Memphis Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant is making headlines for the wrong reasons once again, causing many around the NBA to wonder if a trade could be in the works sooner than later.
Morant, who was suspended for one game this week due to conduct detrimental to the team, was temporarily sidelined due to a postgame exchange with the Grizzlies’ first-year head coach Tuomas Iisalo following Friday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the back-and-forth exchange happened in front of the rest of the team. Morant sat out of Memphis’ 117-104 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night.
There has reportedly been “tension” between Ja Morant and head coach Tuomas Iisalo over the past several days, and teams around the league are monitoring Morant’s situation in Memphis, per @ShamsCharania
(h/t @RealGM ) pic.twitter.com/ZAy0lG301x
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 3, 2025
More on Grizzlies star Ja Morant
Following the news that Memphis would be suspending Ja Morant for one game, Charania reported that tension had been building between the All-Star guard and Iisalo from the start of the season, adding that teams around the league are monitoring the situation in case the Grizzlies decide to part ways.
This isn’t the first time that Ja Morant has made headlines with negative context. During the 2022-23 season, Morant was suspended for eight games after showing a firearm while on an Instagram Live stream at a nightclub.
Later that year, in May 2023, Morant was suspended for 25 games (to start the 2023-24 season) after another video surfaced of Morant posing with a firearm in a car during another Instagram Live feed. Upon his return, Morant was subject to fines from the NBA after making finger-gun gestures during gameplay.
On and off the court, it’s clear that Ja Morant has had issues–but he’s still one of the top point guards in the league today.
Over seven NBA seasons, Morant holds averages of 22.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.0 steals per game on 46/31/77 shooting splits (313 games).
The 26-year-old has been named to two All-Star teams while also owning an NBA Rookie of the Year Award, NBA Most Improved Player Award, and 2021-22 All-NBA Second Team nod during his young career.
Ja Morant when asked questions from the media:
“Go ask the coaching staff.” pic.twitter.com/16x7ScdlWZ
— No Context NBA (@NoContext_NBA_) November 1, 2025
Ja Morant has also helped lead the Grizzlies to four postseason appearances during his career, although Memphis has failed to advance past the second round in that timeframe.
It appears that the 2025-26 season could be a turning point in Morant’s career. The Grizzlies’ patience with their franchise guard is waning, and teams are beginning to line up and assess if trading for the star guard makes sense for their respective franchises.
The Sacramento Kings are also in somewhat of a limbo themselves as they navigate a rough start to the season with no clear direction as of early November.
Sacramento currently has two point guards under contract–Dennis Schroder, who is 32 years old and on the first year of a three-year, $44 million deal with the Kings, and Russell Westbrook, who is on a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum.
After trading away franchise guard De’Aaron Fox one season ago, Sacramento is in the market for a young star who can become a building block for years to come. First-year general manager Scott Perry is taking a reserved, patient approach in building a new roster, and oddsmakers think Morant could be the type of player that Perry is looking for.
According to SportsBetting.ag, the Kings (+400) are listed as the current favorite to acquire Ja Morant via trade, ahead of the Miami Heat (+500), Houston Rockets (+600), and Atlanta Hawks (+700).
Sacramento has the contracts and draft compensation to get a deal for Morant done, but it’s more complex than that from the Kings’ perspective.
Does Ja Morant, who is on the books for $39.5 million, $42.1 million, and $44.9 million per season through 2027-28, make sense to become the next franchise cornerstone for Sacramento? Is Morant worth the risk of his on-and-off the court antics?
If the Kings (2-4) continue down a lackluster path, they could look to offload veterans DeMar DeRozan, Malik Monk, Zach LaVine, and others. Sacramento has plenty of draft picks that they can part with in the right deal, but it will all come down to what Perry and this new front office envision.
Perry already inked forward Keegan Murray to a lucrative five-year extension that will keep him in a Kings uniform long-term. Domantas Sabonis’ sizeable contract likely means he will stick around past this year’s deadline, although anything is possible when it comes to a surprise move.
There are virtually no certainties regarding the current Sacramento roster, and Ja Morant is a gamble that the Kings — and other teams — will need to thoroughly assess before engaging in trade talks with Memphis.
More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports
It’s no secret that the Sacramento Kings are severely undersized, but general manager Scott Perry apparently has something in the works to address that issue.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Sacramento is interested in free agent center Precious Achiuwa, a veteran big man who most recently played for the New York Knicks during the 2024-25 season.
Achiuwa, 26, has been a solid rebounder throughout his five-year career, which aligns with the Kings’ interests.
Sacramento enters play on Monday ranked dead last among all NBA teams in rebounds per game (37.5) as it navigates the opening month without starting forward Keegan Murray (wrist surgery recovery).
If the Kings sign Achiuwa, a corresponding roster move would be required, as Sacramento currently has 15 players under standard contracts.
Russell Westbrook’s deal for this season isn’t fully guaranteed, but the future Hall of Fame guard has played well to start his Kings tenure. Second-year forward Issac Jones (non-guaranteed deal), forward Dario Saric, and wing Doug McDermott are other players who could become expendable if a deal is reached with Achiuwa.
Report: Kings eyeing free-agent center Precious Achiuwa
Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
Monday, November 3rd – @ Denver Nuggets – 6:00 PM PT
Wednesday, November 5th – vs. Golden State Warriors – 7:00 PM PT
Friday, November 7th – vs. Oklahoma City Thunder – 7:00 PM PT
Sunday, November 9th – vs. Minnesota Timberwolves – 6:00 PM PT
Tuesday, November 11th – vs. Denver Nuggets – 8:00 PM PT
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