Grizzlies, Kings battle as potential deadline moves still loom

Sacramento Kings fans might get one last chance to say goodbye to Domantas Sabonis as the upcoming trade deadline looms over the Memphis Grizzlies' visit to California's capital on Wednesday night.

The Kings have lost nine consecutive games and plummeted to the bottom of the NBA standings, sparking numerous trade rumors, including recent speculation on their star center.

Interested teams saw Sabonis round back into starter-worthy shape in the past two weeks, when he returned from a 17-game absence due to a strained left knee to play seven times over the course of 14 days.

Having started three games in a row -- and averaging 12.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists in those contests -- the three-time All-Star was held out of the second night of a back-to-back last Thursday in Boston before missing Sacramento's trip finale Saturday at Washington with a sore back.

The Kings went 0-6 on the trip, during which rumors intensified of a possible Sabonis trade to Toronto. The in-season deadline is Thursday afternoon.

Sacramento returns home with a new player, having acquired De'Andre Hunter from the Cleveland Cavaliers for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis.

More moves are anticipated, as DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Malik Monk have all played recently, with their names appearing in various internet reports.

Kings coach Doug Christie looks forward to the day when his guys can be a little more single-minded.

"You'd be remiss to think that those type of things affect you a little bit," he assured reporters during the trip. "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."

Surely, the Grizzlies can relate. They have played 12 of their last 14 games without standout point guard Ja Morant, who seemingly is content waiting until after Thursday to see where he'll be hanging his jersey the rest of the season as he deals with a sore left elbow.

The Grizzlies have received a longer look at their potential point guard of the future over the last two games, with Ty Jerome making his season debut after recovering from a calf injury. The veteran averaged 19.5 points and seven assists in a two-game stretch against the Minnesota Timberwolves, helping Memphis break a six-game losing streak Monday with 19 points and eight assists in just 20 minutes.

With Zach Edey and Santi Aldama also out of action recently, Memphis coach Tuomas Iisalo has been glad to see Jerome step right in and aggressively lead the team at its point of attack.

"(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 opening up space for other guys," Iisalo gushed to reporters after Monday's 137-128 win. "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."

Both teams will avoid the distraction of having a game on trade-deadline day, with the Grizzlies getting a day off Thursday before continuing a five-game trip in Portland, while the Kings will be awaiting a visit from the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.

--Field Level Media