Latest On Ja Morant
Following a six-game absence due to a right calf injury, Ja Morant returned to action on Sunday and delivered one of his best performances of the season in the Grizzlies‘ 126-109 victory over the Magic in London.
According to Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Morant became the first player in franchise history to record 20 points and 10 assists in the first half of a game. He ultimately finished with 24 points and 13 assists in just 28 minutes of action.
Given the public trade rumors swirling around Morant, the performance left some wondering how the game could impact his perceived trade value around the league, but the guard made a point after the game to emphasize his desire to stay in Memphis, Marc Stein writes for The Stein Line (Substack link).
“I’m a very loyal guy,” Morant said. “I got a (Grizzlies) logo on my back, so that should tell you exactly where I want to be,” he added, referencing a tattoo of the Grizzlies bear on his back.
As Stein writes, Memphis has been willing to listen to offers on Morant due to the fact that impressive outings like Sunday’s have been rarer in recent years. Morant hasn’t played seven consecutive games since the 2022/23 season, and the injuries have seemingly taken a toll on his game. He is getting to the rim at the lowest rate of his career, while simultaneously having his worst shooting season as a pro.
However, Stein also notes that the team seems to have had a real bonding experience during this in-season trip abroad, saying that Morant was “at the heart of all the good vibes.”
In a final update on Morant, Stein reports that the Heat, whose interest in the two-time All-Star had been previously reported as “tepid,” aren’t interested in making a trade that would eat into the assets they could offer in a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo deal. Miami believes itself to be a real threat to land the Bucks star if he asks for a trade and doesn’t want to compromise its position on that front.
Bucks Rumors: Giannis, Morant, Rollins, Monk, Ellis, Portis, More
Thursday’s loss to San Antonio marked the halfway point of the Bucks‘ season, and the team’s 17-24 record is its worst first-half mark since 2015/16, writes Eric Nehm of The Athletic.
Although Nehm describes Milwaukee as looking “lost,” the front office has held firm on its stance that star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t going anywhere this season and that it wants to add an impact player alongside the two-time MVP, writes Jamal Collier of ESPN.
“We always manage to pull something off,” a team source told Collier.
Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant is one potential target the Bucks have been linked to as of late. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Memphis has sought guard Ryan Rollins and Milwaukee’s lone tradable first-round pick (in either 2031 or 2032) in discussions with Milwaukee about Morant.
However, the Bucks have been “wary” about including that first-round pick in any trade talks to date, per Collier, who hears from rival executives that that first-rounder would likely only be on the table for a “star.” Morant, who has made two All-Star teams, certainly fit that bill at one point but may no longer be viewed that way, as he has battled injuries and seen his production decline in recent years.
As Collier writes, the Wizards’ deal for Trae Young might be instructive when considering the sort of trade that makes the most sense for the Bucks. Washington gave up no draft picks and a significant expiring contract as part of the package for Young, with the Hawks looking to get off the hook for his $49MM player option in 2026/27.
Milwaukee is in a good position to make a similar move for a player on a non-expiring deal, says Collier, noting that Zach LaVine, Malik Monk, and Jerami Grant are a few of the trade candidates with multiyear contracts who have been linked to the team. Collier also cites Heat forward Andrew Wiggins and Hornets Miles Bridges as a couple more examples.
The Bucks have had exploratory discussions with the Kings about a deal that would send Bobby Portis and a minimum-salary player to Sacramento in exchange for Monk and Keon Ellis, league sources tell Scotto. A trade for a higher-salary player such as Morant or LaVine would require Milwaukee to sacrifice more rotation pieces for matching purposes, but the team has considered that possibility, gauging the market for forward Kyle Kuzma ($22.4MM cap hit) as well as Portis ($13.4MM), Scotto writes.
As Collier observes, the Bucks would be more equipped to make a significant splash during the 2026 offeason, when they’ll have up to three first-round picks available to trade (2026, 2031, and 2033). But the club – which has a +7.7 net rating with Antetokounmpo on the floor in 2025/26 – hasn’t given up on this season, even if some rival executives aren’t convinced Milwaukee should continue with its win-now approach.
“At some point, you’re just digging deeper and deeper,” an Eastern Conference exec told ESPN. “There might not be light at the end of the tunnel. It might just be a hole.”
Pistons, Celtics Among Teams To Express Interest In Jaren Jackson Jr.
While the Grizzlies have made point guard Ja Morant available, there’s no indication that stance has extended to big man Jaren Jackson Jr. In fact, multiple reports have indicated that Memphis wants to hang onto Jackson and build around him.
Still, that hasn’t stopped a certain agent-turned-podcast-host from speculating about a potential trade involving Jackson, and it hasn’t stopped teams from calling the Grizzlies to register interest in the former Defensive Player of the Year. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Pistons and Celtics are among the teams to convey their interest.
Detroit has Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart in its frontcourt but has been in the market for a power forward or center who can stretch the floor — Jackson fits that bill, having made 37.3% of 5.0 three-pointers per game since the start of last season. As for Boston, the 2024 champions lost Al Horford and Luke Kornet in 2025 free agency while also trading away Kristaps Porzingis, so it makes sense that the Celtics would be seeking an impact big man.
As Scotto points out, if the Grizzlies traded both Morant and Jackson, it would create a path for the club to rebuild around a younger core led by Cedric Coward, Zach Edey, and Jaylen Wells. While Memphis still views Jackson – who is just 26 years old and is under contract through at least 2029 – as a part of that core, more teams figure to inquire about his availability if Morant is moved ahead of the February 5 deadline, Scotto writes.
Scotto also checks in on Morant’s market, citing league sources who say that the Heat, Bucks, Kings, Raptors, and Pelicans have expressed some interest. However, it sounds like most of those teams would only be interested in the two-time All-Star as a buy-low target.
According to Scotto, there have been whispers for months that Morant and his camp view Miami as a favorable landing spot. But rival executives who spoke to HoopsHype believe the Heat’s “dream scenario” would be landing Giannis Antetokounmpo if he becomes available in the summer, so the club will be reluctant to give up any assets that would compromise that possibility.
An ESPN report from earlier today classified league-wide interest in Morant as “tepid,” and Sam Amick of The Athletic has heard the same. According to Amick, Miami and Milwaukee are considered unlikely landing spots for the Grizzlies guard, while Sacramento doesn’t view him as a great fit for its timeline and would be unwilling to include any draft capital in an offer. Scotto adds that some rival executives wondered whether the Nets or Rockets might have interest in Morant, but neither club seems to.
Morant is currently sidelined with a right calf injury and didn’t play in the NBA’s first ever regular season game in Germany on Thursday. Amid rumors that Morant doesn’t want to play for Memphis at all anymore, commissioner Adam Silver said he’s hopeful the star guard will be able to suit up on Sunday in London.
“I know he has a tremendous following globally,” Silver said ahead of Thursday’s game in Berlin, per Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. “And I wish he were able to play tonight. I’m still holding out hope he’ll be able to play when we’re in London on Sunday. So, yes, I’m disappointed he’s not on the floor tonight, but I understand he’s injured.”
Trade Rumors: Morant, Heat, Lakers, Raptors, Bucks, Wolves
Classifying the level of league-wide trade interest in Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant as “tepid,” ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst say the Heat‘s interest, specifically, has been overstated.
As Bontemps and Windhorst explain, Miami has been “laser focused” on keeping its salary cap relatively clean for the 2027 offseason, when superstars like Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo could become free agents. Sources tell ESPN that it’s highly unlikely the team would pivot away from that plan in order to acquire Morant, whose contract includes a guaranteed $44.9MM salary for 2027/28.
Addressing ESPN’s report, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald (Twitter link) essentially agrees, writing that the Heat haven’t made an offer for Morant and are only interested if it’s a “complete giveaway” from Memphis’ perspective. Jackson jokes that the Grizzlies might even need to throw in a first-round pick to entice Miami.
As for which other teams might be in the mix for Morant, sources who spoke to Bontemps and Windhorst don’t believe there’s much of a market for the two-time All-Star, whose production has declined in recent years, but the Bucks were repeatedly mentioned as one possible option, per ESPN’s duo.
Here’s more from Bontemps and Windhorst on the NBA trade market:
- The Lakers are seeking help on the perimeter and rim protection as they consider their in-season options, league sources tell ESPN. “They’re going to be looking for bargain deals and they might be able to find one if they’re willing to take on long-term money,” one Western Conference general manager said. “But they probably need to make sure that player is a good fit with Luka (Doncic) to justify it.”
- The Raptors have been gauging the trade value of several of their players, including guard Immanuel Quickley and forward RJ Barrett, sources tell Bontemps and Windhorst. While other teams may be reluctant to take on long-term salary for potential trade candidates like Morant, Domantas Sabonis, or Anthony Davis, the Raptors – who have been linked to each of those players – would be in better position to do because their offers would include multiyear contracts of their own (Quickley, Barrett, and/or Jakob Poeltl), ESPN’s duo points out. Still, a lack of bigger expiring contracts means Toronto would have to include draft compensation to strengthen its offers.
- The Bucks have expressed interest in talent “at basically any position” and are widely regarded as a team that will make a meaningful move at the deadline, according to ESPN. “Milwaukee still has a first-round pick they can trade, and they’re $14 million under the luxury tax,” one Eastern Conference executive said. “I’ve seen teams make chicken salad with less.”
- According to Bontemps and Windhorst, executives believe the Timberwolves are hoping to bolster their backcourt while also reducing their payroll, as they’re poised to pay a significant tax bill for a second straight season. It will be difficult for Minnesota to make a real upgrade without giving up at least one rotation player, however.
Eleven More Players Become Trade-Eligible
Today is Thursday, January 15, which means that a total of 11 players who signed free agent contracts meeting specific criteria this past offseason are now eligible to be traded.
Most offseason signees became trade-eligible on December 15, but players who met the following criteria were ineligible to be moved for an extra month:
- The player re-signed with his previous team.
- He got a raise of at least 20%.
- His salary is above the minimum.
- His team was over the cap and used Bird or Early Bird rights to sign him.
These are the 11 players who met that criteria and are eligible to be traded as of Thursday:
Santi Aldama (Grizzlies)- Josh Giddey (Bulls)
- Quentin Grimes (Sixers)
- Isaiah Jackson (Pacers)
- Jonathan Kuminga (Warriors)
- Tre Mann (Hornets)
- Sam Merrill (Cavaliers)
- Davion Mitchell (Heat)
- Paul Reed (Pistons)
- Naz Reid (Timberwolves)
- Ryan Rollins (Bucks)
Most of the players on standard 15-man rosters around the NBA are now eligible to be moved, though a small handful still can’t be dealt.
That group includes Kings guard Russell Westbrook, who becomes trade-eligible on Friday, Hawks guard Keaton Wallace (trade-eligible on January 18), Pelicans center DeAndre Jordan (Jan. 23), Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (Feb. 1), Lakers guard Luka Doncic (Feb. 2), Kings forward Precious Achiuwa (Feb. 4), and Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox (Feb. 4).
Additionally, there are several players who won’t become trade-eligible at all prior to this season’s February 6 deadline, including reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Players on 10-day contracts are also ineligible to be traded.
Central Notes: Giannis, Jenkins, Pistons, J. Walker
Milwaukee fans booed the Bucks during Tuesday’s blowout loss against Minnesota, and Giannis Antetokounmpo gave the same reaction to the home crowd, writes Jamal Collier of ESPN. After scoring a basket and getting knocked to the court on a foul early in the third quarter, Antetokounmpo did a two-thumbs-down gesture and booed the fans while sitting under the basket.
Antetokounmpo has used the same gesture to respond to jeering crowds on the road, and he explained, “Whenever I get booed, I boo back,” regardless of where he’s playing.
“I play basketball for my teammates,” he said. “I play basketball for myself and my family. When people don’t believe in me, I don’t tend to be with them. I tend to do what I’m here to do, what I’m good at. … It won’t change home or away. But yeah, I’ve never been a part of something like that before and I don’t think it’s fair. I don’t. But everybody has their opinion to do what they want to do.
“I’m not going to tell them what to do and how they should act when we don’t play hard. Or when we lose games, or when we’re not where we’re supposed to be. I don’t think anybody has the right to tell me how I should act on (a) basketball court after I’ve been here 13 years. And I’m basically the all-time leader in everything.”
Although it may be an isolated incident, Antetokounmpo’s reaction has to be disturbing for a front office that has been going out of its way to keep its star player happy. The Bucks are viewed as buyers heading into the trade deadline in hopes of upgrading their roster to make a postseason run, but Tuesday’s loss dropped them to 17-23 and left them 1.5 games out of the final play-in spot.
There’s more from the Central Division:
- Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins is limited to 50 games on his two-way contract, and Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press points out in a subscriber-only mailbag column that he’s likely to reach that limit on February 5, which is also the day of the trade deadline. There’s a good chance Detroit will open up a roster spot and give a standard contract to Jenkins, who has emerged as a rotation player in his second NBA season, with Sankofa speculating that it’s likely to be a one- or two-year deal.
- Hunter Patterson of The Athletic examines ways the Pistons can use a traded player exception that allows them to take on an additional $14.3MM in salary. He cites Bucks forward Bobby Portis, Spurs center Kelly Olynyk, Hawks wing Luke Kennard, Celtics forward Sam Hauser and Mavericks wing Max Christie as potential targets. If Detroit doesn’t use it in a deal by the deadline, the TPE will remain available through July 7.
- Pacers coach Rick Carlisle has singled out the play of third-year forward Jarace Walker after each of the last two games, per Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. Walker contributed 11 points and seven rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench in Monday’s win over Boston. “He’s playing with force,” Carlisle said. “He’s playing with force at both ends. He’s done a lot of good things defensively. He’s rebounding the ball. Stepping into the right shots. As a third-year player, things are going to slow down as you progress in your career. Reads become more obvious. He’s making good decisions.”
Rich Paul Reportedly Wants Mavs To Trade Anthony Davis
Even after sustaining a hand injury that will keep him on the shelf until the February 5 trade deadline and beyond, Mavericks big man Anthony Davis is viewed as an in-season trade candidate. That’s just fine with his agent, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, who said in the latest episode of the Hoop Collective podcast (YouTube link) that Rich Paul is hoping Dallas sends his client elsewhere in the coming weeks.
“It is very clear that Rich Paul, who represents Anthony Davis, wants Anthony Davis traded before the deadline,” MacMahon said (hat tip to RealGM). “He believes it’s in his best business interest, because he has taken a ‘Well, we’ll see’ from the Mavericks regarding an extension as a ‘no.’ And there are teams where clearly Rich Paul considers it likely that AD would get the kind of extension that he’s looking for when he becomes eligible in August.”
Davis is earning $54.1MM this season and will make $58.5MM in 2026/27. He also holds a player option worth $62.8MM for ’27/28, so it’s not as if he needs to lock in his next deal immediately. Still, multiple reports in recent months have suggested that a contract extension is a priority for the 10-time All-Star, who will turn 33 years old in March. He’ll become eligible for a new deal as of August 6.
While the Mavericks apparently haven’t conveyed that they’re eager to pursue an extension and have been open to the idea of exploring trade scenarios involving Davis, they also don’t necessarily feel like they’ve reached an inflection point with the star forward/center, MacMahon explains.
“They are telling me and anybody who will listen that they’re not trading AD just to make a deal,” MacMahon said. “They don’t feel like they have to unload him. ‘Oh my gosh, the deadline’s here. Got to take what the best offer is.’ They are insistent that they will only make a deal that makes sense for them. And what exactly that threshold is, there’s not clarity on that. But it’s some combination of draft compensation, promising young talent, and financial relief in the form of expiring salaries.
“‘Rich Paul is not going to bully us.’ That is a direct quote from a member of the Mavericks organization. Another member of the Mavericks organization, referring to Patrick Dumont, the governor: ‘Patrick’s not going to sign off on a deal just to do a deal. Ownership doesn’t feel any pressure to do an AD deal.’ A third source: ‘Patrick has no problem going into next year with a healthy Kyrie (Irving) and a healthy AD alongside Cooper Flagg and seeing what it looks like.”
The Hawks and Raptors are the teams that have been linked most frequently to Davis, with the Bucks and Warriors also reportedly among the clubs with some interest. It’s unclear if they – or other clubs – would be any more enthusiastic than the Mavericks about locking up the former No. 1 overall pick to a new extension this offseason. He has battled a series of health issues since being traded to Dallas last February and has appeared in just 29 of 73 possible regular season games as a Mav.
Davis has remained highly effective when he’s available, averaging 20.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game since his arrival in Dallas. Still, his injury history and his maximum-salary price tag are among the factors limiting his value on the trade market — and on his next contract.
As MacMahon points out, the Mavericks will be motivated to be competitive beginning in 2026/27, since they don’t control their own first-round picks from 2027 to 2030, so a full-fledged teardown around Flagg probably doesn’t make sense. Noting that the team’s front office is also in a transitional period, MacMahon suggests the Mavs might be happy to wait until the offseason to make a decision on Davis’ future.
“Maybe there’s an AD deal to be made (at the trade deadline) that they’re comfortable making. Maybe there’s not,” MacMahon said. “And then it can be like Kevin Durant, where, OK, you restart things in the summer.
“But even then, I don’t believe they’re going to feel like there’s a ticking time bomb. There will be a new – whatever the title is -president of basketball operations, lead decision-maker who they’d like to have in place for Cooper Flagg’s career. And maybe it makes sense just to wait for that person to arrive in Dallas and to handle this business.”
Currently, Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi are serving as the Mavericks interim co-GMs, with Dumont, minority owner Mark Cuban, and head coach Jason Kidd also said to be involved in personnel decisions.
Latest On Michael Porter Jr.
Citing a “trusted league source,” John Hollinger of The Athletic reported over the weekend that Michael Porter Jr. is a “lock” to be traded by the Nets ahead of the deadline. Other NBA insiders haven’t been so bold, however.
In his latest Substack story, Marc Stein acknowledges some people around the league think the Nets will take a “sell high” approach to Porter’s breakout season and move him by February 5. But Stein continues to hear “push-back” about Brooklyn’s desire to trade Porter prior to the offseason, and says he’s not sure what the Nets will do.
Speaking to Justin Shackil on Yes Network (Twitter video link), Michael Scotto of HoopsHype also expressed some doubt about the possibility of Porter being involved in an in-season trade.
“Right now, a lot of teams across the league — more contending teams — have called, just to get a sense of where he’s at,” Scotto said. “But one thing I will tell you and the viewers as well, Justin, is that the Nets, looking ahead towards next season, they’re going to want to take a step forward. Michael Porter Jr. could very well be a part of that with the way he’s playing. And he’s still young, in his prime.
“So I would temper expectations on a trade, at least at this point. But certainly, he’s gained more interest around the league and I don’t think anybody has helped his value more than him given the All-Star production and efficiency he has shown this season so far.”
The Warriors and Bucks are among the teams that have inquired about Porter since the start of January, per Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, but the Nets haven’t made it known they actually want to move the sharpshooting forward. Brooklyn’s starting point in talks for Porter is a “valuable first-round pick,” according Siegel, who says even if that asking price is met it doesn’t necessarily mean the team will trade him.
Scotto also discussed Nic Claxton, whose descending contract holds some appeal to rival teams. Scotto reported that the Pacers and Warriors are among the teams who have expressed interest in the seventh-year center, but also said the Nets consider the 26-year-old part of their future.
Siegel has heard similarly, writing that the Nets value Claxton and would want a minimum of first-round pick and “players of value” in return who could help expedite the team’s rebuild.
Bucks Reportedly Interested In Ja Morant
The Bucks are among the teams with interest in Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant, multiple league sources tell Jim Owczarski of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (subscription required).
Morant, a two-time All-Star who has been plagued by injury and off-court woes in recent years, will miss his fifth straight game on Sunday vs. Brooklyn due to a right calf contusion, per the NBA’s official injury report.
This is the first report we’ve seen definitively linking Milwaukee to Morant, who is on the trading block.
In order to match salaries with Morant, who is earning approximately $39.5MM this season and is under contract through 2027/28, an outgoing Bucks package would likely start with Kyle Kuzma ($22.4MM). There are multiple ways to make the money work from there with additional players included.
While Morant makes some sense as a buy-low candidate for the Bucks, who are trying to get back into contention in the Eastern Conference around two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, his on-court fit seems shaky. For starters, Morant has never been a great shooter, and Milwaukee’s two best players this season outside of Antetokounmpo have been point guards Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr.
The Bucks also continue to be intrigued by Kings shooting guard Zach LaVine, Owczarski reports. Milwaukee has been connected to multiple players on Sacramento’s roster, though the two teams reportedly weren’t engaged in active trade conversations as of last week.
Latest On Ja Morant
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Friday that the Grizzlies are listening to trade offers for Ja Morant, but also said the team is open to keeping him on the roster past the February 5 deadline. John Hollinger of The Athletic, a former high-ranking Grizzlies executive, confirms the team is fielding offers for Morant but is dubious Memphis will retain the 26-year-old beyond Feb. 5.
As Hollinger observes, it’s rare for a team to publicly advertise it’s open to moving one of its top players unless the club already intends to move him. Just a few days after the Hawks were said to be working on a trade with Trae Young, they ended up sending him to Washington. It’s quite possible Memphis already has a deal lined up for Morant and is waiting to see if anyone will top it, according to Hollinger.
Hollinger confirms the Kings and Timberwolves are unlikely to pursue Morant, describing their interest as “lukewarm at best.” While he admits it’s informed speculation, Hollinger points to the Raptors (Immanuel Quickley and other assets) as a team that might be a fit, and calls the Nets a potential “deep dark horse” suitor.
A league source tells The Athletic that Michael Porter Jr. is a “lock” to be traded by Brooklyn ahead of the deadline, with Hollinger suggesting three-team frameworks that send Porter to either the Raptors, Heat or Bucks, Morant to the Nets, and various assets to the Grizzlies.
Here are several more rumors related to Morant:
- There’s a sense around the league that the Grizzlies might be able to get more value for Morant than the Hawks did for Young, according to Sam Vecenie of The Athletic. That could require Memphis to take on long-term money in return, but the team seems more willing to go that route than Atlanta was.
- Still, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link) hears the Grizzlies don’t have unrealistic expectations about a potential return package. Fischer confirms they’re looking for young players and draft assets, but says Memphis isn’t expecting anything close to what it received for Desmond Bane over the offseason.
- According to Fischer, while Morant may have never formally requested a trade, it seems both sides were in agreement about seeking a change of scenery. Fischer also hears the Grizzlies want to build around Jaren Jackson Jr., but says that won’t stop opposing teams from calling about his availability and trying to determine through back channels whether the former Defensive Player of the Year is open to a possible exit. Hollinger has heard similar rumblings about Jackson, with Fischer wondering if the Raptors or Hawks might pivot to a pursuit of the 26-year-old big man in the wake of Anthony Davis‘ hand injury.
- Although there were some suggestions early in the season about a potential Morant-LaMelo Ball trade between the Grizzlies and Hornets, that scenario appears unlikely now, Fischer writes.
- The Raptors offered Quickley and unspecified draft compensation to the Hawks for Young prior to last year’s deadline, sources tell Fischer, and maintained a level of interest in the four-time All-Star in 2025/26. The Hawks weren’t interested in taking on Quickley’s contract, as they were instead focused on financial flexibility, but perhaps Memphis would feel differently.
- The Heat have had internal discussions about pursuing Morant, Fischer reports. Morant didn’t like playing under the Noah LaRoche‘s offensive system last season with Memphis, Fischer notes, but Miami has a history of expressing interest in star players regardless of their injury or off-court histories.
- Both Hollinger and Vecenie are skeptical about the Bucks pursuing Morant, but the possibility can’t be ruled out entirely. “They’ve thought about everyone,” one rival executive told Fischer.