The Sacramento Kings Said NO To Ja Morant, And The League Is Watching Memphis Struggle

Alright, you guys. We gotta talk about this Morant situation in Memphis. It’s wild out there! The news breaking this week about Ja Morant is just bonkers, and frankly, it’s not looking good for the Grizzlies. We’re talking about a former superstar that teams are running from like he’s got the plague, and the latest intel just dropped a bombshell that changes everything we thought we knew about his trade value.

Morant's Market is a Minefield

Seriously, can you believe this? Jake Fischer from The Stein Line, via Bleacher Report, reported that the Sacramento Kings flat out said no to a Ja Morant trade! Not only that, but they’d require Memphis to *include* draft capital with Morant just to take him off their hands. Let that sink in for a minute. A team wants *picks* to take a guy who was once seen as a franchise cornerstone! That’s an insane fall from grace. And if that wasn't bad enough, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, a guy who knows the league inside and out, dropped this gem: Morant "couldn't be more available on the trade market." He’s saying the Grizzlies are "struggling immensely" to find anyone willing to trade for him. "Struggling immensely!" That's a huge problem. It means teams aren't just wary, they're actively avoiding a player who should be a hot commodity. What a nightmare for the Grizzlies front office trying to navigate this mess.

Grizzlies Scramble for Summer League Talent

While the Morant drama unfolds, it seems the Grizzlies are trying to find some fresh blood for Summer League. They’re grabbing a few guys who could be real sleepers, a smart move when your big-name guys are causing heada

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ches. Every team needs to keep building, right? Clemson’s Jestin Porter, a 6’1” grad transfer guard, is heading to Summer League. This dude averaged 9.6 points per game and shot 34.8 percent from three as a senior, even leading the Tigers in threes and steals. Liberty forward Zach Cleveland also inked an Exhibit-10 contract for Summer League. He put up 11.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game as a senior. And not to be left out, Iowa’s Brendan Hausen is joining for Summer League too. As a junior, he averaged 10.9 points and hit 38.8 percent from deep. These are solid college numbers, and it shows the Grizzlies are doing their due diligence trying to unearth some talent.

Michigan State Big Man Joins on a Two-Way

Rounding out their early offseason moves, the Grizzlies are also signing Michigan State big man Carson Cooper to a two-way deal, according to Brett Siegel from ClutchPoints. Cooper played four years for the Spartans, averaging 11 points and 7 rebounds in 26.7 minutes per game. He shot 58.4 percent from the field and 78.8 percent from the free throw line. That’s a good sign for a young big, showing some efficiency. Getting a guy like Cooper on a two-way deal gives them options and a chance to see what he can do at the next level. Every team needs depth, especially down low. So, what's next for the Grizzlies? Honestly, it feels like this Morant situation is going to drag on, dominating their offseason headlines. But hey, they’re still out there looking for talent with these Summer League pickups and the Cooper two-way deal. It just shows you that even with major drama, teams gotta keep building. We'll be keeping an eye on how this all shakes out in the league! Stay tuned, Emerald City!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.