Jackson extension a win-win for him, Grizzlies
Jaren Jackson Jr. was all smiles Monday showing off a new look with the top of his hair dyed brown.
The 6-foot-11 forward was also relieved that his fourth season could just focus on basketball after signing a fouryear, $105 million contract extension two days before the Memphis Grizzlies' season opener.
"I'm locked in, I'm blessed, I'm happy I get to be here and be around people I love," Jackson said after practice. "It's a good experience."
The deal was a no-brainer but the Grizzlies had to decide whether to offer Jackson before the season or wait to see how healthy he'd be. Overall, it has worked out well for both parties.
The Grizzlies took care of one of their rising stars and avoided upsetting the chemistry of the locker room by delaying the inevitable. They also signed a reasonable deal with prior injury exclusion language according to ESPN NBA front office insider Bobby Marks.
Per Marks, Jackson will make $28.9 million in 2022-23 and the contract decreases in value each season. With the deal rewarding Jackson up front, it allows the Grizzlies to have more salary cap flexibility to add more pieces in the future.
For Jackson, the deal helps create generational wealth for his family. He could've declined the offer to bet on himself this season and potentially make more if he stays healthy.
That "if," however, is a loaded word. He hasn't played 60 games in a season yet and it's a gamble that could backfire after battling various leg injuries since being selected the fourth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Also, $105 million was higher than some predicted. Marks projected around $80 million for Jackson after last season ended while Spotrac, a website that tracks contract information in professional sports, projected $88 million.
It was worth it for Jackson to take a deal that protected his future in case of another injury but one that was favorable and respected his body of work.
"Jaren is a core driver of us pushing towards our goal of bringing a championship here to Memphis," Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman said. "To get a deal done that allows everyone to dive in. We have that long-term belief in him, we have stability going forward, so we're glad that we're able to not just invest in the player but also the person."
With Jackson smiling and joking with teammates, it's a different mood than another team with a top-five lottery pick from 2018. ESPN reported that contract talks with the Phoenix Suns and former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton ended without a deal ahead of Monday's 5 p.m. deadline for rookie extensions.
Now the Suns, a favorite to return to the NBA Finals, must play this season
with the looming issue of Ayton's deal hanging over things. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, avoided that problem.
Not only did they send a message to Jackson, they sent one to Ja Morant, too. Morant should have full confidence next summer that the Grizzlies won't offer anything less than a maximum contract extension.
And it's a win-win. The Grizzlies have one less distraction and Jackson can relax knowing he's got a new deal. Now both can hope the team reaches their full potential with a healthy Jackson at the center of it alongside Morant.