Report: Milwaukee Bucks Are Targeting Ja Morant and Zach LaVine To Pair With Giannis

Way before a couple of All-Star guards dominated the trade chatter, Giannis Antetokounmpo had the rumor mill working overtime as reports of his looming departure from the Bucks went viral. But now, it appears as though there’s a different wind blowing in Milwaukee.

According to Forbes’ Evan Sidery, Antetokounmpo has now changed his tune when it comes to seeking a trade. “With Giannis Antetokounmpo backing off his stance of seeking a trade, Milwaukee is now star hunting once again trying to win immediately,” Sidery tweeted on Tuesday.

Which stars could Milwaukee be hunting? As per an additional report from Jim Owczarski, that would be a headline-grabbing point guard and a longtime Bucks target.

It’s hardly a surprise that the Bucks are interested in Ja Morant. For all the off-court shenanigans that the Memphis Grizzlies court general has engaged in, Morant is still a two-time All-Star who provides steady scoring and helps teammates get better scoring opportunities.

Of course, there’s one other major red flag when it comes to Morant: his recent history of injury-riddled seasons. Bucks GM Jon Horst will have to carefully weigh the risk of acquiring a vulnerable asset versus the prospect of a highly athletic Morant-Antetokounmpo team-up lighting up Fiserv Forum.

Morant is a relatively fresh trade idea for the Bucks, but Zach LaVine is not.

The Sacramento Kings guard has been on Milwaukee’s radar for quite some time now, with one report stating that the Bucks have “done due diligence” on the high-flying veteran. This season, LaVine is averaging 19.9 points per game on 48.4% shooting from the field. Though these numbers show a slight dip from last season, the 12-year veteran remains a potent threat on offense.

Would either of these athletic specimens be enticed by the thought of playing alongside Antetokounmpo? That’s certainly a possibility, though the challenge of propelling the Bucks in the Eastern Conference standings might be somewhat daunting. The Bucks currently sit at 17-22, which is outside the play-in scenario; both Morant and LaVine could be happier playing for a contender at this point.

Though the tense situation surrounding Antetokounmpo’s plans to depart Milwaukee appears to have cooled off, the Bucks cannot afford to get complacent. Another season ending in disappointment could be the final straw that makes the Greek Freak set his mind on one unalterable conclusion.