Key Points
- The Milwaukee Bucks struggle in the standings and face Giannis Antetokounmpo's injury absence.
- Trade rumors involve both moving Giannis or upgrading around him, possibly targeting Ja Morant.
- Morant's injury and history may influence the Bucks' trade deadline decisions on their future direction.
It has been a disappointing season thus far for the Milwaukee Bucks as they currently sit 11th in the Eastern Conference standings with an 18-26 record.
Of course, Milwaukee entered the season looking to compete for a top seed in the East and make a run at another championship, especially after signing Myles Turner in free agency to pair alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Porter Jr., Kyle Kuzma and the rest of their core.
Instead, the Bucks have struggled for most of the season and they have also seen Giannis miss extended periods due to injuries and he is set to miss more time after suffering a right calf strain in Friday’s loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Because of their struggles, the Bucks have seen multiple players on their roster be the subject of trade rumors with most primarily focusing on Giannis.
While Milwaukee could move their star forward ahead of the NBA trade deadline to begin a complete rebuild, there have also been rumors that they are looking to make some moves to upgrade their roster around Giannis to try and turn their season around.
Bucks Could Target Grizzlies’ Ja Morant to Pair Alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo
If the Bucks do end up making some major moves ahead of the trade deadline, one star player they could target is Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant.
Of course, Morant has also been in trade rumors this season and it has been reported that the Grizzlies are listening to offers for him, which could cause Milwaukee to try and pair him alongside Giannis.
Mock Trade Lands Bucks Ja Morant, Sends Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis to Grizzlies
In a potential trade, the Bucks could send a package of Kuzma, Bobby Portis, Andre Jackson Jr. and draft capital to the Grizzlies in exchange for Morant.
By making this trade, Milwaukee would add another key superstar to their roster to try and turn their season around while keeping Giannis on their roster.
For Morant, he would provide the Bucks with a reliable scorer and playmaker at the point guard position who would also become a key part of their future due to his age.
This season, the 26-year-old guard is averaging 19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 8.1 assists and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 41.0% from the field and 23.5% from three.
Of course, Morant has had a down season which has mainly been caused by multiple injuries and he is currently set to miss at least three weeks due to a UCL sprain in his left elbow.
Because of Morant’s current injury, along with his injury history and prior off-court issues, the Bucks may look elsewhere to bolster their roster ahead of the trade deadline if they do decide to upgrade the team around Giannis.
The Bucks may also decide to move on from Giannis at the trade deadline to begin a complete rebuild, especially with him set to miss an extended period due to his current injury, which could land them a large trade package of young players and draft capital.
Either way, it would not be a complete surprise to see Milwaukee pull off a major move ahead of the trade deadline, no matter which direction the franchise chooses to take.
About the author
Nathaniel Holloway
Trending News Writer, Athlon Sports