The NBA trade deadline is inching closer and closer, and more big names are in the mix. That includes Ja Morant, who may finally be leaving the Grizzlies. The Sacramento Kings are one of the teams rumored to be interested, but Morant would just be more of the same problems they already have.
Just in: For the first time, the Memphis Grizzlies are entertaining offers to potentially move two-time All-Star Ja Morant ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/SD0RT9Jhuj
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 9, 2026
Sacramento is one of the worst teams in the league, largely because of the terrible job the previous front office did putting this roster together. Now, the team is at the beginning of a transitional phase as they start what will inevitably be a long and involved rebuild process.
The Kings' biggest problem is the fact that they have several high-cost athletes who don't play defense and tend to go into business for themselves frequently. In most cases, those people are long-term league veterans. But not Russell Westbrook. He's amazing and a great value player.
For the current front office, the first goal is to unload as many expensive contracts as possible and make room to develop young players and draft potential legends. Sacramento cannot pull any of that off by bringing in another expensive veteran with injury issues and a limited game.
Ja Morant needs to go somewhere that isn't Sacramento
Morant has been playing for the Grizzlies for his entire NBA career. He was drafted second by Memphis in 2019, the same year the Pelicans drafted Zion Williamson first. Neither pick worked out particularly well for their respective teams. New Orleans may also be looking to move Zion.
There's no doubt that Ja can be amazing to watch. His energy is incredible, playing at a speed few can keep up with. Plus, he's a dunk machine who generated highlights every game in his prime. The problem is that everyone talks about him as if his prime is already well behind him at the age of 26.
Behind the dunks and high-octane game, there's an undersized point guard who doesn't play defense, is constantly injured, and is locker room poison. When you describe Morant in those terms, he kind of sounds like Trae Young. And like Young, Ja's contract is way overpriced.
The Kings already have expensive veterans who are inconsistent on offense and weak on defense. Signing Ja Morant would just be more of the same for Sacramento, condemning them to continued residency in the NBA's basement instead of moving them through the rebuild and into the future.