The Milwaukee Bucks are making every effort to prevent Giannis Antetokounmpo from pushing for a trade away from the franchise. With the Feb. 5 trade deadline approaching, the Bucks have a chance to add pieces that could help align the roster more closely with Antetokounmpo’s goals for the season.
CBS Sports writer Sam Quinn floated a trade idea that would send Kyle Kuzma, Gary Harris and a pick swap to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jerami Grant.
“We may have had the Bucks trade Antetokounmpo to the Heat in another deal, but as it stands in reality, Milwaukee wants to add to its team in an attempt to win and coax a contract extension out of Giannis. If we assume their future first-round picks are off limits, the best they can do is first-round swap rights (if the Blazers even keep their lottery-protected pick at all) and taking on some bad money. Fortunately, there’s a fit here,” the NBA insider wrote in his trade scenario.
Jerami Grant’s fit with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks
Nov 26, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reaches to tap the ball away from Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
“Jerami Grant makes around $10 million more than Kyle Kuzma does, and he’s under contract for an extra year. He’s a better player than Kuzma, so the Bucks would get an upgrade for taking on that extra money. Portland, having added Jrue Holiday on a similar contract since extending Grant, now has less reason to keep another long deal attached to an older player. The Blazers save a bunch of money just by trading a player that would likely decline by the time they’re ready to win in the playoffs.”
Jerami Grant has been a familiar name in the rumor mill for years as Portland has worked through a rebuild. With the Blazers now showing signs of progress without him as the primary option, they could be more open to moving him.
Dec 31, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during warmups prior to the game against the Washington Wizards at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
A deal of this nature would represent an upgrade for the Bucks, as Kyle Kuzma has yet to meet the expectations that followed him after arriving last year in the trade that sent Khris Middleton out of Milwaukee.
Grant has been sidelined for the past 14 games with an Achilles injury, but he is reportedly nearing a return. Before the injury, he was averaging 20 points per game for the Blazers.