NBA Trade Rumors: Knicks Eye $104.72M Grizzlies Big Man to Form Power Duo with KAT; Mikal Bridges Could Be the Key Asset
New York, NY — August 7, 2025
The NBA offseason has been anything but quiet, and now a new wave of speculation is sweeping through the Big Apple. According to multiple league insiders, the New York Knicks are exploring a blockbuster trade that would send Memphis Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr.—valued at approximately $104.72 million over the remainder of his contract—to Madison Square Garden.
The rumored deal is part of a strategic plan to pair Jackson with newly acquired Karl-Anthony Towns, creating a fearsome frontcourt duo that could reshape the balance of power in the Eastern Conference.
Per sources close to the Knicks’ front office, Mikal Bridges, the team’s marquee acquisition earlier this summer, may be the critical trade piece used to secure Jackson Jr. While fans were ecstatic to see Bridges don the orange and blue after his shocking departure from Brooklyn, the Knicks’ ambition to contend for a championship immediately may lead to his departure before the season even tips off.
Why Jaren Jackson Jr.?
Jaren Jackson Jr., affectionately nicknamed “JJJ” and “Block Panther,” has developed into one of the league’s premier rim protectors and versatile defenders. The 2023 NBA Defensive Player of the Year averaged 18.6 points, 6.8 rebounds,
