As the NBA trade deadline barrels toward us, Wednesday night’s matchup between the Sacramento Kings and Memphis Grizzlies could carry more weight than just another midseason game. For Kings fans, it might be the final opportunity to see Domantas Sabonis in a Sacramento uniform.
The Kings are in a freefall - losers of nine straight, now sitting at the bottom of the NBA standings - and the trade buzz around their three-time All-Star center is growing louder by the day. Sabonis, who recently returned from a 17-game absence with a strained left knee, has played seven games over the past two weeks. In his last three starts, he averaged a solid 12.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists - numbers that suggest he’s rounding back into form just in time for teams looking to make a splash before Thursday’s deadline.
But Sacramento’s recent road trip did little to inspire optimism. The Kings went 0-6, and Sabonis missed the final two games with a sore back. During the skid, whispers of a potential move to Toronto gained traction, adding to the sense that something big could be brewing.
Back home now, the Kings have already made one move, bringing in De’Andre Hunter from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis. It’s a signal that Sacramento’s front office isn’t standing pat - and more changes may be on the horizon. Names like DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Malik Monk have all surfaced in trade chatter, and with the deadline just hours away, the Kings are clearly in the thick of it.
Head coach Doug Christie is doing his best to keep the group focused amid the chaos. Speaking to reporters during the road trip, Christie acknowledged the emotional toll of the trade deadline.
“You’d be remiss to think that those type of things don’t affect you a little bit,” Christie said. “It can bring your energy up or down. And that’s where, as I told them, we have to hold each other and help each other in those moments.”
It’s a sentiment the Grizzlies can likely relate to. Memphis has been navigating its own challenges, including the extended absence of Ja Morant, who’s missed 12 of the last 14 games with a sore left elbow. Like Sabonis, Morant’s name has been floating around in speculative trade talk, though there’s been no firm indication of a move.
In Morant’s absence, Memphis has gotten a promising glimpse of Ty Jerome, who finally made his season debut after recovering from a calf injury. In just two games, Jerome has shown why the Grizzlies were excited to bring him in. He’s averaged 19.5 points and seven assists, including a standout 19-point, 8-assist performance in just 20 minutes during Monday’s 137-128 win over Minnesota - a win that snapped a six-game losing streak.
Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo didn’t hold back in his praise for Jerome’s impact.
“He did all the things that we expected him to do for us this season - create out of the pick and roll, also be a threat off the ball and open up space for other guys,” Iisalo said postgame. “You need the handler and the screener to have enough creation that they don’t need to rely on team reactions, but they create a two-on-one situation, they create good enough looks. Ty is definitely that guy.”
Memphis is still dealing with injuries to key rotation players like Zach Edey and Santi Aldama, but Jerome’s emergence gives them a stabilizing presence at the point - and perhaps a glimpse of their future backcourt.
Fortunately for both teams, the looming trade deadline won’t be a distraction on game day. The Grizzlies will have Thursday off before continuing their five-game road swing in Portland, while the Kings will stay home to host the Clippers on Friday. But make no mistake - Wednesday night’s game is more than just another line on the schedule.
For Sacramento, it could be the end of an era. For Memphis, it might be the beginning of something new. Either way, all eyes will be on the hardwood in California’s capital - and on the transactions ticker not long after.