Ja Morant's Top Landing Spots After Grizzlies Trade Bane to Magic for KCP, Anthony
The Memphis Grizzlies shook up the NBA world on Sunday morning, reportedly trading star guard Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic, per ESPN's Shams Charania, for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-rounders (2025, Phoenix's pick in 2026, 2028, 2030) and a first-round pick swap (2029).
That has left NBA fans with one question: Is Ja Morant next?
Below, we'll review some of the best potential fits for the star point guard if Memphis decides to make another blockbuster move and usher in a rebuild.
Brooklyn Nets
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The Nets have a roster full of solid role players, but they desperately need an actual star to build around (and falling to No. 8 in this year's draft probably won't help in their cause to unearth that player).
The Nets have four first-round picks in the 2025 draft alone, along with the New York Knicks' unprotected firsts in 2027, 2029 and 2031 and Philly's protected first (1-8) in 2027, along with other draft assets.
They have the future capital to make a splash, in other words, and are the one team this offseason with plenty of cap space to spare. They may end up using that space to help facilitate other deals in exchange for adding to their future draft-pick bounty, but if they make a splash now, they have the goods to do so. Adding Morant, in his prime years, would register as a franchise-altering acquisition.
Houston Rockets
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The Houston Rockets may end up being in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes, but if they lose out (or decide against a pursuit), inquiring about Morant's availability would make sense.
Houston still seems like it is a move away from being a genuine contender in the loaded West, and adding a player like Morant would either give the team a pair of playmakers if Fred VanVleet is signed to a long-term deal or allow Morant to take over the point guard duties.
A deal built around Jalen Green and future draft capital could make sense for the Rockets while keeping themselves on the same timeline, given Morant's age. Houston may ultimately opt for continuity next season, but you'd have to imagine they'd at least inquire if Morant became available.
Sacramento Kings
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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.
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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