"The Toronto Raptors have a chance to legitimize their leap with a trade for Jaren Jackson Jr. ahead of the 2025 NBA trade deadline. It's a potentially significant move for a franchise that could anchor its defense and diversify its offense in one fell swoop. As a player whose offensive and defensive strengths perfectly align with the Raptors' style of play and even their weaknesses, Jackson would be the ultimate upgrade at center."
"According to Kelly Iko of Yahoo! Sports, NBA executives have begun to speculate that Jackson could be on his way out of Memphis despite reports that he could be viewed as a Grizzlies centerpiece. "In speaking with rival executives, there's a growing thought that Jackson - while a stark contrast to Morant and despite Memphis' insistence on him being a key part of its future - could be the next domino to fall at some point assuming a Morant trade is realized.""
The Raptors sit at 24-17 and are 5.5 games behind the Eastern Conference top seed, presenting incentive to pursue upgrades before the Feb. 5 deadline. Jaren Jackson Jr. offers a rare combination of elite rim protection and perimeter shooting that fits the Raptors' unorthodox lineup and addresses both defensive and offensive needs. NBA executives are speculating that Jackson could become available amid roster shifts in Memphis. Jackson carries flaws — inconsistent rebounding, playoff scoring questions, and a $49 million starting salary slated for 2026-27 — but his Defensive Player of the Year pedigree and All-Defense honors make him a high-impact target.
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