The Sacramento Kings have been linked to a number of players on the trade market, most recently point guards Trae Young and Ja Morant. Young is now off the table, but Sacramento is being linked to Morant, who the Grizzlies are reportedly exploring trading.
One challenge for the Kings, who maybe be looking to move high-salaried veterans like DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis, is that Sacramento doesn’t want to take long-term salary back in any deals. That would be a challenge in dealing for Morant, who is owed $39 million this year, followed by $42 million in 2026-27 and $44.8 million in 2027-28, with no options.
The same reluctance to add long-term money to their books has been a challenge in trade talks that involve sending Sabonis to the Toronto Raptors. The Kings have no interest in bringing Immanuel Quickley or Jakob Poeltl back in a deal because both are owed considerable money for at least the next few seasons.