The Memphis Grizzlies are kicking the tires on yet one more rebuild, with Duke star Cameron Boozer as the brand new face of the franchise.
The group has been buying Ja Morant for some time now, however to no avail. The previous No. 2 decide has nearly no commerce worth, and groups have been rightfully hesitant to accumulate his massive contract.
Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins revealed that different groups had been asking the Grizzlies to attach draft picks to Morant’s contract to even begin a dialog.
Now, NBA insider Jake Fischer has confirmed that report, revealing that the Sacramento Kings ended talks when the Grizzlies had been reluctant to present them draft capital.
The Kings wished picks to accumulate Ja Morant
“The Sacramento Kings have been insistent that they solely wished to take Morant again in the event that they had been receiving draft capital, and the Grizzlies have been insistent that they don’t seem to be prepared to connect draft capital to maneuver off of Morant,” Fischer said.
Finally, the Kings took rising star Darius Acuff Jr. early within the 2026 NBA Draft, all however ending the necessity to even take into account taking over Morant:
“Then Sacramento, after all, simply used the No. 7 decide on Darius Acuff, who’s gonna be their new lead guard, and bringing on Morant can be contradictory and counterintuitive,” added Fischer.
The Kings have been available in the market for a degree guard since shifting on from De’Aaron Fox, however not even a group with a protracted historical past of creating questionable strikes and dangerous trades was prepared to go anyplace near Morant with no decide as extra compensation.
As soon as thought of a rising star and one of many potential faces of the league, Morant now has destructive commerce worth.
Accidents, questionable choices off the court docket, an absence of accountability and run-ins along with his coaches have taken an enormous toll on his fame, and with him nonetheless being owed practically $90 million over the following couple of years, the Grizzlies is likely to be caught with him.
