Giannis Trade Reportedly 'Most Intriguing' for Rockets but Out on Zion, Devin Booker

The Houston Rockets find the idea of trading for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo "most intriguing" this offseason, according to The Athletic's Kelly Iko and Sam Amick.

The deal would likely cost the Rockets draft picks and both veteran and young players, but give them the chance to build around a 30-year-old superstar, Iko and Amick noted.

The Rockets see trading for the New Orleans Pelicans' Zion Williamson as "too risky" amid his injury issues, and Devin Booker's struggles last season with the Phoenix Suns "shifted" the team's former interest in him, according to Iko and Amick.

That leaves Antetokounmpo as the most compelling target, per Iko and Amick, in what head coach Ime Udoka described as a "huge offseason" for the Rockets.

Antetokounmpo is signed for at least two more years in Milwaukee, with a player option for 2027-28.

Discussions as to whether the Bucks would consider trading him resurfaced after Antetokounmpo and the Bucks suffered a first-round elimination at the hands of the Indiana Pacers.

The Game 5 loss marked the Bucks' third consecutive season without a series win.

When asked after the game if he still believed he could win a second championship in Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo answered: "I'm not going to do this. I'm not going to do this. I know, whatever I say, how it's going to translate. I don't know, man. I wish I was still playing. I wish I was still competing and going back to Milwaukee. I don't know."

If Antetokounmpo pursues a trade, or the Bucks decide to otherwise trade an MVP candidate who averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game last season, the Rockets are theoretically one of the teams with the capital to make a compelling offer.

Not only is Houston stocked with young talent, but the Rockets have five first-round draft picks over the next three years.

The Athletic's Eric Nehm, David Aldridge, Eric Koreen, Tony Jones and Sam Vecenie shared a trade proposal earlier this month in which the Rockets hand over two of those firsts, add in a 2029 first-rounder and part ways with Amen Thompson, Jalen Green, Cam Whitmore and Donovan Clingan to get Antetokounmpo as part of a three-way deal with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Iko and Amick noted that slotting in Antetokounmpo with Alperen Şengün, currently the top option in Houston, could lead to "challenges" while restructuring the Rockets' offense. If the Bucks make Antetokounmpo available, the Rockets will need to decide if these difficulties and parting ways with multiple young stars would be worth it to bring in one of the best players in the NBA.