Jaren Jackson Jr. Wasn’t ‘Surprised’ Memphis Grizzlies Traded Desmond Bane to Orlando Magic

Jaren Jackson Jr. told NBA reporter Rohan Nadkarni of NBC News that he wasn’t “surprised” the Memphis Grizzlies traded Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic.

The Grizzlies, who lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in four games, traded Bane to the Magic for Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, four unprotected first-round picks and one first-round pick on June 15.

“I wasn’t too much surprised,” Jaren Jackson Jr. said about the Desmond Bane trade. “I mean, when your brothers leave, you are still going to hurt, just because you’re a human being. But at the end of the day, it’s a business. And we’re grown. … You’re going to get closer to your prime, and things are going to change for you.

“I feel like this is a good starting point for a whole new journey of stuff. I’m approaching this year with that spearheaded, disciplined mindset of trying to get us to the promised land.”

The Grizzlies signed Jackson Jr. to a five-year, $205 million extension this offseason. Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant remain the franchise players in Memphis.

“I don’t think a goal would be to get back anywhere,” Jackson Jr. said. “It’s just to put one foot in front of the other and get better every day, because that’s what we did before, to get to whatever you’re talking about.”

The Grizzlies have won only one postseason series in the Jackson Jr.-Morant era. They beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2022 playoffs.

Jackson Jr. appeared in 74 games for the Grizzlies last season. He averaged 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.5 blocks while shooting 48.8% from the field, 37.5% from beyond the arc and 78.1% from the free-throw line. The Michigan State product made his second All-Star team and third All-Defensive Team.

The Grizzlies selected Jackson Jr. with the fourth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Jackson Jr., who won the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Award, has career averages of 18.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.9 blocks.