Sacramento Kings big man Domantas Sabonis has been one of the NBA's best big men, averaging a double-double for the last eight seasons with the Kings and Indiana Pacers. After a disappointing season that saw the Kings fire their coach and trade their best player, Sabonis could be a player the Grizzlies are looking to target in a trade.
Two things were made very clear from Grizzlies general manager and executive vice president Zach Kleiman during the team's exit interview media availability. Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. are the franchise cornerstone pieces the team will look to build around.
Contrary to popular belief of those outside of Memphis, Ja Morant is not available to be to be moved based on comments by Kleiman, and no open indication by Morant to want to be moved. Jaren Jackson Jr. has a contract negotiation upcoming following his career year that will be heavily dependent on him making one of the All-NBA teams to be announced soon.
While Kleiman still advocated that he still has confidence in the Grizzlies' current core of Morant, Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane, the latter of those names wasn't mentioned as much when talking about future of the team.
ClutchPoints reported that the Grizzlies are linked to Domantas Sabonis
As the Grizzlies reassess the potential of their core three pieces, Desmond Bane is the guy that feels more likely to be dealt before the two-time All-Star tandem of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. To obtain a player of Sabonis' caliber, the team will have to trade a contract that is big enough to package with others to trade for his $43.6 million next season.
Sabonis would add the additional playmaker the Grizzlies lack in their starting lineup, along with added playmaking and rebounding in the frontcourt. While Zach Edey showed promise during his rookie season, bringing him off the bench behind a Sabonis-Jackson Jr. frontcourt pairing would make for arguably the best frontcourt rotation in the NBA.
Also, Sabonis would provide insurance if the Grizzlies are unable to agree to extend Jackson Jr. past his expiring contract next season. While targeting a player of Sabonis' caliber in place of Desmond Bane would cost the Grizzlies perimeter scoring and shooting, adding an additional 3-and-D wing to start alongside Jaylen Wells and Ja Morant in another move would cap off a successful use of assets for the team to contend.