The Memphis Grizzlies kicked off their 2025 offseason with a bold, franchise-shifting decision—trading star guard Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic in a move that stunned the NBA landscape. In exchange, Memphis received Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four first-round picks, and a pick swap, signaling a clear pivot toward future flexibility and long-term planning.
Despite the blockbuster trade, the Grizzlies aren’t tearing everything down. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the front office remains committed to building around Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., keeping their young core intact while reshaping the roster around them.
“I’m told that the Grizzlies are signaling privately that they will continue to build around Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.,” said ESPN’s Shams Charania, reinforcing the team’s commitment to its young core even after dealing away Desmond Bane.
However, the NBA offseason is long and unpredictable, and the Memphis Grizzlies’ plans could shift—especially if a compelling trade offer arises.
One such hypothetical scenario was proposed by Rohan Raman of Sports Illustrated‘s Atlanta Hawks coverage, involving a bold three-team trade. In his proposal, the Grizzlies would send Ja Morant to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for All-Star center Domantas Sabonis, significantly reshaping the team’s identity around Jaren Jackson Jr. and a frontcourt-centric core.
While Memphis has privately signaled their intent to build around Morant and Jackson, this kind of blockbuster illustrates just how fluid the situation could become.
Sacramento Kings Receive: Ja Morant, Jay Huff, John Konchar
Proposed Three-Team Trade Breakdown
Via Rohan Raman, Sports Illustrated (Atlanta Hawks coverage)
Memphis Grizzlies Receive:
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Domantas Sabonis (from Kings)
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Kobe Bufkin (from Hawks)
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Vit Krejci (from Hawks)
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2025 first-round pick (via Lakers, from ATL — No. 22 overall)
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2027 first-round pick (via Spurs, from SAC — unprotected)
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2029 first-round pick (via SAC — top-8 protected)
This hypothetical deal would send Ja Morant to the Sacramento Kings and restructure Memphis around Jaren Jackson Jr. and Domantas Sabonis, while adding young talent in Bufkin and Krejci and a strong package of draft capital.
It’s a dramatic shift, but if Memphis wants to reset with stability and depth while capitalizing on Morant’s trade value amid uncertainty, a move like this could be on the table.
The chances of the Grizzlies trading Ja Morant remain extremely slim, but the Sacramento Kings might be one of the few teams willing to make an aggressive offer to try. Still, even a package centered around Domantas Sabonis and multiple first-round picks may not be enough to convince Memphis to move their franchise cornerstone. Morant’s value to the Grizzlies — both on and off the court — is immense, and it would likely take a massive, potentially uncomfortable overpay to even open that door.
Sabonis, a three-time All-Star and one of the league’s premier big men, is a high-caliber asset. Many fans have imagined how he might look alongside Jaren Jackson Jr. in a revamped Memphis frontcourt. But while intriguing on paper, the trade wouldn’t necessarily make the Grizzlies better — it would shift their identity without elevating their ceiling.
From the Kings’ perspective, Morant would fill their glaring need at point guard and inject star power into the franchise. But this proposal may already qualify as an overpay, and there’s a vocal segment of the fanbase that’s hesitant about bringing Morant in at all — due to both on-court fit and off-court concerns.
In short, unless Sacramento is willing to include an even larger draft haul or a blue-chip young player, this type of deal remains more speculative than realistic.
Ja Morant’s availability has become a major concern — he’s played just 59 games combined over the last two seasons due to injuries and off-court issues. Yet his ceiling remains elite. When healthy, Morant is undeniably one of the most explosive and dynamic point guards in the NBA, fully capable of leading a franchise. That said, the Grizzlies may be growing weary of the uncertainty that comes with him, and could be inching toward a difficult decision about his long-term place in Memphis.
While it’s far from guaranteed, there is a conceivable path where the Grizzlies decide to move on, especially if a compelling deal comes from a team like the Kings — a franchise that could be willing to roll the dice on high-risk, high-reward talent. Sacramento is in need of a bold shift and a true lead guard, and trading for Morant could be the move that transforms their trajectory.
Domantas Sabonis, despite being a three-time All-Star and remarkably productive, presents roster-building challenges. His style can limit flexibility, especially without the right supporting cast. He also earns about $3 million more annually than Morant, making the financial aspect more palatable for Sacramento. Pairing Morant with De’Aaron Fox — or moving Fox in a separate deal — would inject fresh energy into a team that seems stuck in neutral.
For Sacramento, the trade only becomes truly viable if they can simultaneously move DeMar DeRozan (reportedly a target this offseason) in exchange for a rim-protecting, starting-caliber center to complement Morant and Fox.
Still, for Memphis to let go of a franchise icon in Morant, the return must go beyond Sabonis. A package heavy in draft capital, young assets, and cap flexibility would be essential to even entertain the idea.
