The Milwaukee Bucks are currently a mess. Honestly, there's no nicer way to put it. We’re midway through January 2026, and a team that features Giannis Antetokounmpo is sitting at 17-24, staring at the 11th seed in the East. It’s ugly. The vibes are bad, the defense is worse, and the front office is reportedly "desperate."
When you're that desperate, you start looking at the Portland Trail Blazers. Specifically, you start looking at a bucks trade proposal Jerami Grant scenario.
Grant is a 31-year-old wing who basically does exactly what Milwaukee needs: he shoots the lights out from deep and can guard three or four positions without breaking a sweat. He’s currently averaging about 19.8 points per game for a Portland team that is essentially the NBA's version of a thrift store—lots of interesting pieces, but nothing that really matches.
The rumor mill, fueled by guys like Jake Fischer and the crew over at Dallas Hoops Journal, has linked Grant to Milwaukee for what feels like an eternity. But in 2026, the stakes are different. If the Bucks don’t make a move by the February 5 deadline, they aren't just missing the playoffs; they might be losing Giannis.
The Problem With the Current Roster
The Bucks already tried the "big swing" when they moved for Damian Lillard a while back, and since that championship in 2021, they’ve won exactly one playoff series. Three straight first-round exits. It’s a pattern.
Last summer, they even waived Lillard and signed Myles Turner, which was... a choice. It was supposed to fix the defense, but here we are. The team is slow. They’re old. Beyond Giannis, who is still playing like a Greek God (28.8 PPG), the roster is a collection of "what-ifs" and "used-to-bes."
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Jerami Grant isn't a superstar. He’s not going to win you a title as the number one option. But as a third or fourth option next to Giannis? That's a different story. He’s a Klutch Sports client, and we know how much sway Rich Paul has in these circles. Plus, the Bucks already have Klutch guys on the roster like Taurean Prince and Gary Trent Jr. The connections are there.
The Math is a Total Nightmare
Here’s where things get tricky. You can’t just "buy" Jerami Grant. He’s making $32 million this season. Because the Bucks are deep in the luxury tax—flirting with those terrifying "apron" levels—matching salary is like playing Tetris with blocks that are on fire.
To make a bucks trade proposal Jerami Grant work, Milwaukee has to send out a lot of money. The name that keeps coming up is Kyle Kuzma.
Kuzma is making $22.4 million. He’s been fine, but he’s not the defensive stopper Milwaukee needs. If you package Kuzma with someone like Bobby Portis ($13.4 million) or a combination of minimum contracts, the math finally starts to align. Portland might actually bite on this because Kuzma’s contract is shorter than Grant’s. Grant is owed over $100 million over the next three years. For a rebuilding Blazers team, getting off that long-term money to make room for Deni Avdija’s eventual extension is a huge win.
Why Portland Actually Says Yes
You’d think the Blazers would want to keep a guy who shoots 37% from three and guards the opponent's best player. But they're in a weird spot. They have young talent like Shaedon Sharpe and Donovan Clingan. They need to be bad enough to keep their 2026 top-pick protection (which goes to Chicago if it falls out of the lottery).
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Trading Grant makes them worse right now. That sounds bad, but in the NBA, "worse right now" often means "better in five years."
- Financial Flexibility: Getting Kuzma or expiring deals allows them to pay their young core.
- Draft Capital: Milwaukee doesn’t have much, but they could offer a 2031 first-round pick or some swaps.
- The "Good Guy" Factor: Joe Cronin (Blazers GM) has a decent relationship with the Bucks after the Lillard trade.
The On-Court Fit: Does It Actually Help?
If you’re a Bucks fan, you’re probably wondering if Grant is just another name. He’s not.
Grant is a "connector." In Portland, he’s asked to do too much. In Milwaukee, his job would be simple: stand in the corner, wait for Giannis to get double-teamed, and hit the open three. On the other end, he takes the toughest wing assignment so Giannis can roam as a help-side defender.
Last week, Grant came back from a minor injury and dropped 16 points in 23 minutes against Atlanta. He looked smooth. He looked like a guy who is tired of losing games in front of a half-empty arena.
The Risks
Let's be real: Grant has dealt with some Achilles tendonitis recently. Giving up depth (like Portis or Andre Jackson Jr.) for a guy with a massive contract and a nagging injury is a massive gamble. If Grant’s lateral quickness falls off, you’re stuck with a $32 million statue.
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But what’s the alternative? Doing nothing? If the Bucks stay the course, they finish 11th, Giannis asks for a trade in July, and the franchise enters a decade of darkness.
How the Deal Likely Looks
If this happens, it probably looks something like this:
Milwaukee receives:
- Jerami Grant
Portland receives:
- Kyle Kuzma
- MarJon Beauchamp (or another young piece)
- 2031 First-Round Pick (Unprotected)
- Two second-rounders
It's a "win-now" move that sacrifices the distant future for a chance to save the present. It's ugly, it's expensive, and it's exactly the kind of move a desperate team makes.
Actionable Next Steps for Bucks Fans
If you're following this saga, keep an eye on the following over the next 14 days:
- Monitor the Injury Report: If Jerami Grant starts "sitting out" for "rest" or "load management" in Portland, it’s a sign a deal is close. Teams don't risk injury to trade assets right before a deadline.
- Watch Bobby Portis' Minutes: If the Bucks start giving more run to younger wings, they might be preparing for a world without Bobby’s scoring off the bench.
- The February 5 Deadline: This is the hard cutoff. If Grant is still a Blazer on February 6, the Bucks are likely headed for a massive offseason fire sale.
The reality is that Milwaukee is backed into a corner. Jerami Grant isn't a savior, but he’s a lifeline. For a team drowning in the standings, a lifeline is more than enough.