Bucks Couldn't Land Ja Morant at Trade Deadline

Giannis Antetokounmpo stays in Milwaukee, but team fails to acquire All-Star guard

Feb. 11, 2026 at 3:55pm

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The Milwaukee Bucks were unable to acquire two-time All-Star guard Ja Morant from the Memphis Grizzlies at the recent NBA trade deadline. According to reports, the Grizzlies were engaged with the Bucks, Miami Heat, and Minnesota Timberwolves about a potential Morant trade, but Memphis did not want to sell low on the star player or take on any "bad" contracts in return.

Why it matters

The Bucks were hoping to pair Giannis Antetokounmpo with another superstar player in Morant, but were ultimately unable to reach an agreement with the Grizzlies. This means the Bucks will have to continue their playoff push with their current roster, while the Grizzlies will likely revisit Morant trade talks in the offseason.

The details

The Bucks and Grizzlies did engage in discussions around a potential Morant-for-Ryan Rollins swap, but the talks ended when Milwaukee asked to include the contracts of Kyle Kuzma or Bobby Portis in the deal. The Grizzlies were not interested in taking on those "bad" contracts in a Morant trade.

  • The NBA trade deadline passed on February 5, 2026 without a Morant trade materializing.

The players

Giannis Antetokounmpo

The two-time NBA MVP who plays for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Ja Morant

The two-time NBA All-Star guard who plays for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Ryan Rollins

A player on the Milwaukee Bucks roster.

Kyle Kuzma

A player on the Milwaukee Bucks roster.

Bobby Portis

A player on the Milwaukee Bucks roster.

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What they’re saying

“The Grizzlies were engaged with the Bucks, the Miami Heat and the Minnesota Timberwolves over a Morant trade. But Memphis didn't want to sell low on Morant or take any "bad" contracts in return to get rid of him.”

— Tomer Azarly, ClutchPoints Reporter (ClutchPoints)

What’s next

The Grizzlies are expected to revisit trade discussions around Ja Morant in the upcoming offseason, as there is an expectation around the league that the former second overall pick will find a new home then.

The takeaway

The Bucks' inability to land Ja Morant at the trade deadline means they will have to continue their playoff push with their current roster, while the Grizzlies will likely look to move the star guard in the offseason when they can potentially get better value in return.