By NBA Insider | February 3, 2026
With the 2026 NBA trade deadline just 48 hours away, the Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly swinging for the fences.
According to recent rumblings and a new report from Bleacher Report, the Lakers are “seriously trying to make a deal” for Memphis Grizzlies superstar and former Defensive Player of the Year, Jaren Jackson Jr. The move is designed to pair a legitimate defensive anchor next to Luka Dončić, signaling that the Lakers are going all-in on their new championship window.
But this blockbuster rumor comes with a massive catch: It requires parting ways with a beloved fan favorite, and it’s already causing drama inside the Lakers’ locker room.
Here is everything you need to know about the latest trade rumors shaking up Los Angeles.
The Proposed Trade Package
According to Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, a realistic framework to land the $200+ million big man would require a massive haul from Los Angeles. The proposed trade looks something like this:
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Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Jaren Jackson Jr., Vince Williams Jr.
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Memphis Grizzlies Receive: Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, and a $2.3 million trade exception.
To make the money work for Jackson’s massive extension, the Lakers would have to gut their depth. Most notably, they would have to send away Austin Reaves, who is reportedly in line for a max extension this summer.
Why Jaren Jackson Jr. Fits the Lakers
The Lakers made their choice when they acquired Luka Dončić: offense will never be an issue, but defense is a major concern.
Dončić has historically thrived playing next to athletic rim-runners and shot-blockers. Jackson Jr., who won the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year award, is averaging 18.5 points and shooting over 36% from deep this season. He is one of the rare big men who can space the floor for Luka’s drives on offense while covering up his defensive lapses on the other end.
The Klutch Sports Drama
The most fascinating part of this rumor is how it started.
Last month, LeBron James’ agent and close confidant, Rich Paul, went on his Game Over podcast and publicly declared that the Lakers should trade Austin Reaves for Jackson Jr.
“If you’re building around Luka going forward… you need that anchor,” Paul said. “Jaren doesn’t want to be a part of a rebuild… Austin deserves to get paid, Memphis would definitely pay Austin”.
It is incredibly rare for a power agent to publicly float trade scenarios involving specific players on his client’s team. The comments caused immediate friction. Reaves’ agent reportedly confronted Paul courtside, and even LeBron James had to publicly distance himself from the comments, telling ESPN, “Rich has his perspective… I have my perspective”.
Will Memphis Actually Sell?
For the Grizzlies, the 2026 season has been a nightmare. Sitting well below .500, rumors have been swirling that Memphis is finally ready to hit the reset button on the Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. era. If the Grizzlies decide to blow it up before Thursday’s 3:00 p.m. ET deadline, the Lakers are waiting by the phone.
The Verdict
Trading Austin Reaves would be a gut punch to the Lakers’ fanbase, but the NBA is a ruthless business. If Rob Pelinka believes that Jaren Jackson Jr. is the missing piece to win a title with Luka Dončić, no amount of locker-room drama will stop him from pulling the trigger.
