What the Grizzlies Are Asking from The Bucks for Ja Morant

The Milwaukee Bucks are, from all accounts, going to take yet another stab at finding the right mix with which to surround Giannis Antetokounmpo. One of the big names out there that they've inquired on is Ja Morant. He's become a trade candidate as the Memphis Grizzlies have tired of his act.

According to insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the package the Grizzlies are asking for from Milwaukee must include the following:

Most Improved Player of the Year candidate Ryan Rollins
Milwaukee’s 2031 or 2032 first-round pick

Rollins, 23, has exploded this season for the Bucks, upping his scoring by 10 points a game to 16.2. The point guard is also sitting on career highs (by great lengths) in rebounds (4.6) and assists (5.5). He'd be an obvious replacement for Morant in such a deal.

To make the money work, the Bucks might have to include forwards Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis as well. In the meantime, Milwaukee is trying to gauge those players' value on the trade market.

Teams saving their bullets for a run at Giannis?

However, on the other side of the coin, there are many teams that still feel that they'll be able to pry Giannis loose from the Bucks, and those clubs are resisting giving away their top assets now, in the belief that they could make a run at the Greek Freak.

Zach Lowe:

"The Hawks, the Warriors, the Lakers, the Heat, maybe the Knicks that are sort of thinking to themselves do we need to keep all of our stuff and wait for Giannis to may be become available whether it's now or in the summer...The whole league is watching if they slide… pic.twitter.com/gBUJMTpQZv
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) January 18, 2026

“The Hawks, the Warriors, the Lakers, the Heat, maybe the Knicks that are sort of thinking to themselves, ‘Do we need to keep all of our stuff and wait for Giannis to maybe become available, whether it’s now or in the summer?', said NBA insider Zach Lowe.

"The whole league is watching. If they slide any further down the standings, if they can’t even get up to tenth or ninth in the East, does Giannis push the button now instead of waiting until the summer?”

It could still go either way, and yes, we are all watching to see what the Bucks do next. Try to land a Ja Morant? Or finally pull the plug on Giannis?