After trading away star point guard De’Aaron Fox, the Sacramento Kings created a major issue. While the move was driven by Fox’s deteriorating relationship with the organization, the team seemingly overlooked the massive void his departure would leave.
Without Fox, the Kings were left without a true point guard. Malik Monk eventually stepped into the role, but throughout his eight-year NBA career, he has never been a primary playmaker, and it became clear he is far more effective playing off the ball.
Looking ahead to the 2025 offseason, finding a legitimate point guard has become Sacramento’s biggest need. New Kings general manager Scott Perry recently emphasized the importance of addressing the position.
“I’m still in the early stages of evaluating the roster. I do believe there’s talent here,” Perry said. “But it’s obvious we need a true point guard to fit with the group we currently have. It’s also clear, in my view, that we must add more size and athleticism to the frontcourt if we want to take this team to the next level.”
The Kings find themselves in a difficult spot, especially given the current free agent landscape. This year’s free agency class features very few point guards capable of starting, meaning Sacramento will likely need to explore trade options to fill their need.
Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints recently mentioned two potential stars the Kings could pursue this offseason, depending on whether their teams make them available: Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies and Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks.
“The market for point guards via trade is limited due to the uncertainty surrounding several teams heading into the summer,” Siegel wrote. “Trae Young and Ja Morant stand out as two younger stars that a team like the Kings could potentially pursue, should the Hawks or Grizzlies decide to entertain trade discussions.”
Ja Morant, 25, posted averages of 23.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game this season, but he may have already played his final game for the Grizzlies. After suffering an injury in Game 3 of Memphis’ first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Morant is likely sidelined for the remainder of the postseason, with the team on the verge of being swept.
While Morant presents an intriguing trade target for teams, his availability this offseason remains uncertain. There’s a real possibility that Memphis and Morant could part ways, but given that he’s the centerpiece of the franchise, the Grizzlies may be reluctant to move on from him.
Meanwhile, Trae Young, 26, averaged 24.2 points and 11.6 assists per game, maintaining his status as one of the league’s premier point guards. However, a fresh start could benefit him. The Hawks find themselves in a tough spot with limited paths to improvement, and holding onto Young might actually be stunting their growth.
While the Kings might prefer to find a point guard with stronger defensive skills than Morant or Young, if they’re aiming to replace De’Aaron Fox with another star-caliber player, these two stand out as among the best available options.