The Milwaukee Bucks had a small victory at the 2026 NBA trade deadline by keeping franchise star Giannis Antetokounmpo in town, despite the massive trade rumors surrounding the two-time MVP for months leading up to February 6th.
But while Antetokounmpo is still in Milwaukee for the time being, the franchise needs to make changes if it wants to put a winning team around him, both to keep him happy and in a Bucks uniform for the future.
With that, the team has been linked to a few trade targets over the offseason, and one in particular has relatively low value they could target as a new running mate for Antetokounmpo: Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Writing for The Stein Line, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that Milwaukee had genuine interest in Morant at the trade deadline, and could target him again this summer as his future in Memphis looks to be coming to an end.
Bucks Linked To Ja Morant Trade To Keep Giannis In Town And Happy
While Antetokounmpo said he is committed to the Bucks ‘right now’, the front office should do whatever they can to keep him happy, and that means adding talent alongside him.
“Numerous teams came away from the deadline believing that the Bucks’ interest in Morant was genuine,” Fischer wrote. “Whether that was to install him as their eventual successor to Antetokounmpo as Face of the Franchise or because they believe they could actually make a Giannis-and-Ja pairing work.”
Morant, in his seventh NBA season, has continued to be sidelined with injuries. Currently dealing with a UCL sprain, the high-flying point guard is averaging 19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 8.1 assists on 41% shooting in only 20 games this year.
He is controversial, both on and off the court, and has a history of not playing full seasons. However, despite his $197 million contract, the prevailing thought around the league is that his trade value is lower than ever, and with that, making it a lot easier for the Bucks to swoop in and make a deal with the Grizzlies for the point guard.
“Memphis’ Ja Morant just didn’t have much of a trade market no matter how seriously the Grizzlies explored their options for sending him elsewhere,” Fischer added.
The Sacramento Kings and Miami Heat have been the only two teams showing true interest in Morant, but at this point, both franchises appear to be looking elsewhere to add talent, and as his time in Memphis looks to be coming to an end, the Bucks remain a realistic landing spot, based on recent offseason trade rumors.
Fit with Antetokounmpo and Morant would be the biggest question, but without at least trying to see how the two work together on the court, Milwaukee is at risk of losing its franchise star this summer if it doesn’t prove they want to add talent around him.
Bobby Portis Speaks On Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Rumors
Regardless of whether the Bucks trade for Morant or any other player over the offseason, Antetokounmpo’s future remains top of mind for the team. Trade rumors leading up to the deadline were real, and though he didn’t get moved and has since recommitted to the team, that didn’t stop the rumors from impacting his Milwaukee teammates.
Speaking on Run It Back, Bobby Portis discussed how the Antetokounmpo trade rumors put pressure on him and other players on the team.
“I think there was so much pressure on our team this year, with so much outside media about Giannis leaving the Bucks—him requesting a trade—or people pushing that narrative, and it gets to the guys on the team,” he said. “Guys feel that pressure, especially playing with the Bucks, playing with an all-time great.”
Portis added that the team couldn’t avoid hearing about the Antetokounmpo trade rumors leading up to the deadline.
“If we lost two games in a row, the talks intensified,” he added. “Once you log on social media or turn on TV, you see Giannis’ face circulating—maybe he’s going here—rumors with the Warriors, the Heat, the Timberwolves. You couldn’t duck it for a month and a half, six weeks. Every time you get on social, you see it. Every time you get on TV, you see it. It was a real thing.”
While he wasn’t traded on February 6th, that doesn’t mean Antetokounmpo will stay in Milwaukee. In what is bad news for Portis and the rest of the Bucks organization, trade talks surrounding the star will likely heat up again this summer.
Trading for a player like Morant could be a minor fix to the team’s growing issue, but that remains to be seen.
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