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 staff 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 have 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 have been reluctant to offer 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 have been receiving draft capital, and the Grizzlies have been insistent that they don’t seem to be keen to connect draft capital to maneuver off of Morant,” Fischer said.
In the end, the Kings took rising star Darius Acuff Jr. early within the 2026 NBA Draft, all however ending the necessity to even think about taking over Morant:
“Then Sacramento, in fact, simply used the No. 7 decide on Darius Acuff, who’s gonna be their new lead guard, and bringing on Morant could be contradictory and counterintuitive,” added Fischer.
The Kings have been available in the market for a degree guard since transferring on from De’Aaron Fox, however not even a staff with a protracted historical past of constructing questionable strikes and unhealthy trades was keen to go wherever near Morant with no decide as further compensation.
As soon as thought-about a rising star and one of many potential faces of the league, Morant now has detrimental commerce worth.
Accidents, questionable selections off the courtroom, an absence of accountability and run-ins together with his coaches have taken an enormous toll on his repute, and with him nonetheless being owed practically $90 million over the subsequent couple of years, the Grizzlies is likely to be caught with him.
