The Memphis Grizzlies were largely successful this past season after a catastrophic 2023-24 NBA campaign, as they regained their form. Nevertheless, the Grizzlies were unable to advance beyond the Play-In Tournament, ultimately being eliminated in the first round by the Oklahoma City Thunder, despite holding the No. 2 seed for a significant portion of the season.
The Grizzlies will refocus on the offseason, which could be a significant one for them, following their early postseason exit. Jaren Jackson Jr. is eligible for a contract extension in the summer, and the team must determine his next course of action.
Bobby Marks, an analyst for ESPN, recently predicted the potential future of Memphis and the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year.
Jackson Jr. is not eligible for a supermax contract this year due to his failure to make an All-NBA team. Consequently, there is a greater likelihood that he will explore free agency in the upcoming year. Nevertheless, Marks is skeptical that it will reach that stage.
Marks recently prophesied in an ESPN article that the Grizzlies and Jackson Jr. will reach an agreement on an extension. Nevertheless, he is of the opinion that they will renegotiate his contract in order to secure him a new four-year, $190 million contract. This is over $40 million more than the maximum contract extension that Jackson Jr. would receive under the current circumstances.
“The maximum extension permitted would be four years and $146.8 million due to the declining rookie extension that Jackson signed in 2021.” Marks suggested that a feasible resolution would be to renegotiate Jackson Jr.’s $23.3 million salary with contract space and subsequently extend it for an additional four seasons. For instance, the Grizzlies could augment his salary to $30.3 million by utilizing the $6.9 million in available capacity. Memphis would then be permitted to extend his contract for an additional four years and $190 million.
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