Memphis Grizzlies star point guard Ja Morant finally returned to action in the team’s recent international game against the Orlando Magic. While Morant said he’s loyal to the organization after the match, the statement hasn’t stopped the trade discussion surrounding him.
While discussing Morant, a top NBA insider revealed two Eastern Conference teams are no longer linked to him.
Neither Miami Heat nor Milwaukee Bucks Expected To Acquire Ja Morant
NBA insider Tim Bontemps revealed on the latest edition of the Hoop Collective Podcast that the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks are no longer suitors for Ja Morant. Bontemps said, “As I have said in the past in the wake of the Luka Doncic trade, I’ve stopped saying never about things, but I feel confident that Ja Morant will not be a Heat and will not be a Buck. That’s what I would say. I don’t believe he’s going to Miami, and I don’t believe he’s going to Milwaukee.”
Tim Bontemps believes Ja Morant won’t be traded to the Heat or the Bucks 😬
“After the Luka trade I quit saying never about things. I feel pretty confident Ja Morant won’t be a Miami Heat, and won’t be a Buck. That’s what I would say. I don’t believe he is going to Miami and I… pic.twitter.com/DTFlTsbNsu
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) January 19, 2026
Morant had 24 points and 13 assists in the Grizzlies’ 126-109 win over the Magic in London. Appearing in his first game since January 2, Morant came out aggressive, scoring 20 points and dishing out 10 assists in the first half. Perhaps the most critical aspect of Morant’s performance is his efficiency.
In the midst of his worst shooting season, Morant shot 53.8% from the field and made three of his four three-point attempts. Grizzlies Head Coach Tuomas Lisalo said that Morant was on a minutes restriction against the Magic, as he’s finding his form after dealing with a right calf injury. However, the entire organization should be encouraged by Morant’s performance.
Morant’s strong performance may ignite his trade market, though Bontemps believes it may not. The Heat have fallen back after a strong start and are currently eighth in the Eastern Conference standings. The organization may admire the edge Morant plays with, but he appears to be an uneven fit on paper.
The Heat have one of the NBA’s top scoring offenses this season, but the system isn’t built on Morant’s preferred pick-and-rolls. Generally known as a defense-first team, the Heat are average on that end of the floor this season, and it’s unclear if Morant will help them improve defensively.
The Bucks are currently outside the playoff picture, and acquiring Morant would be about making one last big trade to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo in the organization.
Morant’s trade market could take another twist before the deadline if he keeps playing well.
