As the Ja Morant rumors continue to fly around the NBA, the Sacramento Kings have been increasingly named a potential landing spot. That could work out well for Morant as Russell Westbrook might be the mentor the young star has been lacking in Memphis.
Morant has been a hot topic of conversation in the league for the last few days. That's nothing new for the controversial and sometimes troubled star. This time, it's trade rumors that are flying fast and furious, keeping in mind that nothing has been confirmed by anyone involved.
At the same time, it's become exceedingly obvious that the Grizzlies are not happy with Ja, and Ja is not happy with the Grizzlies. A trade seems inevitable at this point, with the questions of who and when the only ones left to be answered. Given the tension, that's likely to be the Kings and soon.
Ja could be heading west
Both the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Sacramento Kings have been mentioned as keeping an eye on the situation in Memphis. The Kings seem to be a more probable option as a trade involving Zach LaVine would benefit both teams, and would actually open a little cap space for Sacramento.
While Ja has had his personal issues and also has some holes in his game, he could be what the Kings need. Morant provides a high-octane offense that keeps his opponents on their toes. Sacramento could use a little of that energy to help it find another gear.
But it's also hard to ignore the issues he brings to the table, particularly when it comes to maturity and directing all that energy in a useful direction. Oddly enough, the Kings might have the answer to those problems in Russell Westbrook, someone who could help mentor Morant.
Westbrook and Morant might become the Kings' dynamic duo
For his entire NBA career, Ja has been on the Grizzlies, a team predominantly made up of young players during his run. He has never had an NBA veteran to mentor him in an ongoing fashion. Russell Westbrook has the experience, skill, and know-how to guide Morant into being the player he could be.
Morant's game has been compared to Derrick Rose, Allen Iverson, and even Russell Westbrook. Like Ja, Westbrook plays with high-level athleticism, generating offense with fast breaks and playmaking. There isn't a veteran in the league better suited to help Morant find the next level.
If nothing else, playing alongside Westbrook will force Morant to finally grow up. Russell loves basketball and has fun playing it, but he also takes the art of the game incredibly seriously. He could be the one to instill that passion and respect into Morant, making him absolutely elite.