The Sacramento Kings are officially on Ja Morant watch. After serving a one-game suspension for “conduct detrimental to the team,” the Memphis Grizzlies star returned to action against the Houston Rockets — but questions surrounding his future haven’t gone away. At 26, Morant’s once-stable relationship with the franchise appears strained, and the betting markets now suggest a change of scenery could be imminent.
According to The Sacramento Bee’s Jason Anderson, Sacramento has emerged as the odds-on favorite to acquire Morant, with BetOnline listing the Kings at +400 to land him via trade. The Miami Heat (+500) and Houston Rockets (+600) follow closely behind, but the growing sense around the league is that the Kings are poised to make a move if Memphis opens the door.
Sacramento’s Search for a Star Point Guard
At 3–5 to start the 2025–26 season, Sacramento’s offensive flaws are glaring. General manager Scott Perry inherited an aging, inconsistent roster and has been transparent about wanting to build for sustainable success. The point guard position, in particular, remains a void after the team moved on from De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton in recent years.
Veterans Dennis Schroder and Russell Westbrook were brought in as short-term solutions, but neither has provided the spark Perry hoped for. Schroder is on his fourth team in two seasons and is owed roughly $15 million per year through age 34, while Westbrook, now 36, has struggled with efficiency since joining the team.
Morant, under contract through 2028, offers both a long-term and high-upside answer. He’s averaging 20.4 points, 7.3 assists, and 3.8 rebounds this season — slightly down from his career norms — but remains one of the league’s most explosive playmakers. Despite shooting just 39.3% from the field and 13.9% from three, his ability to pressure defenses and elevate teammates is something Sacramento sorely lacks.
Memphis Faces a Crossroads
Morant’s suspension followed a tense postgame exchange with head coach Tuomas Iisalo after a loss to the Lakers, where the guard scored only eight points on 3-of-14 shooting. The coach reportedly questioned Morant’s leadership and effort, and the player’s “dismissive” response prompted team discipline.
While Memphis has stood by Morant through multiple off-court controversies — including two suspensions in 2023 for flashing firearms on social media — there’s growing uncertainty about whether both sides are ready to move forward together. The Grizzlies, who are stuck in the Western Conference’s middle tier, could view a trade as a chance to reset both culturally and financially.
Morant is in the third year of his five-year, $197.2 million max contract and will earn nearly $45 million in 2027–28. For a franchise evaluating its long-term flexibility, moving him for veteran leadership and assets may hold appeal — especially if locker-room trust has eroded.
What a Kings–Grizzlies Deal Could Look Like
Jason Burgos of Sportsnaut floated a potential package involving six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan, veteran point guard Dennis Schroder, and a 2027 first-round pick.
For Memphis, the return would provide a short-term scorer in DeRozan, a reliable stopgap guard in Schroder, and an additional draft asset to build around. DeRozan, 36, is owed $24.7 million this season and $25.7 million next — effectively serving as an expiring contract or veteran mentor. Schroder, meanwhile, offers stability on a controllable deal.
For the Kings, this is the type of high-risk, high-reward move that could redefine their ceiling. A backcourt of Morant and Zach Lavine along with Domantas Sabonis, and Keegan Murray would give Sacramento one of the league’s most dynamic young cores — and a legitimate chance to rise from the play-in tier to true playoff contention.
The odds, the tension, and the timing all point to one conclusion: the Ja Morant era in Memphis could be nearing its end. And if that happens, the Kings look ready to make the biggest gamble of the season.
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