The Houston Rockets have established themselves as a rising force after a 50-win season and a No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.
But Houston's first-round playoff exit to the Golden State Warriors exposed a critical need for a go-to offensive star.
With an abundance of draft capital and young talent, Houston is uniquely positioned to pursue a transformative trade that could elevate them into championship contention.
Speculation is swirling about a potential blockbuster deal, and the Rockets’ war chest of assets makes such a move tantalizingly feasible.
Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes recently highlighted Houston’s potential to pull off a game-changing trade, stating, “The Houston Rockets are one of few teams with the assets to make an ambitious trade target a realistic one. The only real hindrance to Houston landing Giannis Antetokounmpo has more to do with the lack of will—potentially on their part and Antetokounmpo’s—than the lack of a way."
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"Houston has all of its own future first-round picks, an incoming unprotected first-rounder from the Suns in 2027, swap rights with Brooklyn that same year and another ‘most favorable’ of the Mavs and Suns in 2029," Hughes continued.
"The Rockets also boast a horde of enticing rookie-scale contracts, including Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard and others, that the Milwaukee Bucks should highly value. Antetokounmpo has yet to say he officially wants to leave the Bucks. All we know is that he ‘remains a target’ for the Rockets, per Kelly Iko of The Athletic. Giannis would provide a massive offensive upgrade to a Rockets team that needs one, immediately shifting them to a win-now timeline. Considering Houston won 50 games last year, that’s a leap it seems ready to make.”
The Milwaukee Bucks’ situation adds fuel to the speculation. After three consecutive first-round playoff exits and Damian Lillard’s Achilles injury, questions loom about the franchise’s future.
Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP, has not publicly requested a trade but is reportedly open-minded about his long-term fit in Milwaukee.
This uncertainty makes Houston’s interest, as noted by Iko, particularly intriguing. The Rockets’ defensive identity under coach Ime Udoka—ranked top-five in 2024-25—would pair seamlessly with Antetokounmpo’s versatility, while his half-court dominance could address Houston’s offensive struggles (bottom 10 in effective field-goal percentage).
Houston’s trade assets are unmatched by most teams. Players like Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. could headline a package, though Houston might hesitate to part with both.
The Rockets’ 2025 lottery result—a No. 10 pick via Phoenix—may limit their package’s sizzle compared to rivals like San Antonio, who hold the No. 2 pick. Still, Houston’s volume of assets keeps them in the driver’s seat.
With Antetokounmpo under contract through 2026-27, the Rockets could build a contender around him.
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