Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. not necessarily seeking trade

Jaren Jackson Jr. is not pounding the table to get out of Memphis. He just wants answers.

According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Jackson does not necessarily want to be traded by the Grizzlies, despite leaguewide chatter suggesting otherwise. What he wants, more than anything, is clarity.

“He doesn’t necessarily want out,” MacMahon said. “He just wants to understand what the plan is.”

That question hangs over everything in Memphis right now. Ja Morant continues to dominate trade conversations, and if the Grizzlies do decide to move Morant, it would naturally invite questions about whether Jackson is next.

Jackson is owed $35 million this season and remains one of the league’s most impactful two-way bigs. He is averaging 18.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks while shooting efficiently from the field and from three. He is a two-time All-Star and a former Defensive Player of the Year. Those players do not come cheaply.

The Grizzlies sit 10th in the West and have just one playoff series win in the Morant-Jackson era. That reality has led some around the league to wonder if a deeper reset is coming.

Teams are already circling. HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reports interest from the Celtics and Pistons, even as Memphis maintains that Jackson is someone they want to build with.