Ja Morant’s time with the Memphis Grizzlies seems to be nearing an end. After finishing the 2025-26 season with a 25-57 record, it looks like Morant could be shown the door. He recently skipped the team’s exit interviews and reportedly said he no longer wants to play for Memphis.
As his exit now looks inevitable, one team that keeps surfacing in the conversation is the Sacramento Kings, and ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Michael C. Wright have added a specific layer of detail to this ongoing drama.
Will Ja Morant Leave the Grizzlies to Join the Kings?
According to the ESPN insiders, sources familiar with the Kings say that they could circle back to Morant if it does not land a lead guard with its lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. They have been without a leading PG since De’Aaron Fox’s move to the San Antonio Spurs.
That is a notable development, as the Kings have been largely inconsistent in their level of interest throughout the season, with some reports suggesting minimal engagement.
The draft-first approach makes sense for Sacramento. The Kings hold one of the better lottery odds heading into the June draft and are eyeing top guard prospects like Darryn Peterson.
If one of those talented prospects falls to them, the logic is that there would be no need to take on Morant’s contract, which runs through 2027-28 at an average of $39.4 million per season on his five-year, $197,230,450 extension signed in July 2022.
Given his injury history and his controversial track record off the court, the Kings would surely be taking a gamble on Morant if they chose to take on his expensive contract. As per ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Kings are projected to have $225 million in salary cap space next season, which is certainly a concerning sign.
The Kings have only won 22 games this year, and it will be their third consecutive year without a postseason trip. The fact that they are well over the salary cap and haven’t produced any major results indicates that they do not have the financial freedom to take any more risks without dismantling the current roster.
The Grizzlies, for their part, are not prioritizing Morant’s preferences and are simply looking for the best return they can get. A Western Conference director of pro personnel told ESPN that teams around the league will hesitate, but several desperate franchises will still come forward.
For now, the Kings are keeping the door open without walking through it, and the draft lottery in May will likely determine whether that changes.
