The Sacramento Kings have been struggling massively in the last few seasons. They have failed to make the playoffs in two consecutive years, and that is not the end of their struggles. They let go of point guard De’Aaron Fox and have not been able to find a suitable replacement until now.
Fox was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in a 3-team trade, and the Kings received Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, and several draft picks in return. The Chicago Bulls were also included in the trade. Since moving to Sacramento, LaVine has struggled to find his footing and has not made a lasting impact until now.
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Who Can the Kings Sign at Point Guard?
The Kings have been floated as a potential landing spot for Ja Morant. The young star has been having his fair share of drama in Tennessee as well. Off-court controversies, suspensions, trash talk on the floor: you name it all. Morant has also been struggling with injuries in recent times.
Sacramento Kings receive: Ja Morant, Gary Harris
Memphis Grizzlies receive: Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis, Devin Carter, Dennis Schröder, 2026 unprotected first-round pick (SAC), 2027 pick swap (SAC)
Milwaukee Bucks receive: DeMar DeRozan, Santi Aldama, GG Jackson II
To make matters worse, he recently got into it with head coach Tuomas Iisalo as well. These issues have led the NBA world to question whether his time with the Grizzlies is truly over. The Kings could use an explosive player like Morant, as PFSN analyst Brandon Austin suggests.
He writes, “Less than a year after trading away their dynamic point guard, the Sacramento Kings might replace De’Aaron Fox with Ja Morant in this scenario. Admittedly, it would be an absolute best-case scenario for the Kings, especially if Morant can find his form from previous years in Sacramento.”
Although they are two different players, Morant can offer incredible athleticism and offensive ability, as he can drive to the rim with ease. Fox, on the other hand, was a lethal shooter who could hurt teams mainly from mid-range.
Austin said, “After some incendiary comments in the locker room and some halfhearted play on the court, it seems like the Grizzlies could be headed towards a divorce from their former franchise cornerstone, as the new coaching staff seems less than enamored with him.”
“For the Kings, it allows them to get off DeMar DeRozan and start a new phase for the organization, rather than being stuck in purgatory near the bottom of the Western Conference,” he added.
The Bucks have also been predicted to be involved in this 3-team trade deal. They could land DeMar DeRozan and Santi Aldama, as well as GG Jackson II. The Grizzlies could receive a package headlined by Dennis Schröder, Kyle Kuzma, and Bobby Portis. The Kings would potentially get Ja Morant and Gary Harris.
“While Morant comes with risk, the hope for the Kings has to be that they can unlock the version of the superstar point guard who made the Grizzlies a threat in the West with back-to-back playoff appearances and pushing the Golden State Warriors to their absolute limit,” Austin concludes.
Morant comes with the risk of landing in off-court controversies, as he has demonstrated in the last few years. However, he is a player with immense potential and could well be one of the best in the league if his weaknesses are addressed. If he ends up leaving the Grizzlies, a fresh start may have a positive impact on his career.