have the Walker Kessler free agency decision. But like what if the Pistons have been offering a monumental offer for Larry Marketing and they're saying, all right, we got, we got Jaren, let's trade Larry, we'll get, we'll restock the cupboard again. So we. Yeah, I don't know. But if it is a future where it's Lowry and Jaren, that's an interesting front line. It doesn't, if you size up Larry for the three. I don't know. It doesn't feel like your normal perfect starting 4 5, especially with Ace Bailey and Deontay George. It's, that's a very, it's not really the sturdiest front line as far as protecting the rim. I know Jaron's a shot blocker, but like actually grabbing Defensive rebounds and things. It's interesting. It's. But we still have to wonder what are the next steps for. For the Jazz and What's. What's their vision?

[C]

Yeah, this doesn't feel like a hey, here's the finishing touches on our roster kind of thing. This seems like, hey, we can get Jaren Jackson for basically no premium players on our roster. And three firsts. Yes, the Jazz. The Jazz, listen, I know they've had some success stories through the draft, but not enough, yeah, this rebuild. For it to justify continuing to tank. And so they had to find a way to pull themselves out of this and bringing Jaren and I think helps with that. But yeah, it's not. It's not perfect. We have seen market and play the three before, so you can play these like giant lineups and that's. That's. That's becoming a thing in the NBA again, is playing big. Maybe the Jazz are wanting to do that and be a little bit unconventional as they do so. But yeah, to me it feels like a, hey, let's just do a talent grab here and we'll see what happens. I am really curious to see if they'll rest Triple J the rest of the season though.

[D]

I mean, there are eight games out of the play in, so I don't think that's realistic. So they definitely are going to have a resting plan.

[C]

Yeah, I mean, they're going to. I mean, they'll have to because they really just don't want to give this pick to the Thunder.

[E]

I was going to say it would management if they did that.

[D]

If the Wizards are able to pull Trey Young for the season. And I can't believe I'm sitting here trying to justify this for an NBA team to not play their players. But if, if the Wizards are able to pull this off, I can't imagine, you know, we can't get a low remarketing ski injury. Although I know the snow has been bad in Utah this year. But, you know, like they could come up with something.

[C]

This tank race is going to.

[D]

Right.

[B]

The tank race is going to get intense. I mean, look at the. The Grizzlies.

[C]

Yep.

[B]

Yeah, the Grizzlies are five games. How do we say it? Behind. Ahead of the Jazz in the reverse. In the reverse standings, the Jazz are five games ahead and the Grizzlies have already announced their Tank intentions. And this. Yeah, I'm saying before this move, they'd announced their tank intentions and now this move. Like we're gonna see, baby. You. You wanna. You went Taylor Hendricks Minutes. Have people been clamoring for Taylor Hendricks minutes?

[D]

I mean, listen, I've been wanting to see those. He got drafted, so.

[E]

Yeah, this is, this is why it's kind of weird though because both of these teams have a similar objective this year, I think even without the Jaren Jackson Jr. Trade. Keith, I'm curious if what your thoughts are, but like, it felt like the Grizzlies were angling towards a tank, right?

[B]

Yeah. Oh, they'd been veering.

[E]

I don't think so. The veer was in.

[B]

But here's Here, here's. I don't think these are just matching salaries. I think they looked at the end of their bench and they're like Vince Williams Jr. And John Conchar play too hard. Like, like if we, if we give those guys 25, 30 minutes, they're gonna go too hard. We, we, like if we're gonna lose some games, we gotta bring in some fresh blood. Those guys try too hard.

[D]

I mean, that's what the wizards did with C.J.

[E]

Mccollum.

[D]

C.J. mcCollum was too good for the Wizards and they had to get him out of there. I. So, okay, let's swing it to Memphis. I mean, the Tank is in. As someone just pointed out. You get four first round picks for Bane and now three more for Jaren Jackson. They still have job on the roster, which, I mean, I guess at this point you just move Jai. I mean if you get a, like, can you get a first for Ja? Is that enough?

[B]

The commenter being like, the GM needs an award.

[D]

Oh, well, you traded good.

[B]

You traded good picks. You traded good players for seven first round picks. What's the objective? Like, what's the objective of the, of the league? Like, isn't it to try to win basketball games? Like if anyone. Listen, if any GM wants 70, like, do you know how many first round picks the Thunder could get if they traded away? They're good players. They can get like 20 first round picks maybe.

[C]

Let me, let me spin this for you real quick for you. As, as you are just struggling being.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

Watching a team go into the tank. This might be the most competitive thing that the Grizzlies can do at this point because I don't think they were going anywhere with this current roster. I think they were at best stuck in the middle, which is the worst place to be.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

So if you're at the top. Awesome. Stay there as long as you can. If you're at the bottom, you want to try to get out of the bottom as quickly as possible. But most teams, the league is designed to pull teams to the middle. That's the way that the league is designed and you have to. The smart teams, sometimes the dumb teams end up at the bottom just because they're terrible. But mostly like smart teams either are at the top or they are trying to get to the bottom from the middle.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

Because it is really hard to build a team from the middle to the top.

[B]

It's what if you're a team just theoretically, hypothetically.

[C]

I can't wait to hear this by the way.

[B]

What if you're a team near the top.

[C]

Yeah. And you may near the top.

[B]

What if you're a team that finished second in your conference in consecutive years. What if you're a team that had like multiple. You're all your own first round picks and three extra and you had cap space and you had a young core of all stars and what if you backed your way into like you started veering into the middle and then you're like what if instead of trying to get back to the top, we just started over? We just completely started over. I mean listen, maybe, maybe there's a situation where one of your best players had some off the court stuff and the situation, the relationship first afraid and you had to make some choices and you said well we'd like to trade this one but no one wants this one. What if we get rid of all of our good players who are in the prime of their careers and we'll step and we'll stack up a bunch of first round picks.

[E]

Well Keith, I think that's an important note to make because you are only as good as your superstars are. And so because John Morant didn't keep ascending, he because it wasn't this it was if anything it was a downward spiral for Jaw because that happened. The build didn't make as much sense anymore. You can look at some other teams that have obviously turned around and made obviously OKC is a great example. With SGA becoming an MVP candidate like they don't get to where they are if he doesn't go from very good starter to all star to MVP like that ascension was.

[D]

But they're not as great last year if Jalen Williams isn't as good and if Jalen Williams is what we've seen so far this year. Right. That that little bit of a drop off makes a huge drop off for your team. Not to say that the Thunder aren't.

[C]

I the number one team in the.

[D]

Right still the best team in the West. That's not what I mean, it's just they don't feel as overwhelming. And with, with the Grizzlies, the whole thing was built around Ja being able to get two feet in the paint every single time. He had the basketball and all that offensive stuff worked around it and it covered up any of the, you know, the defensive issues that he had because the offense was so great when he was out there and just we didn't get the chance to even see the, the, the entire build come to fruition because we never really got to see Zach, Edie and John Morant.

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[D]

Operation together well.

[B]

So you could also say like even if you're not totally confident in Ja Morant. They'd already tanked out. They'd gotten a Zach Edie. You say that was a blessing against the size we got in disguise. We got a gap year, picked up a Zach Edie, you know. Yeah, yeah. Also in this size.

[D]

Yes.

[B]

Then even, like, even this year, if you said, like, they're, they're going to finish with the top 10 pick, I'm just saying it's hard for me to get thrilled. When you look at the good teams in the NBA and there's very few that came from a tear down. That came from a total, absolute tear down. You have like the Thunder success and Andrew correct. Anything I get incorrect. The, the Thunder success was largely Paul George trade return.

[D]

Yeah, absolutely.

[E]

Yeah.

[B]

And so they did. Obviously they did. They did the targeted tank a couple years where they're like, no, Shay, stop playing. This is too good. And it worked out to some degree. But also, like a lot of their good players, there's a chance they got where they were even without this. Maybe they had to get homegrown with the second pick. Like, yeah, I have a hard time seeing other teams where they did the total tear down and you got back to where you actually were. I know the Grizzlies got dealt this weird hand with John Morant plateauing or maybe getting worse, but I'm still confused where you still had so many other things going for you on the roster. You still had like, they, they signed like Desmond Baines, the best draft pick in the franchise's history. It's an unbelievable trade. Unbelievable traffic. And they said, oh, I think our analysis of that trade for the Magic was, all right, well, if this, this team's limited. Zach Kleiman after the Thunder series getting swept said, this team isn't close to the Thunder. And everyone's like, oh, great, that's fine. But that team wasn't close because in my analysis, they've been short circuiting themselves for two years because they kept pointing towards the future saying, we have to pay Jaren, we have to pay Desmond, we have to pay Jaw. We can't bring in any extra salary.

[E]

Right.

[B]

We can't bring in even, oh, yes, we can match salary to bring somebody in, but then eventually we'll have to pay them. In 2027, we'll have to pay them. They didn't use their mid level exception for multiple years. They traded away good players for draft picks thinking, oh, maybe if Jake Laravia and David Roddy turns out we'll have cheap replacements. They salaried up Marcus Smart a year ago. Basically, today they use a first round pick just salary up Marcus Smart not to get better, to get further away from the luxury tax. So eventually in the off season they could give Jaren a renegotiation and extension that they short circuited the last few years of Ja, Jaron and Desmond. If you give them the benefit of absolute brilliant foresight clairvoyance, you say, well, they knew Ja wasn't going to work years ago, so they did all these things. But from my perspective, they didn't even build up the team as good as it could have been because they were worried about paying people in 2027. We're not even in 2027 yet and they've traded everybody away and now we're starting over.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

Can we license the ether beat to drop under that for the audio version?

[E]

That can I also just add real quick, this was something that was added to this whole thing. The Grizzlies have. To your point about spinning the wheels, Keith? They have added a massive 28.8 million dollar trade exception because of this deal. So Yaka Purdle is now going, no, he's not. I'm not recording. But that seems like a landing spot.

[C]

Listen, I, I think the Grizzlies took a really hard look in the mirror and said, look the teams at the top of the West. We're talking Minnesota, Houston, Denver, San Antonio, okc. Are any of those teams going anywhere anytime soon?

[B]

And probably not.

[C]

Can the Grizzlies be better than any of those teams?

[D]

Okay, but.

[E]

But you don't get any standard.

[D]

Do you know what I mean? Like this, this is back to Keith's point. The Thunder make the Paul George trade. They get Shay Gildas, Alexander.

[B]

Right.

[D]

Like players actually win. Draft picks don't. Who was the last number one pick to win for the team that drafted him?

[C]

That's BS man.

[D]

Tim Duncan is the last guy to. To win a title by the team that drafted him. Except for LeBron, but he left and came back. I mean, I'm just saying, like draft picks certainly set you up, but like you need to have good players, period. And they don't have.

[C]

But they don't want to. They're trying to bottom out. Like, so what?

[B]

Even with bottoming out, who are, who are teams right now? This is something I used to make fun of the Jazz for years.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Who are they trying to out? Are they trying to wait out Victor Wimbanyama? Like, are they trying to wait out the Thunder?

[E]

Yeah. What is the point of that?

[B]

What's. What's the Point someone. Are we gonna wait out this next year's draft class?

[C]

Like, like waiting. I don't think.

[D]

No, no, it's about jumping into this year's draft class.

[C]

I think it's about trying to get high level talent like Curry.

[E]

By the way, Dave just. Yeah, Steph Curry is a good one. Won a championship with this team.

[D]

Oh, well, okay. But I said number one pick.

[E]

Okay?

[B]

Yeah, number one pick.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

But I'm saying we don't know where the best players come from in the draft. I, I get, I get you feel like there's a hump being in the middle that you can't get over. Being in the middle is a bad place to be. But I, I think we live in a real world where people attend basketball games and people watch basketball games and people have businesses associated with basketball games. And it's just like you live in a real world. Building a team that you feel like is a favorite is nearly impossible. Like at like what's the Thunders gambling odds right now? It's like they're not even. They're barely a favorite. Like winning a title is impossible. Winning a title where you're like one of the three teams people think is going to be a favorite, that's nearly impossible for everybody unless you get super lucky. And I know this is all about going back to. Well, we hope to get super lucky in the draft, but there's so like, like Dave is saying, there's so many avenues. You don't know where these players are going to come from. You get Jokic in the second round, you get Giannis late in the first round, you get, you get Shay in a trade. No, but I'm saying. But you can still win games and go to the playoffs and end up with these players. Like, there's, there's no proven path that like is shut down. So I don't know.

[E]

I'll just say this also, like, I think Keith, you can acknowledge this. The Grizzlies have been very good at drafting. Yeah, they have been very. So if there is one team that can take advantage of having a million first round picks, I think OKC and Memphis are the two teams that have the best.

[D]

What are these picks happening that they just got?

[E]

There's a couple that are.

[D]

Do we think that this front office is gonna be making these picks?

[B]

Yes, because they just bought themselves four years.

[E]

Yeah, they gave themselves your window.

[B]

Every time, every, every review of this trade is going to be complimentary for the Grizzlies. ESPN is going to pat them on the back The Athletic, whoever's in charge of the write up is going to say, this was a great job. Looking in the mirror, they're going to say, trading good players for picks, you always win the trade when you're trying to lose. Teams that are trying go back and look at every trade grade ever.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

And it's like, whoa, man, they got that for who at Bradley Beal brought that much back. And it's just like every time you get picks in a trade, you almost always win the trade. So I'm saying this buys front offices. There's no accountability because the goal is not to win. The goal is to say, oh, we're trying to win. They said, Zach Kleiman said verbatim, we're trying to build a sustainable contender. And he took. He took a contender.

[D]

And now what is it made it unsustainable.

[B]

And now, Andrew, you're doing air quotes. In 2022, they took what, the warriors six games in the second round. The warriors said the Grizzlies were the best team they played that year. Yeah, warriors won the title. We can argue semantics over contender if you're one of the six, seven best teams in the NBA. I think the way the NBA works now, especially with injuries and everything, like, you have a shot if you're not.

[C]

Going to win playoff games from this core. And do you think that if you kept it together that they could have reached those goals?

[B]

I do not think this team could have won a title with John Morant as a best player, period. I. I don't think that's a shock. That's. Everyone feels that. Even John Morant defenders.

[C]

Yeah, that's just logic like that.

[B]

That ship sailed, I think. I think the hand the Grizzes were dealt with was we could probably be a perennial playoff team with Jaren and Desmond and whatever's left of Jamarant, and eventually people will say, hey, you know what? It's fine if John moves on. And I understand them not wanting to do that. My maybe minority view as a basketball fan is that was the hand I was dealt and I'm fine with it. I will take that over wandering in the wilderness, praising, like, draft prospects, like, the picks they got 20, 27, 2031. Like, all right, are we paying Zach, Edie and Cedric Coward max contracts? Then are we able to add a third player alongside the 20, 20, 31.

[E]

You gotta tear it down again.

[B]

You gotta tear it down again if, you know, winning playoff series is so hard. I can count on one hand the number of playoff series the Grizzlies have won in the 25 years they've been in Memphis. I don't take it for Grant. You have a good team. And now you're telling me, hey, guys, we're not going to win for a very long time. I don't think it has to be.

[C]

A very long time because I do think they're starting from a position that the Jazz weren't and that they have Coward and they have. They have players, I think.

[B]

No, no, name, name, name them. Because seriously, Cedric Coward looks awesome. Might be an all Star. Zach Edie looks really good in the 11 games he played this year.

[C]

Yeah, I hear that.

[B]

Is Zach heating. Going to be an all Star? Is Zach. He going to be an above average center in the NBA? That's a mystery. We don't know the answer to that question yet.

[C]

Even if Cedric Coward is the only one. Yeah, I think that that's okay. I think that's okay.

[B]

You know, it sounds better to me than just like Cedric Howard. Cedric Howard plus Jaren Jackson Jr. That sounds pretty good. Yeah.

[E]

I'm honestly, I'm at the point where I'm. And I think Keith is echoing this too. I'm just surprised they didn't get more for Jaren Jackson Jr. Where Jaren Jackson Jr. Bidding war, because, well, the second time, fine.

[D]

But nobody knew that Desmond Bane was available. We all kind of suspected that. Jaren. And to your point, like, did. Did Memphis do themselves a disservice by not just shopping him? I feel like there's better deals out there than what they got.

[E]

Maybe they did shop him, but I.

[B]

Don'T think it was a secret. Once the jaw news comes out, their phone's blowing up for Jaren. I also got it. I mean, like, even though Jaren got his money, the question was always, is this like, is Memphis where Jaren wants to be? And so maybe that's an aspect of it where Jaren's like. I mean, which is another weird thing. Well, like Jaren getting the extension and then being like. But honestly, I'd rather be somewhere else. So maybe that's. That could, that could be a part of it too. Like we, like, we're not going to know exactly.

[E]

Right?

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And Salt Lake being the place where he wants to be. Right.

[B]

He wore that parka at the All Star. All Star game. Salt Lake City. He looked great. Whatever he was wearing there. He's gonna bring out his parkers.

[C]

It looked good. I like Salt Lake. But yeah, it is a funny move because you could. And you look at the reverse Standings. These teams are not far off from each other right now.

[B]

They're gonna be trying to lose together. Yeah, yeah.

[C]

It is going to be. I mean that, that tank race is gonna be nasty.

[D]

Pretty crazy.

[C]

It's gonna get bad because I do think when you look at it right now like Memphis is going to try to leap Utah for sure they're going to try to. Is Dallas maybe Dallas can't just because they have too many.

[E]

We've got another trade, folks.

[C]

What?

[E]

Chicago, Minnesota and Detroit have agreed to a multi team deal that sends Jaden Ivy and Mike Conley to the Bulls, Kevin Herder and Dario Sarge to the Pistons. Detroit also receives a 2026 first round pick swap for Minnesota.

[D]

Wait a second. What did the Wolves.

[E]

Shams is terrible at these unfortunately.

[C]

Right?

[E]

I. I can't. I don't know what.

[D]

Okay. Pistons are sending Ivy to the Bulls, Kevin Herder and Dario Sarich and they are swapping first with Minnesota. So Minnesota and Detroit are swapping first. Top.

[B]

This is just a money dump for Minnesota.

[E]

It seems like it's a money dump for Minnesota.

[C]

It's a precursor deal.

[D]

It's a pretty precursor deal.

[C]

Trying to get more value. I mean like this could be them trying to get enough for Giannis where they're like saying like hey man, like we. That Milwaukee's probably saying hey, we need more quality first if you want him. And okay.

[B]

Yeah. Giannis, oh is a part owner of Nashville's soccer team. Oh, he has a connection to Tennessee. The Grizzlies now have. What are we talking is this eight, eight extra first round picks. I mean the, the Grizzlies Giannis package could be enormous.

[E]

But the thing is when they argument.

[C]

About tanking and then it's like they.

[B]

Get Giannis, John Moran and seven first round picks for Giannis on Teddy Kumbo.

[E]

That would be am thing. So the Gr. The Grizz, if they trade for Giannis right. In two years it'll be like well they have to trade Giannis.

[C]

They gotta trade Giannis.

[E]

They're a mid team. They can't do anything four or five.

[D]

Can I just say I don't mind Kevin Herder for the Pistons.

[C]

Yeah, no, I like they need players like that.

[D]

Yeah, they need a guy like that that can shoot a little bit.

[E]

Also I like, I like Ivy to the Bulls if they're trading Kobe.

[D]

Yeah, sure.

[C]

Yeah. Yeah. This seems like maybe Kobe White's done as well. Man. That is, that is. It's a. I mean trading Jaden Ivy who was a top five pick For Kevin Herder is. That's low value.

[D]

I just want to say for the. For the in for the teams that didn't get the memo. Don't forget we're streaming all day Thursday. The trade deadline a thon.

[C]

So just come on guys.

[D]

Can we put a stop to these trades?

[C]

Wow, that's really.

[D]

We almost have to just go all day today.

[C]

So did Minnesota didn't get a player?

[D]

No, Minnesota just did a pick swap.

[E]

They basically just swapped their pick. So Detroit's Pick will be 29th this year because. And Minnesota's will be somewhere between 18 to 22. So they just moved up 10 spots in the draft. That's what it really was.

[C]

Well that would make sense. That would be a pick that if.

[D]

I To get off some money if.

[C]

I'm Milwaukee, I would want a. A pick.

[E]

And yes. And yes. They dumped Mike Conley's 10 million dollar expiring salary. Although that could. That could have been nice to use in a hospital. Whatever. It doesn't matter.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

Well guys, should we call this a. A show.

[C]

We can. That is. Man, I'm still trying to wrap my head around.

[D]

I mean I will say. I mean it's kind of fitting that we had Keith on the stream for the Mike Conley trade also.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

Would you welcome a reunion?

[B]

I mean. I mean the Grizz is getting Kyle Anderson back. One of my favorite Christmas players. Bring back Mike Conley obviously can finish his career with. With the franchise results are. I mean I don't know.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

What's. Mike Conley obviously doesn't have a role on the Bulls. So I mean get a buyout. Let's get a buyout. Mike Conley somewhere. Just come. Come home, man. Bring him home. Walter Clayton Jr.

[D]

Looking forward to what the Grizzlies do. I. I like Ty Jerome out there showing off before the trade deadline. Right. Feel like somebody's gonna take the.

[C]

Tony did play. Tony did say that they. That the Jazz want to keep Kessler and that they envision a Triple J Lowry and Kessler front court.

[D]

I. I like that.

[E]

Can I just say I really like that.

[B]

And if.

[E]

Because Keonte George genuinely for all of his incredible abilities offensively one of the most improved players this year. Keonte George is. Is also one of the worst defenders in the NBA at his position. So that much size behind Keonte. I think you can. You can do some things interesting defensively that might work for you. Plus Ace Bailey like Ace now plays the two and he's a big two and anyways, yeah, I like it. For the Jazz. Sorry Keith, but I like it for.

[D]

This really big team. All right guys, let us know in the comments what you think about the Jazz trade for Jaren Jackson. We'll be back. If there's another trade and it's big, we'll do another emergency pod, but otherwise we'll be back tomorrow morning. Thank you guys for listening. For Keith Parrish, Esperahenny and Andrew Schlect, I'm Dave Dufour and this has been the NBA Daily. Thanks for hanging out.

[B]

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