Despite being counted out on the heels of Jayson Tatum‘s Achilles tear, the Boston Celtics are putting forth a valiant effort in 2025-26. At 24-15, they have the third-best record in the Eastern Conference standings, behind only the Detroit Pistons (28-10) and New York Knicks (25-14). Jaylen Brown has been integral to their eminence, averaging career-highs of 29.5 points and 5.0 assists per game. However, 10 of Brown’s teammates have consistently made their presence felt consistently, helping to buoy Boston in what could have easily been a calamitous season.

To think, the Celtics could add Memphis Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. over the course of the next three weeks.

Celtics ‘Would Love To’ Complete Trade For Jaren Jackson Jr.

“Multiple league sources have asserted something whispered in the wind for a long time: The Boston Celtics would love to add Jaren Jackson Jr.,” Action Network writer Matt Moore reports on his substack, Hardwood Paroxysm.

“But if Boston loads up a pick-heavy trade package with some nice talent or tradeable contracts (Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez) for a Memphis team that would be starting over, does that get them there? Is anyone going to beat that offer for Jaren? is Jaren’s value better in a year under Iisalo and next to Edey, or worse?”

To be clear, Moore’s questions about Jackson’s future value have merit.

Under Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo, he remains a high-usage player that’s relied upon at both ends. However, his touches have dwindled since Iisalo took over for Taylor Jenkins. Additionally, the ascendance of Zach Edey is one of the main reasons that Jackson is primarily playing power forward. The Chinese-Canadian behemoth has carved his name in the paint, diminishing the two-time block champion’s impact.

So, not only has affected Jackson’s role but his numbers. The result of his somewhat subtle but readily recognizable decline is a 26-year-old two-time All-Star who won Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 having questionable trade value. Sadly, there isn’t really light at the end of the tunnel. The more time that Jackson spends with the Grizzlies, as they’re currently configured, the worse the appraisal of his impact is likely to be. That reality is reinforced by the fact his salary will balloon in 2026-27, raising from $35 million to $49 million.

All of which makes Jackson a trade target that the Celtics may be able to obtain without giving away a small fortune.

What’s The Right Package For Jaren Jackson Jr.?

Truthfully, neither Jordan Walsh nor Hugo Gonzalez is a good enough player to headline a trade for Jackson. They’re both quality role players with the potential to be starters for a contending team. However, they’re still just role players. At best, they’d be sweeteners in a deal centered around a more effective talent.

For the Celtics, that player would ideally be 26-year-old hybrid guard Anfernee Simons.

Arriving in Boston as part of the Jrue Holiday trade, Simons has come off the bench for the Celtics all season. In 39 games, he’s averaging 13.5 points per game and shooting 40.2% from 3. However, the configuration of Boston’s rotation and Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla’s emphasis on defense has limited how much he’s on the floor. After playing 34.0 minutes per game from 2021-22 to 2024-25, he’s averaging 24.0 minutes per game this season.

Anfernee Simons Could Be The Key

If Boston can move him for a full-time starter like Jackson, it would be quite the boon. Obviously, his defensive ability is on another plane when compared to Simons. Furthermore, his ability to play center would firmly solve the conundrum they faced when they were left without Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet. To that point, the Celtics have excelled at utilizing a five-out offense with a floor-spacing pivot.

For the Grizzlies, Simons is an ideal player to land for multiple reasons.

First and foremost, he has an expiring $27.7 million contract that can be used for salary cap relief. Easing their financial burden could come in handy in both free agency and on the trade market. Keep in mind, Memphis is currently projected to have $10.5 million in maximum cap space this offseason. Just as importantly, he’s gifted enough to become Ja Morant‘s successor (should Memphis decide to cut ties with him). As a starter, he’s averaging 20.8 points and 4.8 assists per game, shooting 38.1% from 3.