NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ja Morant stay put as deadline passes

Two of the NBA’s biggest stars linked to trade speculation stayed put as the league’s trade deadline passed Thursday, with Giannis Antetokounmpo remaining in Milwaukee and Ja Morant staying with Memphis.

Antetokounmpo never publicly requested a trade, and the Milwaukee Bucks did not signal they were actively shopping their franchise player. Still, multiple teams were reported to have explored potential deals as the deadline approached. Interest was said to come from the Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Miami Heat, but none were able to meet Milwaukee’s high asking price, which reportedly included elite young players, multiple first-round draft picks, or both.

A 10-time All-Star and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, Antetokounmpo continues to perform at an elite level in his 13th season, all with the Bucks. The 31-year-old is averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 30 games this season. Over 889 career games, including 824 starts, he has posted averages of 24.0 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. Antetokounmpo has finished in the top seven of MVP voting in each of the past nine seasons.

Several reports indicated that roughly three hours before the deadline, Milwaukee had stopped entertaining offers for its superstar, signaling a firm decision to keep him through the remainder of the season.

Morant also figured prominently in trade rumors but ultimately remained with the Memphis Grizzlies. The two-time All-Star was linked to possible moves involving the Sacramento Kings, Timberwolves, and Heat, with Sacramento and Miami reportedly showing strong interest as recently as Wednesday. However, according to an ESPN report, no team presented what Memphis considered a serious offer.

The 26-year-old Morant is currently sidelined with an elbow injury and is expected to remain out through the All-Star break. He has appeared in just 20 games this season, averaging 19.5 points and 8.1 assists. In seven seasons with the Grizzlies, Morant has averaged 22.4 points and 7.4 assists across 327 games, including 325 starts.

With no deadline deals completed, both the Bucks and Grizzlies are expected to remain in the spotlight ahead of the offseason, when trade discussions involving their star players could resurface.

Antetokounmpo is earning $54.1 million in the first year of a three-year, $175.4 million contract, while Morant is making $39.4 million in the third season of a five-year, $197.2 million deal.

—Field Level Media/Reuters