Ja Morant Reportedly Will Be Monitored By Kings amid Grizzlies, NBA Trade Rumors

Ja Morant's future with the Memphis Grizzlies may be up in the air, which has reportedly caught the attention of a fellow Western Conference team.

Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee reported Tuesday that Morant is "the subject of growing trade speculation" for the Sacramento Kings. While Anderson reported the Kings have not formally engaged the Grizzlies in trade discussions, he also noted general manager Scott Perry will monitor the guard's "future in Memphis."

Morant was under the spotlight following Friday's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in which he scored eight points on 3-of-14 shooting from the field. After the game, he told reporters "go ask the coaching staff" when asked about his struggles.

He then said "according to them, probably don't play me," when asked how things could have been different. "That's basically what the message was after."

Memphis suspended him one game for conduct detrimental to the team, which ESPN's Shams Charania reported "comes as a result of Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo challenging Morant's leadership and effort in a postgame exchange after loss to the Lakers on Friday night—to which Morant responded in a tone deemed inappropriate."

The Murray State product returned for Monday's loss to the Detroit Pistons and finished with 18 points on 5-of-16 shooting from the field, but it wasn't his performance that turned the most heads.

Instead, Morant made headlines when he told Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, "No" when asked if he was feeling his normal joy.

What the entire situation means for the guard's future with the Grizzlies remains to be seen, but the Kings would be a logical landing spot if they decide they want to pursue him. While they added Dennis Schröder and Russell Westbrook this offseason, neither is a long-term solution at point guard.

Morant could be at 26 years old, especially since his ceiling remains one of the best players in the league with a resume that includes a Rookie of the Year, a Most Improved Player, two All-Star selections and an All-NBA nod.

However, multiple suspensions and injuries limited him to nine games in 2023-24 and 50 games in 2024-25. He is also shooting what would be a career-worst 39.3 percent from the field in seven games this season and has already been suspended in the early going.

Sacramento will have to weigh the entire situation when deciding whether to trade for him, but it could use a long-term point guard alongside Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan.