Ja Morant won’t play against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday when the Memphis Grizzlies visit Golden 1 Center on the eve of the NBA trade deadline, but he might play for them in the near future if the latest rumors are true.
The Grizzlies traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, and Morant, who is currently sidelined by an elbow injury, could be next as Memphis enters a rebuild. The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported Tuesday that Sacramento might be the most likely landing spot for Morant if he is moved before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.
“The Sacramento Kings are consistently mentioned as one of the few teams – if not the only one – that might decide to get into the Morant business before the Thursday deadline. As of today, I can relay, per team sources, that they have still not completely closed the door on that idea. That being said, the percentage chance of this actually happening was placed in the low-single-digits when I inquired about it pre-Jaren Jackson Jr. trade.”
The Kings (12-39) are mired in a season-long nine-game losing streak as they open a three-game homestand. Domantas Sabonis, who has been the subject of trade talks with the Toronto Raptors, is listed as questionable due to lower back soreness. Russell Westbrook, who has missed the past three games with a right foot contusion, will be available against the Grizzlies. De’Andre Hunter, who was acquired in Saturday’s trade with the Cleveland vCavaliers, will also be available.
The Grizzlies (19-29) had lost six in a row before beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 137-128 on Monday. They will be shorthanded after trading Jackson, John Konchar, Vince Williams and Jock Landale to Utah on Tuesday.
Here are three key storylines going into Wednesday’s game.
More on Ja Morant
Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports reported Wednesday that Sacramento continues to be the team most strongly connected to Morant, noting that the Kings view Morant as “a high-upside player who could return to star status with a change of scenery.” O’Connor added that the Miami Heat has also engaged Memphis in talks for Morant.
NBA insider Jake Fischer corroborated that report while noting that “the Grizzlies’ asking price for Ja Morant has dropped significantly,” citing unnamed sources.
“If we do end up seeing Memphis’ former All-Star guard dealt over the next 27 hours, a team like Sacramento or Miami is going to do so at a low cost,” Fischer tweeted. “I’ve been told not to discount Milwaukee, either.”
Domantas Sabonis trade rumors
The Kings and Raptors have reportedly discussed a deal that would send Sabonis to Toronto in exchange for RJ Barrett and Ochai Agbaji. HoopsHype and The Athletic reported that the deal would likely require a third team to take on the contract of Jakob Poeltl, who is owed $103.6 million over the next four years.
HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported Tuesday morning that talks between the Kings and Raptors were on pause, saying Toronto “is concerned about giving up too much first-round draft pick compensation to move Jakob Poeltl to a third team.”
The Athletic later reported that the Kings expected to keep Sabonis past the trade deadline after talks with Toronto stalled out. The Kings reportedly had talks with the Wahington Wizards as well, but the Wizards made a move to acquire Anthoy Davis from the Dallas Mavericks instead.
Buyout for DeMar DeRozan?
Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated reported that the Kings have received little interest in veterans Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRoan, adding that there’s a strong possibility the Kings will buy out DeRozan if they are unable to trade him.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater contradicted that report, tweeting: “The Kings have no plans to buy out DeMar DeRozan if he’s still on the team after the trade deadline, per sources.”
Grizzlies at Kings
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Golden 1 Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Kings -2.5
Over/under: 228.5
Injury report
Grizzlies: QUESTIONABLE — Santi Aldama (knee). DOUBTFUL — Scotty Pippen Jr. OUT — Kyle Anderson (trade pending); Brandon Clarke (calf); Walter Clayton Jr. (trade pending); Taylor Hendricks (trade pending); Ja Morant (elbow); Georges Niang (trade pending).
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Domantas Sabonis (back). OUT — Keegan Murray (ankle); Daeqwon Plowden (G League); Isaiah Stevens (G League).