NY Knicks: Could a Jaren Jackson Jr trade happen this offseason?

Could the NY Knicks have the young star Jaren Jackson Jr on his way to The Big Apple?

A recent report out of the NY Post by way of Marc Berman discussed that the Memphis Grizzlies have their doubts about “JJJ’s” long-term durability.

Jackson tore the meniscus in his left knee last August while playing in the NBA Bubble.

Even before then, he had played sporadically for injury management purposes.

Berman said:

"Sources also said Knicks general manager Scott Perry loved Jackson’s athleticism coming out of Michigan State as the draft’s youngest player when Memphis selected him fourth overall.Jackson, who threw down a vicious dunk and made two 3-pointers in front of Knicks senior vice president William Wesley during the Knicks’ 118-104 win in Memphis on May 3, will enter the final $9.1 million year of his four-year contract next season. If he doesn’t sign an extension this fall, his future bears watching. Could Jackson play a small-ball 5 role with Julius Randle?"

Coming out of Michigan State, it was relatively easy to like a lot of what was seen of Jackson’s game.

A tall, long defensive-minded player with the ability to score it from anywhere on the floor.

Jackson was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, so being closer to home could be intriguing for the young Unicorn-esque player.

Could Jaren Jackson Jr be on his way to the NY Knicks?

His injuries moving forward would be of major concern but the Knicks currently have the poster-child of a player that was able to rebound from an injury-riddled early career in Derrick Rose.

Rose is firmly cemented in the 6th Man of the Year race and can perhaps help JJJ learn how to better take care of his body to prevent lower-extremity injuries.

A healthy Jackson Jr would help elevate the Knicks to easily the 4th best team in the Eastern Conference with the ability to move a bit higher in the standings on a yearly basis.

Berman did touch on another solid point in which Jackson’s fit next to Julius Randle would be a weird one.

He is more of a modern-day power forward in that he has the ability to put the ball on the floor as well as shoot it from deep.

Jackson reminds me a bit of a poor-man’s Bam Adebayo without the ability to bring the ball up and facilitate.

I could see Jackson playing more of a reserve role but playing heavier minutes or just outright starting at the 5-spot next to Randle.

In terms of how this whole situation relates to the Knicks and why JJJ is being linked to them, Jackson has a nice relationship with New York’s President of Basketball Operations Leon Rose.

Rose was Jackson’s agent prior to taking the gig in the Knicks’ front office.

The Knicks have also recently brought on JJJ’s father, Jaren Jackson Sr, who is a former NBA player himself and is currently an assistant coach with the Westchester Knicks.

With all of these pieces of information, it’s easy to see how this rumor isn’t completely out of left field and could perhaps have some validity to it.

Jackson is super versatile and would fit in quite well on this Knicks team, as he’s one of those guys who can guard his man all the way out to the 3-point line and has the athleticism to be able to recover in time to contest a shot at the rim if need be.

He has all the intangibles and tools in his toolbox to become a future All-Star caliber player one day and perhaps can contend for Defensive Player of the Year honors one day.

What say you, Knicks fans?

Would you like the Knicks to kick the tires on a Jaren Jackson Jr trade?