Three Major Trades and Ratings Overnight! The 3Js Sent from Grizzlies to Jazz, Vucevic Joins Celtics + Avy Heads to Bulls

On February 4th Beijing time, three NBA trades took place overnight, followed by USA Today’s evaluation. The Grizzlies’ “3J” Jaren Jackson Jr. was sent to the Jazz in a major eight-player deal. The Timberwolves, Bulls, and Pistons agreed on a three-way trade, bringing Avy and Conley to Chicago. Additionally, the Bulls and Celtics swapped two players each, with Vucevic and Anfernee Simons changing teams.

Grizzlies-Jazz Eight-Player Trade

According to insider Shams, the Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz finalized a significant trade sending former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr., wing John Konchar, Vince Williams, and center Randall to the Jazz. In return, the Grizzlies received guard Walter Clayton, swingman LeKyle, forwards Hendricks and Georges Niang, plus three future first-round picks from Utah.

The three first-round picks going to Memphis include: the Lakers’ 2027 first-round pick (protected for top four), the highest pick among the Cavaliers, Timberwolves, and Jazz 2027 first-rounders, and an unprotected 2031 first-round pick from the Suns.

This trade shocked many for two main reasons.

First, multiple reports before the trade deadline indicated the Grizzlies had no intention to trade Jackson and planned to build around this interior star.

Second, although several teams had previously inquired about Jackson, hoping Memphis would change course, there was no sign the Jazz were involved—nor did anyone expect them to use accumulated future draft assets to facilitate such a major deal this week. Currently, the Jazz hold a 15-35 record, ranking sixth-worst in the league.

However, acquiring Jackson clearly signals the Jazz’s intent to rebuild for next season’s rise. They do not plan to trade forward Lauri Markkanen and aim to re-sign restricted free agent center Kessler this summer. The Jazz envision a frontcourt trio featuring Markkanen, Jackson, and Kessler.

Besides these three big men, third-year guard Keonte George and 2025 lottery pick Ace Bailey remain core long-term pieces for Utah. Starting in 2026, the Jazz will hold at least one first-round pick in every draft. Notably, if their 2026 first-round pick falls outside the top eight, it will go to the Thunder; currently, Utah’s odds of keeping this pick are good due to a 4.5-win gap over teams ranked seventh and eighth (the Bucks at 18-29 and Mavericks at 19-30).

Looking at Memphis, rumors have circulated for weeks that the team was willing to trade two-time All-Star Ja Morant, but it remained unclear whether the Grizzlies intended to build around Jackson or start a full rebuild centered on young players like Coward, Zach Edey, and Jaylen Wells. Now the answer is clear.

Although 22-year-olds Clayton and Hendricks may have roles in Memphis’s long-term plans, the main purpose of trading Jackson was to add three more first-round picks to an expanding draft asset pool while improving salary cap flexibility now and in the future. Salary expert Gozlan noted that Memphis holds 12 first-round picks over the next seven drafts.

Jackson re-signed with the Grizzlies last offseason and will earn a total of $205 million over the next four years after this season. Among the eight players involved in the trade, Jackson is the only one with a guaranteed contract beyond next season. With the Jazz taking on his long-term deal, their salary cap space will likely be fully locked this summer.

Looking at 2025-26 salary commitments, the Jazz’s total payroll is currently well below the luxury tax threshold. They are leveraging this advantage to increase the team’s total salary by over $18 million—players sent out from Utah in the trade had combined salaries of $27.5 million, while incoming players total about $45.8 million.

Gozlan explained that the Jazz will match Jackson’s $35 million salary using the outgoing salaries of four departing players, then absorb the other three newcomers’ salaries using existing trade exceptions (or alternatively, use the mid-level exception if they want to preserve a higher-value trade exception).

Salary expert Bobby Marks noted that Memphis will create a record-setting trade exception worth up to $28.9 million through this deal.

Trade Ratings: Grizzlies A, Jazz C+

Pistons-Bulls-Timberwolves Three-Way Trade

According to Shams, the Pistons traded four-year guard Jaden Avy to the Bulls, the Timberwolves sent veteran point guard Mike Conley to Chicago, and the Bulls sent Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric to Detroit. Additionally, the Pistons received a protected 2026 first-round pick swap right from the Timberwolves.

Avy, who will turn 24 later this month, was the 5th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Over three seasons in Detroit, he played 181 games, starting 164, averaging 16.1 points and 4.4 assists per game. However, he missed the latter half of the 2024-25 season due to a left leg fracture and delayed his 2025-26 season debut because of a right knee injury.

This season, Avy’s role diminished on the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons. He appeared in 33 games (only 2 starts), averaging 16.8 minutes and 8.2 points. Facing restricted free agency, the Pistons clearly excluded him from long-term plans and have been entertaining offers in recent weeks. The Bulls added the former Purdue star, further crowding their backcourt already featuring Josh Giddey, Kobe White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Tre Jones.

Although Giddey is considered the Bulls’ cornerstone, acquiring Avy may signal preparations to trade one or more guards before the deadline. The Bulls will gain Avy’s Bird rights, allowing them to re-sign him as a free agent this July.

Due to Avy’s reduced role in Detroit, the Pistons decided to exchange him for sharpshooter Huerter, who can immediately fill a lineup gap. Despite Detroit’s strong 36-12 record this season, three-point shooting remains a weakness—they rank 27th in the league with 11.1 made threes per game and 21st with a 34.8% three-point percentage.

Huerter’s three-point shooting this season has been below par at 31.4%, but his career average stands at 37.5%. He also experienced a similar slow start in 2024-25 but rebounded strongly in the latter half.

It remains unclear if the Pistons intend to keep Saric. Since 2024-25, he has appeared in only 21 games. Even if Detroit plans to waive him, they must first clear a roster spot to complete this one-for-two trade.

The first-round pick swap right obtained from the Timberwolves could help the Pistons improve their draft position this June. If the season ended now, Detroit could swap their 29th pick for Minnesota’s 23rd pick.

The Timberwolves’ sending out Conley’s $10.8 million expiring contract is essentially a salary cap-clearing move. ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported that before the trade, Minnesota’s payroll exceeded the first luxury tax threshold by over $8 million, with an estimated luxury tax bill of $24 million. After the trade, the team’s salary falls about $2.5 million below the threshold, reducing the tax to around $3.8 million.

The Timberwolves plan to use the saved salary to create additional cap flexibility, potentially aiding in a major trade pursuit for a star like Giannis Antetokounmpo. If they fail to acquire Giannis, the newly created $10.8 million trade exception (equal to Conley’s outgoing salary) can be used before the deadline to strengthen the backcourt. Alternatively, the team might complete one more trade to avoid luxury tax entirely.

Salary expert Gozlan analyzed that the Pistons will use Avy’s $10.1 million outgoing salary to match Huerter’s $18 million expiring contract, while employing part of a $14 million trade exception to absorb Saric’s $5.4 million expiring deal. The Bulls can match Saric’s salary with Conley’s contract and then use the unused mid-level exception to sign Avy, creating a trade exception equivalent to Huerter’s $18 million outgoing salary.

Trade Ratings: Pistons B, Bulls A-, Timberwolves A+ (if Giannis is acquired)

Bulls-Celtics 2-for-2 Trade

Insider Shams reported that the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls agreed on a 2-for-2 trade sending guard Anfernee Simons to Chicago and center Nikola Vucevic to Boston. Both teams also receive a second-round draft pick in the deal.

The Celtics were long rumored to pursue a trade like this. Their frontcourt depth was severely impacted last offseason—they traded away Porzingis and lost Al Horford and Luke Kornet in free agency. Simons’ expiring $27.7 million contract is seen as an attractive trade asset. Boston has already reduced payroll below the second luxury tax threshold through cost-cutting moves and may now aim to further reduce or completely avoid luxury tax payments.

However, during this season, Simons has grown into a key reserve for Boston. He averages 24.5 minutes, 14.2 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game, shooting 39.5% from three and 88.9% from the free-throw line. The Celtics currently hold a 31-18 record, competing for a top-two spot in the East, making luxury tax avoidance less of a priority.

Still, basketball operations president Brad Stevens ultimately decided that sacrificing some backcourt depth to strengthen the frontcourt rotation is worthwhile. This trade will also save money and increase roster flexibility.

The 35-year-old Vucevic is an interior player with outside shooting ability. He continues to deliver strong offensive numbers this season, averaging 16.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists, with a 37.6% three-point shooting percentage. His contract also expires this season, worth $21.5 million. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, this trade will reduce Boston’s projected luxury tax bill by over $22 million, lowering it from $39.5 million to $17 million, while keeping team salary below the first luxury tax threshold.

Trade Ratings: Celtics A-, Bulls C+