If things were to go south for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks this upcoming season, could the Houston Rockets land the nine-time All-Star to pair him with Kevin Durant? Durant is expected to sign an extension with the Rockets, cementing his future as the franchise player amid the team's pursuit of a championship. Trading for Antetokounmpo could expedite that process. But how would it go down?
If the Bucks were to go down that road, the Rockets could put together an enticing offer centered around one or two of their rising young prospects as NBA insider Tom Haberstroh noted, per Yahoo Sports Daily.
“The way you do it is you have to trade either Jabari Smith or Alperen Sengun. I do not see the Milwaukee Bucks signing off on a trade with the Houston Rockets unless they get Alperen Sengun or Jabari Smith,” Haberstroh said. “The really good 22-year-old wing player that's 6'11 and can shoot. Reed Sheppard’s also been in the doghouse with Ime Udoka. Goes to Milwaukee, tries to get the playing time that he needs.
“And of course, they're going to have to send some of their nine first-round picks over to Milwaukee to grease the wheels. And of course, you do have Fred VanVleet’s contract out for the season with an ACL tear. So his $25 million deal becomes very handy in this trade because it's a good salary matcher for Giannis Antetokounmpo’s $54 million salary that they have to match,” Haberstroh concluded.
Rockets All-Star Alperen Sengun would undoubtedly get the edge between the two options as the centerpiece of a deal for Antetokounmpo. Couple the two-time All-Star with Fred VanVleet, Reed Sheppard, and two future first-round picks, and that's not a bad haul for Giannis.
After doubling down on his desire to win a second championship with or without the Bucks, speculation has surrounded Antetokounmpo's future in Milwaukee. While Giannis vows to enter the 2025-26 campaign committed to the Bucks, things could change midseason.
Kevin Durant on Rockets facing Thunder on Opening Night
Rockets All-Star Kevin Durant understands why he's facing the Thunder on Opening Night as he'll watch his former team raise its first championship banner at the Paycom Center. Durant knows the narrative surrounding his departure for the Warriors in 2016 but is happy to see the Thunder — the team that drafted him — win a title, he said, per FanDuel TV's Up And Adams Show with Kay Adams.
“OKC getting their rings. I’m in the building; hopefully, they'll pan over to see my reaction — that’s really what it's about,” Durant said. “Them getting their rings is the most important thing, though.”
The Thunder will host the Rockets on October 21.
