Sacramento emerges as a top contender in blockbuster rumors, potentially acquiring the dynamic Grizzlies star amid a massive team shake-up.
The never-ending cycle of NBA trade gossip has yet to relinquish its grip on the Sacramento Kings, even in the aftermath of 4-time All-Star Trae Young's departure from the Atlanta Hawks in a trade with the Washington Wizards on Thursday.
As the Feb. 5 trade deadline inches closer, reports of the league's next underwhelming star point guard to be shopped in discussions has been revealed to be the Memphis Grizzlies' 2-time All-Star and 2022 Most Improved Player Ja Morant.
Morant has suited up for the Grizzlies 18 times this season and plummeted as a scorer, averaging just 19.0 points on an abysmal 42.9% effective field goal percentage.
With that being said, the 26-year-old's previous accomplishments and play-making ability have given prospective suitors a reason to remain interested in acquiring him. In fact, a new report from ClutchPoints' NBA insider Brett Siegel has indicated that the Kings will be one of the top teams to watch with regard to a hypothetical blockbuster Morant trade, along with a few others.
"Keep a very close eye on Minnesota (Timberwolves) and Sacramento for Morant," Siegel shared via X on Friday afternoon.
"If Miami (Heat) wants to make an all-in move, this would be it," Siegel continued.
"Those are three teams immediately coming to mind for a possible Ja Morant trade."
In the midst of his seventh NBA season, Morant could be departing from the franchise that selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, setting the Kings up for what could be an even more intriguing trade deadline.
Sacramento will be more focused than ever on initiating a massive fire-sale leading up to deadline day to move on from stars such as Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Malik Monk and others, and a deal for Morant would give them an opportunity to do so in grand fashion.
Though the opportunity to land a player of Morant's caliber is surely tempting for a Kings organization aiming to land another star floor general in the aftermath of De'Aaron Fox's departure last season, questions of whether the explosive 6-foot-2 guard is the right fit both from a schematic and timeline standpoint are sure to arise.
If the Kings were to inquire about a deal, though, it's not hard to imagine a package including the 36-year-old DeRozan's $24.7 million salary, Dario Saric's expiring $5.4 million contract and a young prospect like Devin Carter to match Morant's $39.4 million price tag.
Memphis would likely seek valued draft capital in such a transaction, but it appears more likely that he'd net a return that would appear closer to what the Hawks got for Young in C.J. McCollum's expiring deal, Corey Kispert and zero draft assets. Besides, the Kings are more interested in obtaining first-round draft choices than sending them out for a teetering, injury-prone talent.
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