There are plenty of decisions for Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman and his staff to make before the NBA trade deadline Thursday.

Which players are expendable? Who has the kind of value that could bring back key assets? And what will the Grizzlies prioritize for the rest of the season?

The first Grizzlies trade domino fell last week, when Memphis dealt Steven Adams to the Rockets for Victor Oladipo and three second-round picks. That pushed another question to the forefront: What is the Grizzlies' plan at center, both in the short and long term?

Jaren Jackson Jr. has played frequently at center this year, but that's mostly been because of necessity as so many players have gone down injured. There are advantages and disadvantages to playing him at that spot, but he's typically played alongside a more traditional center like Adams. Here are three options to address the center position moving forward.

The trade market

Even though the Grizzlies aren't expected to contend for the playoffs this season, there are plenty of thing to work out during the rest of the season. Kleiman could certainly look to acquire a center before Thursday's deadline and use the remaining games to decide on his long-term plans at the position.

Among the names that have been linked with the Grizzlies in this capacity are Charlotte's Nick Richards and Chicago's Andre Drummond. Both probably could be acquired without giving up a ton of draft capital or future assets, but having a traditional center on the roster for the rest of the season would allow Jackson to slide back to the 4 as he continues to develop.

Brandon Clarke also has been working his way back to full health after suffering an Achilles injury last season, so he could return and help shore up the center position as well.

MORE: Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins on Steven Adams trade: 'We're going to miss him'

Draft options

The Grizzlies will likely have their highest draft pick since they picked Ja Morant in 2019, though they won't know their exact selection until the NBA Draft lottery after the season. Most mock drafters already expected the Grizzlies to look at a center in the draft, and even more will probably do so now that Adams has been dealt.

Among those names: Duke's Kyle Filipowski and UConn's Donovan Clingan. A few mock drafts also have the Grizzlies looking at a pair of G League Ignite prospects who have size but aren't centers — Ron Holland and Matas Buzelis. Drafting either would give the Grizzlies lineup flexibility moving forward.

There's also the possibility that the Grizzlies could use that pick — wherever it ends up being — to make a trade closer to the draft.

Jaren Jackson Jr., full-time center?

Jackson has had offensive success this season attacking opposing centers, but he's still primarily viewed as a power forward. He's more effective defensively as a 4 and doesn't have to be the teams' primary defensive rebounder. He won NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 while playing next to Adams and then Xavier Tillman Sr. after Adams was injured.

Still, coach Taylor Jenkins said last week that he expects Jackson will continue to play center in some capacity.

"We envision Jaren getting opportunities at the five, seeing that and learning that development opportunity for him with the ball in his hands more as a screener, having some shooting around there," he said. "We’ve got different avenues that we’re going to explore.”

Jackson at center opens up some intriguing lineup possibilities for the Grizzlies, like a small-ball five of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, Vince Williams Jr. and Jaren Jackson Jr. that would figure to cause all sorts of defensive issues for opposing teams.

It doesn't all need to be worked out by Thursday's deadline, of course, but the future of the center position will probably be a talking point for Grizzlies fans from now until at least the start of next season.

Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @thejonahdylan.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: 3 options for the Grizzlies at the center position after Adams trade