The Sacramento Kings have expressed interest in trading for Marc Gasol, according The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor. The Memphis Grizzlies finally made the decision to shop Gasol and Mike Conley as the league approaches the February 7th trade deadline. Nonetheless, this is a surprising rumor to see the Kings included in, for a variety of reasons.

Marc Gasol is a still a very good NBA player, although not as good as he once was. He’s 33 years old and on a huge contract this year and next. Just from a fit standpoint, it doesn’t make sense that the Kings would add an aging, expensive big man that would presumably slow the development of Marvin Bagley III and Harry Giles.

It also doesn’t make sense from a trade standpoint. Everything we’ve heard reported is that the Kings aren’t trading their young core. The Grizzlies wouldn’t be getting De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Bagley, or Giles. Are they really going to trade Marc Gasol for expiring contracts and second round picks? It seems unlikely.

More than anything, this feels like agents using the Kings’ name for posturing. “Look, there’s interest!” As Sam Amick recently detailed for The Athletic, this is probably one of dozens of phone calls that happened but never went anywhere. Amick quotes Celtics assistant GM Mike Zarren:

I imagine this is very similar. I’m sure the Kings have talked to the Grizzlies. I’m sure they’ve offered expiring contracts and second round picks. I’d be surprised if this ends up going anywhere.

The Kings will be mentioned in a lot of rumors over the next two weeks. Buckle up.