With a little more than a day left before the trade deadline, there’s a specter haunting the Sacramento Kings rumor mill: the growing availability of Mr. Temetrius Jamel Morant. It’s not news that the Kings have been mentioned on and off again in regards to the Memphis Grizzlies point guard – since as far back as this summer there’s been speculation as to Sacramento having middling interest in the oft injured star point guard after the inevitable divorce between his camp and the Memphis Grizzlies. The Kings thus far have declined through media outlets anything more than a passing interest in Morant and yet, with the price for Morant supposedly dropping more and more each day, and the Grizzlies already moving on from their other franchise cornerstone in Jaren Jackson Jr. Tuesday morning, the books aren’t yet officially closed on a Ja Morant, Sacramento Kings partnership.
According to Sam Amick of the Athletic:
“The Sacramento Kings are consistently mentioned as one of the few teams — if not the only one — that might decide to get into the Morant business before the Thursday deadline. As of today, I can relay, per team sources, that they have still not completely closed the door on that idea. That being said, the percentage chance of this actually happening was placed in the low-single-digits when I inquired about it pre-Jaren Jackson Jr. trade.”
And how, one might ask, does Ja Morant feel about any potential team up in Sactown? Well according to Marc Stein:
Morant ‘would likely be reluctant’ to sign a contract extension with the Sacramento Kings.
And yet, despite those single digit likelihoods and Ja Morant being reluctant to be in Sacramento long term, one has to wonder just how little the Memphis Grizzlies are willing to take for their former All-Star point guard. According to both Kelly Iko and Jake Fisher: as of this evening, that price is dropping and fast.
The Memphis Grizzlies asking price for Ja Morant continues to fall
The Memphis Grizzlies are expected to accelerate their efforts to deal away Ja Morant and are prepared to come off their previous asking price
If the Grizzlies are willing to swap depreciated assets in Zach LaVine and Morant for some measure of draft compensation, would Scott Perry, ignoring all six of his pillars and the need for a good ol’ fashion youth movement, really say no? Would Kings Governor Vivek Ranadive really let him?
Hold on to your hats, folks. Kings might still have another Kangz move or two left in them before the deadline on Thursday.
He has a fully guaranteed 3 years left so no thanks. I wouldn’t be mad if the Kings got a couple of FRP for the trouble but ultimately this is a terrible idea. He’d be a horrible example for the younger guys and the Kings would continue to be the laughing stock.
I agree. They should only consider this if an FRP is coming their way and they get to offload a shorter term contract like DDR. At least it moves the needle for a future usable asset. But judging by the first trade we made, the Kings might just continue to make moves that make us worse for the future with little in assets to look forward to a real rebuild.
Vivek just won’t be able to stop himself, will he?
No with no PG for next season and capped out roster, Kangz are going to give up future assets to bring Ja in on a “depreciated” cost, or at least that is how the front office with spin it.
Ja and Niang for LaVine, a future first, and some seconds. It’s almost a perfect salary match and will cripple this franchise for another decade.
Chris Haynes on some insights to Sabonis and the Raptors:
I cannot fathom such a depth. If they did this, this stretch will go down as the worst performance over 1-2 years of any NBA front office in history. They’re probably already close, but this would take the cake.
Imagine, we will end up having given up Hali for four years of Domas, one first-round exit, and a couple 2nd-rounders.
Man, when you look at it like that, it really does suck. Now, playing devil’s advocate, here is also 4 years of depreciation in Domas and he’s on a much larger contract. Hindsight is 20/20 and all.
When you look at the impact that the Fox trade has had on the output and value of Domas (and perhaps Keegan), that trade may indeed be the worst in Sacramento history – and it’s not as though there isn’t a lot of competition in that category.
The Philly trade is right up there, too – set the franchise back several years.
The Derek Smith trade was always my #1, but it may have been relegated to #3 by these other two trades.
What a shitshow.
My son and I were having that exact same discussion this past weekend Rob. It really unraveled everything, including neutering the efficacy Domas had offensively with the personnel who was brought it. Just remarkable in how catastrophically inept, and how the FO seems to have told itself “hold my jimboys” with attempts to one up its own ineptitude in consequent decisions.
Sabonis, if loud consistent rumors are true, is responsible for this mess by wanting Brown gone.
No self awareness that without Fox he wasn’t going to carry this team.
I have heard bits and pieces of this rumor (some from this site) but don’t understand what Domas’ motive would be. Any insight on that?
I am not super connected or anything. But have some friends that have worked in admin positions for the kings. I grew up in Sac, I’ve just heard from their outside observation around the team just seemed like he changed after the beam team year and some more ego popped. Like he started thinking more that he was to quote Reggie Jackson the straw that stirs the drink.
For what it’s worth I’ve heard this happen multiple times and most of them has said it always happens after Vivek makes that person “his guy”. I think the issue here was Fox was that then when Sabonis came here and they had success he listened to Sabonis not Fox.
I love Malik but his involvement was all but confirmed with his really loud argument with Fox’s wife after his first game back with the Spurs. If you were sitting 20 rows deep you could hear that clearly lol. She wasn’t wrong though. Basically told him hey you made choices now you’re paying for them.
I hear you, but no one will ever beat Vivek’s decisions during Vlade Divac’s run – the infamous 2015 Sixers trade, holding Rudy Gay until he tore his Achilles, hiring Like F. Walton, and drafting Bagley and Papagiannis. It’s the “hitting 90 home runs” of GM stupidity. That level of stupidity can never be topped.
Uff da. I had almost forgotten about that parlay of stupidity right there.
So using the Ellis deal as a baseline, we will wind up sending a 2nd round pick.
Just say NO to Sacramento, Ja! Please.
Quick- can you think of a worse teammate in the NBA right now?
(Ayton, Draymond, Miles Bridges, James Harden – nope. Morant takes the cake)
Let’s fix this bit:
If it’s a straight up Lavine for Ja swap I do it. Or is DDR+Monk. Fine. I think we would be getting picks back for that contact, but I don’t have much faith in this org. Ja could be cousins who wore out his welcome or Barnes/Collision who did so even faster. He could be Artest who is both unhinged and a pure talent in a new place. Or he could be Webber whose attitude and reputation proceeded him. Other than injuries and character flaws, my only concern would be the Kings passing on Peterson if we want him because we have Ja. I still don’t think this happens but I guess we’ll see.
You would swap a bad short contract for a bad, longer contract? Why?
Yeah, I’d prefer to just let LaVine expire than take on Morant.
Ja is talented. Idiotic, frustrating and at least, but talented. I’ve yet to see a major free agent signing in Sacramento work out. But trades have. If I can buy low on a younger asset that makes more sense for the team, I do it. Unless you think Sacramento is going to pull a major FA in summer 2027 which is supposed to be fantastic, then I would rather take swings on depreciated asset. I’d rather do that than have Monte’s ALMOST trading for Siakam, OG, etc.
+1, Would anyone here have done the Utah trade for JJJ?
Not a chance. Sending out 3 FRPs when we are nowhere near 1 JJJ away from doing anything other than competing for the bottom half the play-in tourney makes no sense to me.
Zion or Ja
No or No
This is brilliant. When the deadline expires and we don’t trade for Ja, there will be collective relief and attaboys all around for the trade that was not made.
Vivek, you magnificent bastard. I read your book!
Is it bad that I just don’t really care what they do at this point? It won’t make anyone feel better.
Well, I guess the Kings are going to try and get Domas a PnR partner to try and compete next year, lol. Ja Morant, come on down!!!
There’s always room in Sacramento for a Kangz move
Send him to Miami so we can watch Pat Riley strangle him!
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