The Memphis Grizzlies shocked the NBA masses on Tuesday, Feb. 3 by trading Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz. It was a deal that officially removed Jackson from consideration by the Los Angeles Lakers, with the return for him signaling a lower asking price than anticipated.
Though the Lakers couldn't have matched certain elements of the return Memphis received, one can't help but wonder what could've been if they'd managed their assets better in the past.
Jackson is a former Defensive Player of the Year, a two-time All-Star, and a three-time All-Defense honoree who's still just 26 years of age. He's also made four postseason appearances as the Grizzlies' resident defensive anchor and surging scoring threat.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, that didn't stop Memphis from trading him for a package centering around Walter Clayton Jr. and three first-round picks.
BREAKING: The Memphis Grizzlies are trading star forward Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr. to the Utah Jazz for Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three future first-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ax6oQpZx0S
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2026
Jackson fielding a return of unproven players, fringe rotation pieces, and draft compensation has been received as underwhelming—and yet, the Lakers couldn't match the offer if they tried.
Lakers couldn't even match surprisingly low trade for Jaren Jackson Jr.
Los Angeles has been linked to Jackson in various respects in 2025-26, including Rich Paul suggesting that the team should trade Austin Reaves for him. Unless the unthinkable transpires, that possibility has been shut down by the move to Utah.
The harsh reality of Paul's comments and the actual trade, however, is that swapping Reaves for Jackson was effectively the Lakers' only option.
Los Angeles only has one first-round pick to give up at this point in time. To make matters worse, they've whiffed on their first-round picks throughout the Pelinka era and thus lack the infrastructure to comfortably endure the loss of future draft compensation.
That alone makes the fact that Jackson could be had for a relatively low price rather painful, as the Lakers couldn't even come up with the picks to compete—or justify losing a single one at this stage.
Lakers' lack of draft picks, promising young players on full display
Some might argue that markets dictate a team's mentality, but the NBA has evolved beyond that dated ideology. The best teams in the Association prioritize depth in support of their star players and the Lakers simply lack the resources to create it.
That translates directly to the trade world, where Los Angeles is unable to come up with even relatively modest offers for All-Star players.
The optimistic take is that the Lakers are finally approaching an offseason that could reverse their misfortune. This summer, Los Angeles will have a first-round draft pick, significant cap room, and access to a second tradable first-round selection.
One simply can't help but acknowledge how years of questionable long-term decisions have positioned the Lakers to miss out on even accessible stars at the deadline.