The Houston Rockets are looking to make adjustments to its roster during the offseason. Despite finishing with a 52-30 record and the number two seed in the Western Conference, they lost to Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors in seven games in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
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May 4, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) shoots the ball as Golden State Warriors forward Kevon Looney (5) defends during the third quarter of game seven of the first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
There are a couple of players that Houston could potentially trade for this offseason. Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns could be one player that Houston takes a swing for. The other player that the Rockets could trade for is Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
NBA Insider Lists the Houston Rockets As a Serious Contender To Trade For Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo
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Apr 29, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) defends during game five of the first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Eric Pincus of bleacherreport.com wrote about the five most realistic destinations for Antetokounmpo to be traded too this offseason. At number two, Pincus listed the Rockets as a potential landing spot for the Bucks superstar player. Pincus said,
“The Rockets may be the best active team capable of incorporating Antetokounmpo without giving up the heart of their roster.
Along with the No. 10 pick in June, Houston has several of its own first-rounders to offer, plus one in 2027 from the Phoenix Suns and two in 2029 (the highest from the Dallas Mavericks, Suns and Rockets).
Current disposable talent ranges from established players like Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason to young and eager players such as Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore.
Houston has plenty of movable contracts to help make a deal palatable to Milwaukee, including Jock Landale, Aaron Holiday and two others possibly through sign-and-trade, Jae’Sean Tate and Jeff Green. Adding a third or fourth team to facilitate a complex blockbuster has recently become relatively common.
The Rockets would presumably opt Fred VanVleet out of the final year of his contract ($44.9 million) and re-sign him on a multi-year deal that enables the franchise to acquire Antetokounmpo without sacrificing too much of what made this past season’s run so successful.”
Houston’s only untouchable in trade talks will most likely be Amen Thompson. Alperen Sengun should be an untouchable, but there is a chance that he could be traded in a potential deal for Antetokounmpo. The Rockets have a lot of young talent on the roster and even if they traded away some pieces, it would feel like they are not gutting their future away.
The Rockets also have the draft capital that Milwaukee would want in a potential trade. If the Bucks are going to start a massive rebuild by trading away one of the Top 5 players in the NBA, then Houston might be the best place for a trade to occur.
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