Jaren Jackson Jr. agrees to five-year, $240 million max extension with Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies showed their commitment to Jaren Jackson Jr. for the long term on Monday. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Jackson and the team reached an agreement on a five-year maximum extension of his contract worth $240 million.

Jackson was getting ready to enter the final year of his current contract in the 2025-26 season and will make $23.4 million according to Spotrac. The extension now keeps him through 2029-30.

The 6-foot-10 big man just wrapped up his seventh season in Memphis, which selected him fourth overall in the 2018 NBA Draft. His accolades thus far include two All-Star appearances, three NBA All-Defensive team selections and a Defensive Player of the Year award in 2022-23.

Jackson has developed a reputation as one of the league’s elite shot blockers, leading the NBA in blocks per game in 2021-22 and 2022-23. This past season he put up 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.

The Grizzlies earned the eight seed in the Western Conference were swept by the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, the eventual NBA champions. With Jackson back for the long haul, they will look to make another postseason push.

Memphis made some other moves this offseason as well, most notably trading guard Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and multiple first-round picks.

They used one of those firsts to trade up and get Cedric Coward with the No. 11 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Coward could be one of the players expected to fill the void left behind by Bane this season.

With superstar point guard Ja Morant and other promising young prospects such as Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells, the Grizzlies are poised to compete both now and in the future of the Western Conference. The extension of Jackson only further strengthens the roster both next season and for many years to come.

Portland Trail Blazers select Cedric Coward in 2025 NBA Draft, trade to Memphis Grizzlies

Portland Trail Blazers selected former Washington State shooting guard Cedric Coward with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported. Coward transferred to Duke this offseason but ultimately decided to remain in the NBA Draft.

Coward appeared in just six games last season at Washington State before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. However, in his limited action, Coward played extremely well.

Before transferring to Washington State, Coward spent two seasons at Eastern Washington. He began his collegiate career at Willamette University, a Division III program, where he spent one season. In his junior season at Eastern Washington, Coward was unanimously voted an All-Big Sky First-Team selection.