The Milwaukee Bucks are rumored to be pursuing the Memphis Grizzlies' head coach. Could that impact Ja Morant's trade market?
It should be an interesting summer for the Memphis Grizzlies.
Fans will keep a close eye on the draft. The Grizzlies could select a player who will change their direction. They may have an opportunity to select a franchise player.
After all, their current franchise player seems due to head somewhere else.
The Grizzlies are overwhelmingly likely to trade Ja Morant. The writing has been on the wall for some time. It's unclear where Morant may be suiting up next year:
But one rumored suitor may be out of the running.
Ja Morant suitor could make a consequential coaching hire
That suitor would be the Milwaukee Bucks.
They had seemingly expressed interest in acquiring Morant at the deadline. It didn't happen, but that doesn't mean that discussions couldn't be reignited over the summer.
Now, it seems the Bucks want to pry Taylor Jenkins from the Grizzlies. An astute fan can put these pieces together. If the Bucks hire Jenkins, they surely won't be reuniting him with the same Morant he's had friction with.
So, this could be significant. Morant's market already looks limited. If one suitor is out of the running, it might be tepid.
How big an issue is this?
Bucks unlikely to acquire Morant
Meanwhile, the Bucks have their own superstar trade to consider. Giannis Antetokounmpo will be the biggest name on the market by a long shot.
Were the Bucks looking to pair Morant and Antetokounmpo? If so, that ship has likely sailed, whether they hire Jenkins or not. Antetokounmpo is gone.
Did they want Morant as part of a package for Antetokounmpo? That would change the calculus. Still, it feels unlikely. Antetokounmpo is unlikely to sign off on a move to Memphis.
Moreover, Morant alone wouldn't fetch the MVP candidate. The Grizzlies would have to include a treasure trove of first-round picks in the package. It would be too rich for a team that'd have no star to pair him with when he arrived.
So, if the Bucks hire Jenkins, it may not change much. They were unlikely to be a suitor for Morant in the first place. Still, there are broader questions to raise here.
Like, if the Bucks aren't a suitor for Morant - who is? Will he have a market? It's tough to identify who's looking to acquire such a distressed asset:
But whether Jenkins goes to Milwaukee or not, it's unlikely to be the Bucks.