The Milwaukee Bucks had been heating up as a Ja Morant suitor in recent days, but one analyst has doused that hot rumor. On the latest episode of The Hoop Collective, ESPN's Tim Bontemps said he is confident that Morant, who has been put on the trade block by the Memphis Grizzlies, would not make his way to the 414 anytime soon.
"I would also say overstated is a good word to describe the possibility of Ja Morant to the Bucks... I feel confident that Ja Morant will not be a Heat and will not be a Buck."
The Bucks are reportedly unlikely to land Ja Morant
If the Grizzlies were to move Morant, the Bucks felt like the team just desperate enough to make a big swing to get him. Their season has been a miss, and even a two-point win over the Atlanta Hawks, in which they blew a 20-point lead, doesn't provide much optimism that they can fix things. They need a move of some kind, and Morant's star power was captivating to some degree.
Morant gave them plenty to salivate about in his latest game following a long absence due to an injury. The guard tallied 24 points and 13 assists, looking far from rusty as he led the Grizzlies to a needed win over the Orlando Magic. A player like that could surely make a world of difference for a team on the hunt for a big-time guard.
There were always drawbacks with Morant. Even ignoring the past off-court concerns, he is not what one would call a seamless fit with the Milwaukee Bucks. He's a small guard lacking in defensive ability, something the Bucks already experienced with Damian Lillard. Yet, what makes Morant an even worse fit is his lack of a perimeter shot, as he's currently having one of the worst shooting seasons ever.
Could the fit work between Ja Morant and Giannis Antetokounmpo? Sure, especially if the plan was to stagger them and always have a star initiator on the floor. Yet, that pairing may not just be a fantasy if these latest reports are true. Whether Morant stays in Memphis or gets moved elsewhere, Milwaukee likely isn't in his future unless he's coming as a visitor.
Now, it's time for Milwaukee to pivot.
Even if Morant is off the table, the Milwaukee Bucks are expected to be aggressive over the next few weeks as the NBA Trade Deadline inches closer. It's hard to pinpoint exactly who they will be looking to acquire, given that they've been linked to just about every available name. At this rate, your guess is as good as anyone's.
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