Sports Illustrated published a mock trade titled "NBA Mock Trade Swaps Kings and Grizzlies' Disgruntled Stars" that imagined sending Ja Morant to the Sacramento Kings in a potential guard swap with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Morant continued to surface in hypothetical discussions in the piece, which described a possible deal that would also involve Zach LaVine and framed the move as a way for Sacramento to add a true downhill creator immediately.
The mock trade argued Morant’s talent is undeniable and that he would immediately fill a long-standing offensive hole in Sacramento, where the piece said the Kings have lacked a consistent, downhill playmaker who can consistently pressure defenses.
It also suggested that moving off LaVine could help Sacramento reset its timeline. The write-up noted that if LaVine were to pick up his option, his contract might be viewed as a large but potentially useful expiring deal — a tool the Kings could use while trying to clear long-term salary and retool with younger players.
The piece made clear the idea was hypothetical rather than a reported transaction. It described Morant’s situation in Memphis as increasingly complicated and floated the belief that a change of scenery could benefit him, while stressing that Sacramento would be taking on measurable risk if it pursued the guard.
Contextually, the mock trade framed the Kings as a roster in search of more high-end talent while simultaneously trying to get younger and create financial flexibility. The scenario presented Morant as a possible accelerant: a top-level creator who could alter Sacramento’s immediate ceiling and the way the team attacks defenses.
The tension in the story is obvious. The piece balanced the upside of adding Morant against the instability that would come with trading LaVine and absorbing the uncertainty tied to Morant’s situation in Memphis. It suggested Sacramento might justify that gamble only if it believed Morant could rediscover his All-Star form and the club prioritized an immediate jump over a more measured rebuild.
Financial considerations were portrayed as central to the calculation. The mock trade framed LaVine’s contract — and the possibility that it could function as a sizable expiring deal — as a lever Sacramento could use to reshape its books and speed a youth movement, not merely a basketball swap.
For now, the piece stands as a thought experiment: a hypothetical that highlights how one bold move could address Sacramento’s need for playmaking but also expose the team to roster and financial risk. Whether the Kings will pursue such a high-stakes path will depend on how the front office weighs immediate star power against longer-term stability and how LaVine’s contract decisions unfold.
