The NBA trade deadline came and went last week without the biggest domino falling.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is staying in Milwaukee — at least until the end of the season — as the Bucks warded off rival interest in the two-time MVP.

After the deadline, the Bucks secured the free-agent signing of Cam Thomas to add some scoring punch as they try to chase down the Charlotte Hornets for the final Play-In spot.

However, the Bucks for weeks had been linked with an audacious move for two-time All-Star guard Ja Morant. The Memphis Grizzlies wanted to move on from Morant, too, after they dealt Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz, but no trade materialized before the Feb. 5 deadline.

And now, we know why.

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According to ClutchPoints‘ Tomer Azarly, the Grizzlies were engaged with the Bucks, the Miami Heat and the Minnesota Timberwolves over a Morant trade. But Memphis didn’t want to sell low on Morant or take any “bad” contracts in return to get rid of him.

Azarly writes that the Bucks and the Grizzlies engaged positively over a Morant-for-Ryan Rollins swap, but talks came to an end once Milwaukee asked to include the contracts of Kyle Kuzma or Bobby Portis in any Morant trade.

The Grizzlies seem certain to revisit the Morant market in the summer, and Azarly writes that there is an expectation around the league that the former second overall pick will find a new home then.

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