2025 No. 11 pick Cedric Coward and 2024 No. 9 pick Zach Edey are now the Memphis Grizzlies’ cornerstone players. What that really means is they’re still trying to find a new home for Ja Morant, their face of the franchise since 2019. For sentimental reasons, Morant’s first choice would be to work it out with his current employer. Nevertheless, he’s partial to a deal that sends him to the Miami Heat, if he is in fact shipped out.
With so many moving parts ahead of the NBA’s trade deadline, Morant’s trade could be tied into that of Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. Yet, both he and Antetokounmpo’s future could be determined by the Sacramento Kings.
Are The Kings The Ja Morant Trade Keyholders?
The Grizzlies are not prioritizing Morant’s trade preferences as they continue to tear down their roster (h/t Yahoo Sports insider Kelly Iko).
This news comes on the heels of co-worker Kevin O’Connor’s revelation that the Kings “remain the team most strongly connected” to him. Internally, they view Morant as a “a high-upside player who could return to star status with a change of scenery.” O’Connor’s appendage corroborated information from Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix. Earlier today, Mannix wrote that Sacramento, Miami and the Miami Heat “are three teams believed to be in the mix [for Ja Morant]…”
Taking it back even further, Mannix’s report itself followed a live blog update from The Athletic’s Sam Amick. Addressing Morant’s status just after the Jackson trade, Amick relays that the Kings “have still not completely closed the door on” Morant. However, he acknowledges that “the percentage chance of this actually happening was placed in the low-single-digits…” To that point, The Stein Line insider Jake Fischer has been told that Sacramento’s desire to bring Morant on board “continues to be minimal.”
Memphis is not working with Morant in the same manner as other stars like Harden and Giannis have done with their respective teams in trade talks, sources say. The Grizzlies are seeking the best deal strictly for the organization. https://t.co/cc2dgOp6QU
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) February 4, 2026
In short, Morant being traded to the Kings is a well-documented possibility. At the same time, the Heat are willing to sign him to a three-year, $178 million extension, according to Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints. As Morant’s price on the trade market has dropped, he’s thought to be a more appealing option for both Miami and the Minnesota Timberwolves, Iko notes.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Sweepstakes Go On
The Grizzlies “are now also interested in being a facilitator” in an Antetokounmpo trade (h/t Iko). So serious are they, that they’re “monitoring that situation closely.”
3-Team Race, 4 Teams Needed
Like most married couples, the Bucks and Antetokounmpo are hesitant to shut the door on their relationship. Nevertheless, they both have one foot out of the door. Milwaukee is entertaining offers for Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo has privately made it known he believes it’s time for him to leave the Bucks.
The two-time NBA MVP’s most aggressive suitor is the Golden State Warriors. In their efforts to have Stephen Curry ride into the sunset, they’ve even made mainstay Draymond Green available. Yet, Fischer reveals that he’s “heard internally (that) Milwaukee values Minnesota’s potential package and Miami’s potential package over the Warriors.'”
Draymond Green said his conversation with Steve Kerr yesterday made him realize trade possibility was real. Then he detailed a conversation with his son on way to the game tonight that Warriors could trade him.
Full soundbite pic.twitter.com/bbysBCcsKL
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 4, 2026
It’s believed that the Bucks want the Timberwolves to fork over Jaden McDaniels, seeing him “as a potential future All-Star,” per Mannix. Nevertheless, Milwaukee’s also trying to secure “multiple first-round draft picks,” a department that Minnesota’s lacking in. This is likely why Mannix said that “Minnesota needs four teams involved in this deal” while making an appearance on SI’s Open Floor.
What Do The Kings Have To Do With It?
The Kings are one of those teams that could help the Timberwolves land Antetokounmpo.
DeMar DeRozan’s Salary, Status Could Be Secret Ingredients
Sacramento has made DeMar DeRozan available in trade talks. It’s been stated that DeRozan “is a strong candidate to get bought out” (h/t Mannix) if they can’t trade him by Thursday. Yet, that notion has met resistance, ESPN’s Anthony Slater reporting that Sacramento has “zero plans to buy him out.” This is notable because adding DeRozan’s salary to a multi-team deal could make it less convoluted, requiring fewer players. Additionally, DeRozan still enjoys a star label. If there any contenders involved in the Antetokounmpo deal, that could make him more appealing.
Domantas Sabonis Could Get Them In Giannis Conversation
Alternately, the Kings could trade Domantas Sabonis, who’s been eyed by the Toronto Raptors. Indeed, Fischer notes that they’re “looking for some type of first-round draft capital in a Sabonis deal.” One of those draft assets could help them facilitate an Antetokounmpo trade alone. Depending on the players they land in that deal, they might even be able to go after Antetokounmpo himself. If the Bucks want young players with high upside, the Raptors have plenty of them. So do the Washington Wizards, another suitor for Sabonis (h/t Fischer).
© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
