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Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks works against Tari Eason #17 of the Houston Rockets.
The Houston Rockets are among the NBA’s best-positioned teams should they choose to pursue a blockbuster trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo now that the Milwaukee Bucks’ asking price has come into focus.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Milwaukee has signaled increased openness to discussing Antetokounmpo deals, but only at a threshold befitting a franchise cornerstone — elite young talent paired with a significant haul of draft picks. It is a standard the Rockets are uniquely equipped to meet.
“Multiple teams have received a sense that the Bucks are more open than ever to Antetokounmpo offers between now and the deadline,” Charania reported Wednesday. “However, Milwaukee has indicated to interested teams that the organization is not in a rush to complete a move and is willing to navigate Antetokounmpo’s future in the offseason if its believed price point of a blue-chip young talent and/or a surplus of draft picks isn’t met.”
That framework places Houston squarely in the conversation.
Rockets Control One of NBA’s Strongest Draft War Chests
The Rockets can trade up to five first-round picks, including two unprotected selections from the Phoenix Suns in 2027 and 2029.
Houston’s draft flexibility gives the franchise leverage few contenders possess, allowing it to compete with — or outbid — nearly any rival if Milwaukee formally opens negotiations.
The remaining question is not whether the Rockets can meet the price, but how aggressive they are willing to be.
Blue-Chip Talent Decision Looms for Houston
Any Antetokounmpo deal would require Houston to part with at least one cornerstone young player. That decision likely comes down to Amen Thompson or Alperen Şengün.
Thompson, 22, has taken on an expanded role in Fred VanVleet’s absence, averaging 18.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 51% from the field. His athleticism and defensive versatility remain elite, though his perimeter shooting continues to limit his offensive ceiling.
Thompson is shooting just 19.3% from three-point range this season, a figure that remains a concern for opposing defenses and front offices alike.
Şengün, meanwhile, has emerged as Houston’s second-leading scorer behind Kevin Durant and continues to function as the team’s offensive hub. The 22-year-old center is averaging 21.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and a team-high 6.4 assists per game, along with 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks.
While Şengün’s three-point shooting remains a work in progress, his 29% mark represents a notable improvement from 23.3% last season.
Durant-Giannis Pairing Would Alter West Balance
A pairing of Durant and Antetokounmpo would instantly elevate Houston into the top tier of the Western Conference alongside the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Even after acquiring Durant, the 28-16 Rockets remain a step below the conference’s elite. Entering Wednesday’s matchup against the 31-15 San Antonio Spurs, Houston sat fourth in the West, two games behind the No. 2 Spurs and eight games back of the 38-10 Thunder.
A Giannis addition would fundamentally shift that landscape.
Steven Adams Injury Adds Urgency
On the same day Charania reported Milwaukee’s increased openness, Houston suffered a significant blow to its frontcourt depth.
Center Steven Adams, the Rockets’ second-leading rebounder at 8.6 per game and one of the league’s most effective offensive rebounders at 4.5 per contest, was ruled out for the remainder of the season following ankle surgery. His absence leaves Houston thinner in the interior and amplifies the value of elite two-way size.
Antetokounmpo would address that deficiency immediately.
Rockets Face Franchise-Defining Decision
Milwaukee remains patient, with no urgency to move its franchise star. But the price is now clear — and Houston has the means to pay it.
Whether the Rockets ultimately push their chips to the center of the table will define the franchise’s direction. With draft capital, young talent and a championship-caliber star already in place, Houston is no longer evaluating whether it can pursue Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The question is whether it decides to.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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