Team reporter: The Bucks are interested in acquiring Morant to pair with Giannis, likely centering the trade package around Kuzma.

On January 11th Beijing time, Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski revealed that the Milwaukee Bucks are among the teams pursuing Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant. This is the first clear report linking the Bucks to Morant, who is currently available in the trade market.

According to the NBA's official injury report, two-time All-Star Morant has been plagued by injuries and off-court issues in recent years. Due to a right calf contusion, he will miss Monday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, marking his fifth consecutive absence.

Morant’s salary this season is approximately $39.5 million, with his contract extending through the 2027-28 season. To match his salary, the Bucks’ trade package will likely revolve around Kyle Kuzma (earning $22.4 million), with the possibility of including additional players to create multiple salary matching options.

The Bucks are rebuilding their championship roster around two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, aiming to return to Eastern Conference contention. From a value perspective, Morant seems like a suitable candidate, but his on-court fit with the Bucks is questionable. Notably, Morant has never been a strong shooter, while this season the Bucks’ best performers aside from Giannis have been point guards Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr.

Owczarski also reported that the Bucks maintain interest in Sacramento Kings shooting guard Zach LaVine. Previous rumors linked multiple Kings players to potential trades with the Bucks, but as of last week, no substantive trade discussions have taken place between the two teams.

So far this season, Morant has played 18 games for the Grizzlies, averaging 19 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game. His shooting percentages are 40.1% from the field and 20.8% from three-point range, both significantly below his career averages of 46.6% and 31.0%, respectively.