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SACRAMENTO, CA — Sacramento Kings fans have heard the news.
A busy trade deadline is already underway in the NBA. One of the biggest names remaining on the market is Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant.
While the Grizzlies haven’t shut down the idea of keeping Morant, they’re certainly listening to offers. One of the teams that has reportedly expressed interest is the Kings.
The Grizzlies (19-29) were in Sacramento (12-39) on Feb. 4 for a game against the Kings, just one day before the NBA’s trade deadline (2 p.m. CT, Feb. 5). Some Kings fans at Golden 1 Center offered their thoughts on the idea of potentially adding Morant.
“It’s been a rough year and you hope for some change,” Kings fan Brian Geiszler told The Commercial Appeal. “Ja would definitely be a change, so yeah, I’m for sure interested in it. When he was going at it hard, he was one of the best.”
Anthony Eustace, 40, has been a Kings fan all his life. In that time, he has watched the likes of Mike Bibby and De’Aaron Fox lead the franchise to some of its best seasons in the 21st century.
Count Eustace as someone who approves of a potential Morant trade.
“I love it,” he said. “It would probably bring more excitement back to the city. It’d be just as good as having De’Aaron Fox here, having a general on the floor to control us.”
Zach Webster couldn’t stop smiling. The 30-year old Kings fan once sided with the Golden State Warriors. In his five years of Kings fandom, he has seen the team go from a 48-win team in 2023 to one that has missed the playoffs the past three seasons.
Webster believes Morant could provide a spark.
“He’s electric,” Webster said. “It would bring life back to the Kings here. The biggest thing was we had a great point guard, and that’s what we need to bring back. Another elite point guard.”
Sacramento native Gabe Callaway was taking in his first game at Golden 1 Center. Although he’s from Sacramento, he wore a No. 12 Morant jersey while being with Kings fans.
Callaway, 14, has been a Grizzlies fan in part because of Morant. As for the possibility of his favorite player coming to his hometown, Callaway sees the writing on the wall with this era of Grizzlies basketball after the team traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz on Feb. 3 in an eight-player deal.
“I wouldn’t feel bad because they don’t have Jaren Jackson Jr. anymore, and I liked that duo,” Callaway said.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.