The Sacramento Kings could use an impact trade to elevate them beyond their current mediocrity.
After trading De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs in February, the Kings struggled to find an identity, hovering in the NBA’s middle ground.
A recent report suggests they could be eyeing a bold move to acquire a dynamic young star to lead their franchise forward.
Bleacher Report’s Timothy Rapp outlined the Kings’ predicament and a possible solution.
“The Sacramento Kings find themselves in the NBA’s version of purgatory—decent enough to potentially compete for a Play-In Tournament berth each season, but not anywhere close to talented enough to be an actual contender,” Rapp wrote.
“Ja Morant would certainly give them a star to build around, essentially replacing De’Aaron Fox after he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in February. The Kings would probably try to get off of Zach LaVine’s contract in the process in an effort to make the money work, so this would be an expensive move for them, but they have all of their own first-round picks going forward along with San Antonio’s first in 2027 and Minnesota’s in 2031. An alternate path might be something like Malik Monk, Keegan Murray, Jonas Valančiūnas and a mountain of picks for Morant, though a core group of Morant, LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis would be an odd fit. This might require another move or two to make sense for the Kings, but rebuilding around Morant would be more logical than keeping the status quo intact.”
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Could Morant, the Memphis Grizzlies’ electrifying point guard, be the answer to Sacramento’s woes?
At 25, Morant remains one of the league’s most explosive talents, averaging 23.2 points, 7.3 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game in 2025, despite injury challenges.
His ability to break down defenses and create for teammates mirrors Fox’s skill set. Pairing Morant with Domantas Sabonis could create a potent pick-and-roll duo, but Sacramento would need shooters like Keon Ellis to complement Morant’s drive-heavy game.
For Memphis, trading Morant would mean a full rebuild, especially after moving Desmond Bane to Orlando for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, and four unprotected first-rounders. A package including Murray, a promising young forward, and picks could tempt Memphis to reset around Jaren Jackson Jr. and new assets.
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