Ja Morant
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The Miami Heat and Memphis Grizzlies have held preliminary talks over a possible trade for Ja Morant.
The Memphis Grizzlies continue to shop Ja Morant ahead of the trade deadline with the hopes of adding new talent and draft picks to set up a brighter future. One team rumored to have interest in Morant and almost every other talented player on the trade block is the Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future remains one of the most popular topics this season, and Milwaukee is trying to impress him by adding another star.
However, NBA insider Evan Sidery claims the two sides have differing views on the ideal trade. “Milwaukee prefers to send a package of Kyle Kuzma, Kevin Porter Jr. + draft compensation,” Sidery said about the Bucks not wanting to include other players. Kuzma has struggled and is the main contract Milwaukee hopes to trade. Porter Jr. has had inconsistent success through recent history, but he is considered an expendable asset.
A valuable first round draft pick is the most important trade piece that could be added to a deal. Most teams around the league expect the Bucks to struggle, regardless of which player they cash in their final assets for, and for Antetokounmpo to still get traded. A draft pick in the early 2030s could be enticing enough to make up for lackluster players.
Memphis Wants Ryan Rollins For Morant
One interesting tidbit about the trade rumors is that Milwaukee is apparently holding off on including the one player that Memphis most desires in a Morant trade. Ryan Rollins is reportedly the main player that the Grizzlies would desire in any trade with the Bucks to involve Morant.
Milwaukee hopes that the pairing of Kuzma and Porter would be enough to make up for excluding Rollins from their trade package. The Bucks’ stance is that they are already including a desired first round draft pick to give them more leverage on the player front of the trade.
However, their lackluster roster sees them having few players that opposing teams want to take a chance on as core pieces of the future. Rollins is the piece that could tempt the Grizzlies to pull the trigger and send a multi-time All-Star to Milwaukee as a second star behind Giannis.
Milwaukee Must Change Stance For Morant
Recent reports have claimed that Morant wants to stay in Memphis and even reached out to management to express his desire to not get traded. The Grizzlies could easily play out this season trying to make the play-in seeds and try their luck for a playoff spot.
An offseason with more teams active could give them better offers, so the Bucks should be wary about letting this deal pass them by. Rollins is having a highly improved season, but his 16 points per game is not leading to many wins.
Milwaukee will likely have to include Rollins, since the Grizzlies will have no interest in Kuzma beyond accepting his salary in exchange for the draft pick. Porter Jr. is not good enough to be the main player in a trade, unless Memphis just prioritizes that pick above getting young talent back for their franchise point guard.