The Milwaukee Bucks were one of the few teams in on Ja Morant ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline, but they didn't land him. Why? It might have something to do with the Memphis Grizzlies reportedly holding a steep asking price for the All-Star guard. NBA insider Jake Fischer recently explained just how interested the Bucks were in the guard.
"Memphis wanted to get draft capital and positive draft capital for Ja Morant. And if it was out there, they would have taken it. I believe their only real chance at getting first-round draft capital on Thursday before the trade deadline would have been from Milwaukee."
A Bucks' first rounder would have been a steep asking price
Not all first-round picks are created equal. A team like the OKC Thunder could have traded one and not thought twice about it. However, the Bucks aren't OKC. After years of trading away draft picks to surround Giannis Antetokounmpo with big-name talent, the team is currently limited in what they can trade to just a 2031 or 2032 first-rounder.
In addition to simply being Milwaukee's only available draft capital at this time, it is extra valuable due to Giannis Antetokounmpo's uncertain future. There's a reason the Portland Trail Blazers are clutching the picks they got from Milwaukee in the Damian Lillard trade very hard. If Giannis leaves, those picks suddenly skyrocket in value.
If the Milwaukee Bucks were to trade that 2031 or 2032 pick, they needed a clear-cut difference-maker in return, and there's an argument to be made that Morant isn't that. While still a fine player, Morant has undoubtedly had a down year, posting some of the worst numbers of his career and battling injuries.
Morant would have been a fine buy-low target for the Milwaukee Bucks, but not someone they give up their lone first-rounder for. Perhaps the Bucks can revisit their interest in Morant in the summer. They will gain access to more draft picks then, and perhaps they would be willing to entertain moving one of them as they aim to prove to Giannis Antetokounmpo that they can still attract talent to Milwaukee.
Depending on how the rest of the season shakes out, the Grizzlies may ultimately decide to shed the guard however they can, lowering their asking price. Time will tell, but the Bucks will certainly keep an eye on the situation. They would have loved to have gotten the guard now, but trading away one of the most valuable picks in the entire NBA could have been the final nail in Milwaukee's coffin.
Perhaps Morant can put together a worthwhile audition the rest of the season to send the Bucks a message ahead of summer.
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