Knicks-Grizzlies Trade Report Surfaces After Desmond Bane Move

Knicks-Grizzlies Trade Report Surfaces After Desmond Bane Move originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The NBA offseason hasn’t started, but that didn’t stop the Memphis Grizzlies from making the summer’s first blockbuster trade on Sunday. They sent guard Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for four first-round picks, a first-round pick swap, guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and guard Cole Anthony.

This continues a transitional time for the Grizzlies, as they named Tuomas Iisalo their new head coach in May after he was the interim coach following Taylor Jenkins’ firing. Now they’ll be without their third-leading scorer from this season, as Bane averaged 19.2 points on 48.4 percent shooting (39.2 percent 3 PT) over 69 games.

However, Memphis may not stop there, as the New York Knicks have an eye on one of its stars, via ClutchPoints’ Kris Pursiainen.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. drives past Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski at FedExForum on Jan. 25, 2025.Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

“But sources familiar with the situation tell ClutchPoints that at least one key member of the Knicks’ front office has long been interested in [forward Jaren] Jackson Jr. as a trade target,” he reported on Monday morning.

“The Knicks’ acquisition of Karl-Anthony Towns last offseason didn’t nullify this interest, either,” he continued. “League sources say that a Jackson Jr. and Karl-Anthony Towns frontcourt would be a ‘dream’ pairing for New York in their starting lineup.”

Jackson’s father, Jaren Jackson Sr., was an assistant coach for New York’s G-League affiliate from 2021-23. Knicks president Leon Rose was also the younger Jackson’s agent when he worked for Creative Artists Agency (CAA), alongside fellow agent Austin Brown. The two-time All-Star is still represented by Brown.

Jackson signed with Rose and Brown for representation before getting drafted in 2018. Rose then took the New York job in March 2020.

Jackson will make $23.4 million next season, the last on his rookie extension.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.

Knicks-Grizzlies Trade Report Surfaces After Desmond Bane Move

Tags: