Ja Morant is the latest star to be tossed headfirst into the NBA trade rumor pool, as the Memphis Grizzlies announced they're ready to move on from the mercurial guard.
The Sacramento Kings are a potential landing spot (because of course the Kings are), but if they hope to lure Morant out of Memphis, it will reportedly be in exchange for a name that will surely be familiar to Chicago Bulls fans: DeMar DeRozan.
The 36-year-old DeRozan has become quite the NBA journeyman, despite sitting sixth on the all-time scoring list among active players. His work ethic, consistency, mid-range wizardry and clutch gene helped him become a fan favorite in Chicago.
The same could happen for Grizzlies fans if Sacramento decides to take a gamble on Morant. And if we know anything about the Kings as an organization, it's not crazy to imagine them taking that gamble.
DeMar DeRozan would be key to any Ja Morant Grizzlies-Kings trade
DeRozan was the ninth overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. He spent the first nine seasons of his career becoming a Toronto Raptors legend before being traded to the San Antonio Spurs in the summer of 2018.
He wasn't nearly as impactful during his three seasons with the Spurs, but when Bulls Executive VP of Basketball Operations Artūras Karnišovas acquired him three summers later, the former USC Trojan resurrected his career.
DeRozan was named to the Eastern Conference All-Star Team his first two seasons in the Windy City. He finished 10th in MVP voting and made the All-NBA Second Team in 2021-22 after averaging 27.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists while shooting 50.4 percent from the field on more than 20 attempts per game.
Karnišovas waited too long to move on from DeRozan -- a common theme during his time in charge of the Bulls -- and only netted two second-round picks and guard Chris Duarte, who's now out of the league.
DeRozan has tailed off since landing in Sacramento. He's averaging 19.0 points through 40 games this season, which would be his lowest scoring output since 2012-13 if it continues for the year. His minutes and shot attempts are also down.
It's sad to say the six-time All-Star's trade value lies more in his contract than his on-court production -- he's owed $24.6 million this year and $25.7 next year, not ideal for an aging guard who doesn't stretch the floor and isn't a great defender.
If the Kings want to bring Morant West, it appears they'd like to send DeRozan packing, according to NBA insider Marc Stein (subscription required), who writes that Sacramento would be open to a deal "if Memphis was prepared to accept a package headlined by DeMar DeRozan, Devin Carter and some level of draft capital."
DeRozan is still a productive scorer and veteran leader who could help a young team like the Grizzlies as he winds down the twilight of his career. But apparently, the Kings would prefer to offload him rather than keep his salary on the books.