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Art Cummings: The Utah Jazz are looking at Cam Boozer hard per Tim MacMahon via the Hoop Collective Podcast. He mentioned that Cam Boozer and Jaren Jackson Jr are a potential great complimentary duo in the future. Cam’s elite rebounding helps JJJ and JJJ’s elite rim protection helps Cam.
George is already in line for a major payday in rookie scale contract extension talks this offseason after a breakout third season and sources say that the Jazz prize him as an absolute cornerstone now. Bailey, meanwhile, is situated as a scoring guard in Utah's system for coach Will Hardy, who will of course also trot out a supersized frontcourt starring recent All-Stars Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen.
Sam Amick: "Now the Wembanyama effect to your question is I actually think it has a domino effect on the Giannis sweepstakes this summer, where there's only so many guys in the league that can give you a puncher's chance at slowing Wembanyama down. You look at the Thunder, they got a guy in Chet Holmgren who at first glance looks like tailor-made to give him some pushback, and he's obviously had a really hard time in this series. So the impact is even beyond getting a guy like that, it's loading up on bigs. I had one of the executives talk about the Jazz, who I know are certainly not contending at this point, but how they're looking to re-sign Walker Kessler, they did the trade for Jaren Jackson Jr., already got Lauri Markkanen, and that sort of approach. The Thunder adding Hartenstein last year, it's that kind of thing where you're going to need big bodies, but it's not like the Shaq old days when you just needed as much heft as possible. You got to have guys who can play three-four positions and be versatile and keep up with this 7-4 alien."
They likely will be connected to big names around the league, such as Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen − though Utah just traded for Jaren Jackson Jr. to pair with Markkanen − and Los Angeles Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard, who will be entering the final year of his deal and will make $50.3 million in 2026-27 at age 35. The Pistons have all of their first-round picks, including the 21st overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and a trove of second-round picks down the road to include in deals.
Jaren Jackson Jr on Brandon Clarke: I couldn’t imagine a world where this was even a possibility. i love you forever brother, this is absolutely devastating. i just wish i could talk to you. you were so much to so many and even more to me . i will never have the words to describe what this feels like . i still can’t believe this . to your family and friends and everyone you were always a light and you were always so genuine and real and our friendship went far beyond anything on the court . i truly lost my twin . i’m still going to be talking to you always . you will be forever loved and forever missed
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In another post, Morant shared a photo of himself with Clarke and Jaren Jackson Jr. Morant later shared a post from Grizzlies social media manager Devin Walker that featured him with Clarke during the 2019 NBA Summer League when he won MVP. “I’m walking with a GOAT right here,” Morant said in the video as the pair walked off the court.
As an example, leading up to trade deadline in February, the Raptors were working hard to try and make a deal that would land them Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Memphis Grizzlies before he was ultimately traded to the Utah Jazz in a package that included three first round picks, according to multiple league sources. The sticking point was finding someone to take on Jakob Poeltl’s four years and $104 million the 30-year-old has owed to him.
The whole thing really blew up on Monday night, when Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. were actually sitting courtside at an Orlando Magic playoff game to support their old Grizzlies teammate, Desmond Bane. The broadcast kept panning over to Morant and Jackson Jr. each time they celebrated a Bane triple, and eventually, fans flocked to social media to post photos of Morant and Jackson Jr, jokingly writing captions along the lines of: “What are they doing?? They have a game tomorrow!” “I just seen my timeline talking about, ‘Don’t they have a game?’” Zinzy said. “And I was like, ‘This is crazy. Like, why do so many people get the reference?’
MrBuckBuck: Desmond Bane on Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. being at his game tonight: “It’s special. Those are guys that I spent 5 years with… It’s a friendship that’ll last forever… I’m thankful that they pulled up to support.” Via: reddit.com/r/nba/comments
Oh No He Didn't: Desmond on Ja and JJJ being at the game tonight: "It's special. Those are guys that I spent 5 years with, started my career with, made a lot of memories with. It's a friendship that'll last forever. Those are guys that mean a lot to me. I'm thankful that they pulled up to support"
Desmond on Ja and JJJ being at the game tonight:
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) April 28, 2026
"It's special. Those are guys that I spent 5 years with, started my career with, made a lot of memories with. It's a friendship that'll last forever. Those are guys that mean a lot to me. I'm thankful that they pulled up to… pic.twitter.com/W0KeftPanU
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Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr in Orlando taking in the Magic and Pistons pic.twitter.com/axAv9lJov2
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) April 28, 2026
A lot has changed around the Grizzlies and with Morant in that time — in particular, the absence of Jaren Jackson Jr., who was part of an eight-player deal on Feb. 3 that sent him to the Utah Jazz. Morant called the trade deadline "difficult." "I wasn't a fan of it, but it's a business, so, like I told him, he's been a pro for eight years now, so continue to be that," Morant said March 7 ahead of the Grizzlies' game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
IN THE LEAD-UP to the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 5, the Warriors checked in on Jaren Jackson Jr., Giannis Antetokounmpo and were among the teams to make a call about Kawhi Leonard when it appeared the LA Clippers might be open for business, league sources said.
"He gives us the interior presence that we didn't have that can score with his mismatches in the post," said Terry in a one-on-one interview with RG of Jackson. "But he also stretches the floor and can shoot with high efficiency from three. We love his versatility. Obviously, we know what he does defensively as a rim protector, but his offensive versatility combined with (Lauri) Markkanen, it is a tough, tough combo."
