Ja Morant had almost no trade market at deadline, Bucks could circle this summer
By the Feb. 5 trade deadline, ja morant emerged as a name teams would not pay much to acquire, leaving the Memphis front office to move other core pieces while keeping Morant on the roster for now. That lack of market interest matters because Memphis has already begun a clear rebuild, trading Jaren Jackson Jr. in February and signaling it will test Morant’s value again in the offseason.
Ja Morant drew only modest interest from Kings and Heat
League coverage after the deadline said only the Sacramento Kings and Miami Heat showed more than passing curiosity about Morant, and neither made serious offers. One evaluation described Sacramento’s interest as modest and said Miami’s inquiries leaned toward an asset-light swap similar to prior deals for high-profile guards. The Heat were reportedly focused elsewhere late in the process, leaving Morant with little in-market demand by Feb. 5.
Deadline moves pushed Memphis toward a rebuild
Memphis did not force a Morant deal at the deadline; instead the team traded Jaren Jackson Jr. in a move framed as pick-heavy and signaled a new direction for the roster. That shift followed a rocky stretch for the franchise: after a 27-55 finish in 2023-24, the Grizzlies improved to 48-34 in 2024-25 but still exited quickly in the first round. The front office had already traded Desmond Bane the previous summer, and the Jackson move in February intensified the sense that the franchise is restarting its core.
Bucks could be a summer option
Several outlets noted the Milwaukee Bucks as a team to watch if Morant returns to the market in the summer. Teams that followed the deadline believed Milwaukee’s interest was genuine, with one scenario floated that the Bucks might pursue a transformational swap to pair Morant with their franchise star. Any such deal would be a major swing for Milwaukee and a clear sign of intent ahead of the offseason.
Injuries, contract status and what will shape a summer market
Morant’s availability has been limited this season: he has played just 20 games and is currently sidelined with a sprained UCL in his left elbow sustained on Jan. 21. Contract terms also affect his tradeability—he is owed $87 million over the next two years and signed a five-year, $197. 2 million extension in July 2022 that runs through 2027-28. Those facts help explain why teams shied away from giving up significant assets for him at the deadline.
The immediate consequence is straightforward: Memphis will try again this summer to find a deal it likes, and Morant will be on the market once offseason trade eligibility arrives. Expect teams that showed even modest curiosity at the deadline and any franchise willing to make a bold roster move—Milwaukee among them—to re-evaluate their interest when the Grizzlies formally put Morant back on the block.
