While there are many signs that the Milwaukee Bucks will work to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer, a new report links the team to an elite star to pair with him in 2026-27.
Heading into the trade deadline earlier this month, there was no bigger story than the will-they-or-won't-they saga of the Bucks and the two-time NBA MVP. While Antetokounmpo technically did not ask for a trade, Milwaukee began fielding offers from interested teams because they felt he was ready for a divorce.
However, after a couple of weeks of trade talks, Milwaukee decided to pounce on the nine-time All-Star and retain him. The perception around the league is that the organization did not like the offers it received, and this was an information-building process for the summer when better offers come in, and more teams join the sweepstakes.
Veteran NBA insider Jake Fisher firmly believes that the Antetokounmpo trade will indeed happen this summer. However, in a new post on The Stein Line, he posed an interesting scenario where Antetokounmpo would stay and be paired with Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant.
Were the Bucks 'sincere' about interest in Ja Morant trade?
Fisher wrote, "The Grizzlies will have to try again this summer to find a palatable Morant deal. They may have even more options, as the Bucks presumably have, when it comes to Antetokounmpo."
He added, "One scenario that would have to be addressed is the possibility of a Milwaukee trade for Morant. Several teams came out of the deadline believing that the Bucks' interest in Morant was genuine." "Whether it was to establish him as Antetokounmpo's eventual successor as the face of the franchise or because he believes he can really make the Giannis-and-Ja pairing work."
While rumors swirled about the team trading Giannis Antetokounmpo, there were also reports that they are looking to add impactful talent before this month's deadline. The team would love to have the greatest player in team history. Adding Morant when his value is low and getting back to the superstar he was a few years ago could attract the Greek giants and keep him for another season.
