Although both clubs were linked to Ja Morant in the wake of the news that the Grizzlies are entertaining trade offers for the two-time All-Star, neither the Timberwolves nor the Kings are expected to pursue the 26-year-old point guard, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).
Fischer reported a few days ago that Minnesota is looking for point guard upgrades but the team is focused on finding players with manageable cap hits. Morant doesn’t fit that bill, as he’s on a maximum-salary contract that runs through 2027/28.
As for Sacramento, Morant doesn’t seem to fit the description of the types of players general manager Scott Perry has publicly said he’s looking to add to the roster over the past several months, Fischer writes. On the court, the Kings are seeking players with positional size, defensive versatility, and physicality, and off the court, Perry has preached “discipline, accountability and professionalism,” Fischer notes.
The Kings also aren’t interested in taking back long-term money in potential in-season trades, Fischer reports. That has limited any momentum in talks with the Raptors involving Domantas Sabonis, sources tell Fischer, as the Kings don’t want to take on the long-term salaries of either Immanuel Quickley or Jakob Poeltl.