Ja Morant-Bucks Trade Rumors Uncover the 1 Player Milwaukee Refused to Deal for Grizzlies Star

The Milwaukee Bucks "declined to include" guard Ryan Rollins in a trade package for Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant, according to ESPN's Shams Charania and Jamal Collier.

NBA insider Jake Fischer reported on Feb. 22, after the trade deadline passed, that "numerous teams came away from the deadline believing that the Bucks' interest in Morant was genuine."

HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported a month earlier the Grizzlies were aiming to get Rollins from Milwaukee in a possible Morant trade.

Fischer entertained the idea that Milwaukee could've seen Morant as a co-star alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo or the leading figure in a post-Giannis future.

While Morant is a more decorated player than Rollins, taking a hard line with the young guard makes sense for a franchise without many long-term building blocks.

Milwaukee has given up a lot of draft capital in an effort to strengthen the supporting cast around Antetokounmpo. The franchise doesn't have full control of its first-round pick until 2031.

The ESPN report paints a stark picture in terms of Giannis' future and the likelihood of him getting traded in the summer. A rebuild will be a painful process, even assuming the Bucks get multiple first-rounders for the two-time MVP.

Trading Rollins would've left general manager Jon Horst with even less moving forward.

The 23-year-old is averaging 17.2 points and 5.6 assists, and he's shooting 40.9 percent from beyond the arc. He's making the most of his promotion to a full-time starting role.

Rollins Gets a Bucket

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Rollins is also signed for one more season with a modest $4 million salary before he can opt out in 2027.

Maybe the 6'3" guard never becomes a bona fide star. Right now, he has a ton for Milwaukee.