Giannis Reportedly 'Remains' Rockets Trade Target amid Rumors on Bucks Future

The Houston Rockets have reportedly maintained interest in a trade for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo as the offseason approaches.

According to Kelly Iko of The Athletic, Giannis "remains a target" for the Rockets, but there has been "uncertainty" over the past week about whether he'll actually be available.

If the Bucks do open up trade discussions, Iko mentioned the asking price as a potential stumbling block due to the belief that Milwaukee will ask for a huge return in exchange for one of the NBA's best players.

The possibility of the Bucks trading Giannis has been one of the most-talked-about storylines in basketball ever since Milwaukee was knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by the Indiana Pacers.

In addition to the Bucks experiencing a third consecutive first-round exit, superstar guard Damian Lillard tore his Achilles during the series, meaning he may be in line to miss much or all of the 2025-26 season.

On top of that, starting center Brook Lopez will be a free agent this offseason, and another key player, Bobby Portis, can become a free agent if he declines his player option as well.

Even with Giannis leading the way, there is little hope of the Bucks being contenders next season, which led to speculation that the Bucks may consider trading Giannis and starting a rebuild.

Last month, NBA insider Marc Stein said on the ALL NBA Podcast (h/t RealGM) that he doesn't believe the Bucks will trade Antetokounmpo "unless he pushes it."

ESPN's Shams Charania later reported that Giannis was "open-minded about exploring whether his best long-term fit is remaining in Milwaukee or playing elsewhere," which suggests a formal trade request is possible.

Sam Amick of The Athletic followed up on The Ringer's Real Ones (h/t HoopsHype.com) by expressing his belief that if Bucks general manager Jon Horst does entertain trade offers, he will only have interest in deals that "gut the other team."

Amick noted that Horst's asking price will likely be so high that Giannis may not want to go elsewhere due to the sheer amount and quality of assets the acquiring team would have to give up.

Of course, a high asking price is understandable when it comes to the 30-year-old Antetokounmpo since he is a future Hall of Famer who is still at the top of his game.

Giannis is a nine-time All-Star, two-time NBA MVP and one-time NBA Finals MVP. He also led the Bucks to an NBA championship in 2021, and he was named NBA Finals MVP.

Antetokounmpo has averaged at least 29.9 points per game in each of the past four seasons, including the 2024-25 campaign when he put up 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.2 blocks per contest.

A contending team that is one major piece away from taking the next step would be the most logical landing spot for Giannis, and the Rockets undoubtedly fit that description.

After winning 22 or fewer games in three straight seasons, the Rockets took a big leap forward in 2023-24 by going 41-41, and they progressed even more this season by going 52-30 and securing the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.

Young players such as Jalen Green, Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith played huge roles in the Rockets' success, while veterans Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks held it all together.

While the Rockets could bank on continued progress and development, acquiring Giannis would be akin to dousing a fire with gasoline in that it could accelerate the championship contention timeline significantly

There is perhaps no team better equipped to trade for Giannis since the Rockets are brimming with young talent and draft picks.

While it is difficult to envision Houston parting with Şengün in a trade for Giannis, the likes of Green, Thompson, Smith, Cam Whitmore and Reed Sheppard are all possibilities.

It is easy to understand why the Rockets have interest in one of the NBA's elite players, but if the Bucks start fielding offers, Houston's front office must be wary of giving up too much of its future in exchange for a player who is now in his 30s.