The lucrative four-year, $105MM rookie extension that power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. signed this week with the Grizzlies is very much predicated on his ceiling. Evan Barnes of the Memphis Commercial Appeal details why he considers the agreement mutually beneficial to both sides in a new piece. A big reason: the contract will decrease in value every season once it kicks in, which will give Memphis room to further bolster the roster.
“I’m locked in, I’m blessed, I’m happy I get to be here and be around people I love,” the 6’11” big man said of the deal and his chemistry in Memphis. “It’s a good experience.”
Due to Jackson’s extensive injury history, the agreement contains injury protection related to his left knee, but it only applies to the last year of the deal (for 2025/26), a source informed John Hollinger of The Athletic.
There’s more out of the Southwest Division:
- Following two injury-plagued years, Rockets swingman David Nwaba is relishing his good health heading into the 2021/22 season, writes Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. Nwaba suffered an Achilles injury in December 2019, and then a right wrist injury in February of this year that ultimately required surgery. “Hopefully, just take care of my body for the length of this season,” Nwaba said of his hopes for the year. “I think we’ve had a lot of improvements on the defensive end.” All told, the 28-year-old has been healthy for just 50 of his past 144 games with Brooklyn and Houston.
- Thanks to an uncertain recovery timeline for the injured foot of All-Star power forward Zion Williamson, the Pelicans have already proved frustrating to fans ahead of the 2021/22 season, opines Scott Kushner of the NOLA.com. Williamson and team president David Griffin made it seem like the former No. 1 pick could be back in time for the beginning of the year, but it appears that the team was either too hopeful or being deliberately disingenuous, Kushner says.
- Mavericks All-Star point guard Luka Doncic expressed his excitement about the club’s development ahead of the 2021/22 season, according to Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News. “I think we’re playing great, sharing the ball,” Doncic said of the team’s 4-0 preseason showing. “Especially on the defensive end, we’ve been way better, and I think that’s the key for us.”
Nwaba can be a solid 3 and D guy once he develops a consistent 3-point shot.
He’s like 30. He is what he is.
@ironmonger Let’s me get this straight, your saying he’s 30 years old? Common core math did you wrong young man. He’s 28 at the moment and will turn 29 years old on Jan 11th. Please, look back into basic mathematics and please use a text book from the 1990s. This was math before common core ruined your life and others like you.
@greenwoodporter Nwaba needs to stay healthy before raving about him. He’s no different from Wall, Exum, Wood, and so on who is on the roster or was on the roster at this be point. We have Veterans, just some have seen as much time on the court in the NBA as much as the Rookies this year have.
He tried to play through the wrist injury last season until they decided on having surgery. But Nwaba is healthy now and has the opportunity to be a part of their rotation if his shooting improves.
Cavs could still use Nwaba and probably also so could the NFL. But then, with injuries, he has not helped whatever his team is since.