Sports

Grizzlies' roster issue gives Lakers clear next trade based on latest signings

Lake Show Life · Jul 21, 2026 16:00 · 3 min read

Grizzlies' roster issue gives Lakers clear next trade based on latest signings — Nov 21, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka looks on as players warm up prior to the game against the Orlando Magic at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

The Memphis Grizzlies have too many players on the roster, giving the Los Angeles Lakers a pathway to trade for GG Jackson.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been trying to address their wing and forward depth off the bench, especially when it comes to adding athletes to the roster. They just signed guys like Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams. However, the Game Theory podcast recently noted the Memphis Grizzlies’ roster logjam. GG Jackson could be a trade candidate, and that’s a guy who makes a ton of sense for the Lakers.

Jackson is still young, and he’s showed flashes of serious potential at the NBA level. He’s an athlete, he can drive to the rim, and he can defend pretty well. At this point, he still needs to be molded into an all-around NBA player, but if the Lakers are looking to take some swings, he’s a swing worth taking.

And if the Grizzlies need to cut down their roster anyway, Jackson may not be too expensive to land on the trade market. LA is also over its roster max, so a third team would probably have to be involved (or the Grizzlies could cut whoever LA sent back). But getting Jackson could make it all worth it.

The podcast discussed the current roster situation in Memphis. They have too many players under contract heading into next season, so they will have to either trade or cut some guys.

They mentioned players like Jackson, D’Angelo Russell, and Kris Murray as potential players who could hit the trade market. Of those guys, Jackson makes the most sense for the Lakers based on their latest signings.

Thybulle is an elite perimeter defender with a shaky three-point shot, but he could work out. Williams has shown some solid skills on both ends, but he has yet to carve out a real NBA role.

Jackson fits that mold of player to a tee. All the potential, plenty of NBA experience, and still very young. If the Lakers are looking to swing on those types of guys, Jackson is a clear next trade target.

Adding his athleticism alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves would be very, very intriguing. He could thrive as a potential lob threat and off-ball cutter while utilizing his physical tools on the defensive end as well.

After the Walker Kessler trade, the Lakers don’t have a ton of draft capital to throw around, so the fact that Memphis could be looking to trade guys for cheap is useful for the Lakers.

Perhaps they could get away with trading a second or two to the Grizzlies in exchange for Jackson. That would be a worthwhile endeavor for the Lakers as they look to round out their roster heading into next year.

Instead of just waiving Jackson, the Grizzlies could snag an extra second or two from the Lakers and just cut whoever the Lakers sent back. Or the Lakers could send someone to a third team and take back Jackson.

Either way, Jackson is the type of player LA should want to take a swing on.