2 More Superstar Trade Targets To Miss Significant Time With Injuries—Again

With the NBA trade deadline less than two weeks away, a pair of superstars who were potential trade targets will now be out of action well through the Feb. 5th deadline with long-term injuries.

Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo tells media postgame tonight he has a right calf strain and expects to miss 4 to 6 weeks. MRI on Saturday.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 24, 2026

Breaking: Grizzlies guard Ja Morant will miss at least three weeks due to a UCL sprain in his left elbow, the team announced Saturday morning. pic.twitter.com/FQAJdL4E3m
— ESPN (@espn) January 24, 2026

The Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss four to six weeks, his second significant absence of the season, with a right calf strain.

And in Memphis, Grizzles' star guard Ja Morant will miss at least three weeks due to a UCL sprain in his elbow. What the team will do now will be an intriguing situation to watch.

Unlike Giannis, Morant's trade market is extremely limited, due to his current issue and lengthy injury history, his off-court concerns, and a large contract. He's due $39.4 million this season, with two more years to run with a $42M AAV.

Morant has missed 23 of 43 games this season.

The 26-year-old two-time All-Star is averaging 19.5 points and 8.1 assists per game this year. His 23.5% on threes and 41% shooting from the field are both career lows.

As for Giannis, if a team is desperate to land him, this latest injury is unlikely to dissuade them. However, if the team is a contender this year, then giving up a key asset from their NBA roster for a player who will be out for so long at this point is a bit more questionable. The chase to try to trade for the Greek Freak might be put off to the summer.