The Heat won’t trade for Ja Morant if he destroys Giannis Antetokounmpo’s pursuit

Although it is The Miami Heat are coming off a big win against the Oklahoma City Thunderrumors surrounding the team intensified ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline. As it is rumors about the Heat will continuetwo big names that have been linked are the Memphis Grizzlies I Morant and the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo.

In the short term, Morant was a hot topic around Miami, with mutual interest even as the basketball world wondered what the team was giving up for the star. According to Mark Stein’s latest report, he said the heat “should be scratched” as an option for Morant, “even if the terms are favorable,” as they don’t want to ruin a future move for Antetokounmpo.

“One well-placed league source insisted to me that the Heat should scratch the surface as a Morant suitor — even if the terms are favorable — if such a move jeopardizes a future trade to Milwaukee for Giannis Antetokounmpo,” Stein wrote. “All indications are that Antetokounmpo will be out before February 5th, but as we’ve often warned readers before, that won’t stop interested teams from continuing to plan future pursuits of the Greek Freak.”

“And Miami is rumored to believe it will be firmly in the mix as a legitimate trade destination for Antetokounmpo if he does indeed become available at the end of the season — eventually — as various rival teams are projecting,” Stein continued.

The Heat could end their pursuit of Ja Morant, focusing on Giannis Antetokounmpo

While there were questions about The Heat are chasing Morant and what that could mean for Antetokounmpothere is no doubt that going after the Bucks superstar is “Dream scenario”, as described by Hoops Hype. Also discussed by Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel, Miami saved its expiring contracts and other assets for a potential deal in the future.

“First, outgoing assets should not be included in the business for Ja Morant, who at this point looks like he’s going to be settled for pennies on the dollar, like a salary dump,” Winderman wrote. “But you raise a reasonable point that you might not even be throwing away expiring salaries that can be used in a possible trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo.”

Either way, it remains to be seen what will happen with the Heat’s pursuit, or lack thereof, of Morant and Antetokounmpo before the Feb. 5 trade deadline.