Sacramento Kings Would Consider Ja Morant Trade Under ONE Condition

The Ja Morant 'sweepstakes' are on around the NBA. Notice the lower-case 's' in sweepstakes, as it's not exactly a robust competition. There aren't a lot of teams clamouring over each other to bring in a volatile and combustible point guard in the middle of a five-year $200 million contract, with only 30 games played on average the previous two seasons. And nearly as many suspensions as playoff appearances.

But yet, the Sacramento Kings are a team that's desperate for a new star, and in particular, a point guard, given that they traded away De'Aaron Fox last year, and Tyrese Haliburton a couple of years before that.

However, the only way the Kings are interested in a Morant trade is under one condition: The Memphis Grizzlies would have to take on a specific trade package that includes DeMar DeRozan.

The Kings are not expected to pursue Ja Morant unless Memphis is willing to accept a package including DeMar DeRozan, Devin Carter, and draft capital, per @TheSteinLine

“The Kings, meanwhile, are generally painted as a team that does not intend to pursue Morant. However ...I… pic.twitter.com/ZSQRlJAxlE
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 11, 2026

In addition to DeRozan, who has another year after this one remaining on his contract at over $25M, the Grizz would be offered Devin Carter and draft capital to complete the package, if they were to accept.

Per insider Marc Stein, “The Kings, meanwhile, are generally painted as a team that does not intend to pursue Morant. However ...I must confess that some chatter to the contrary over the weekend has circulated suggesting that Sacramento's position could change if Memphis was prepared to accept a package headlined by DeMar DeRozan, Devin Carter and some level of draft capital.”

Morant, the former No. 2 overall pick (2018), managed to play in just 50 games last season and only nine games the year before due to a combination of injuries and two suspensions for incidents with guns.

The 26-year-old has appeared in only 18 games this season, on account of more injuries, and a team suspension for insubordination. He came out last year and warned that he wasn't in the mood for dunking anymore.

He could be the second controversial star point guard to be traded this year, after the recent deal of Trae Young to the Washington Wizards.