One of the biggest news in the NBA over the past week is Ja Morant‘s situation with the Memphis Grizzlies. Morant was suspended for one game due to his remarks about the coaching staff. He also expressed his unhappiness with what’s happening, prompting trade speculations.
Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee reported that the Sacramento Kings are monitoring the situation in Memphis. The Kings haven’t had contact with the Grizzlies regarding Morant, but Sacramento is one of his likely destinations if he becomes available for trade.
“According to a league source, the Kings have yet to engage the Grizzlies in trade talks in light of the latest developments in Memphis, but that could change. (Scott) Perry, an experienced NBA executive who has been a part of roster transformations in Detroit, Orlando and New York, will most certainly monitor all situations involving high-end talent, including Morant’s future in Memphis,” Anderson wrote.
In his first season, Perry brought in Dennis Schroder in free agency via sign-and-trade with the Detroit Pistons. He also signed Russell Westbrook and Precious Achiuwa, though the Kings’ direction this season is uncertain.
On the other hand, Morant’s suspension came from his remarks about coach Tuomas Iisalo. The franchise deemed his comments detrimental to the team, so they suspended him for one game. Upon his return, the two-time All-Star wasn’t happy with the situation, though he confirmed that things are fine between him and the Grizzlies.
NBA Insider Provides Info on Morant’s Trade Market
ESPN’s Marc J. Spears reported on “NBA Today” that at least four executives told him that they aren’t interested in trading for Ja Morant. One coach even shared that he’s unsure if he wants to coach a player like the 26-year-old guard.
“Four of the execs I talked to today say they really have no interest in trading for him. One said it was because it’s a combo of contract and off the court issues. Another suggested that if Ja is traded it’ll probably be a problem star for a problem star. I asked one current NBA coach if he would like to coach Ja Morant and he said I’m not sure I’d want to,” Spears said, via ClutchPoints.
Morant hasn’t been the same since his off-court issues led to a couple of suspensions over the past two seasons. He remains an exciting player to watch, but some teams might prefer to stay away from a potential headache or public relations nightmare.
Rockets Unlikely To Pursue Morant
There are plenty of NBA teams looking for a proper point guard, including the Houston Rockets. They lost Fred VanVleet to a torn ACL before training camp, with Amen Thompson serving as the starter. Alperen Sengun has also been the team’s top playmaker, but it’s probably better to have a natural playmaker on the roster.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Rockets are unlikely to show any interest in pursuing Morant. They do have a few assets, like Thompson, Tari Eason and Jabari Smith Jr. to package for the bouncy guard. However, they probably prefer to keep that trio rather than add a volatile player.
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