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The Houston Rockets are on the brink of elimination as they enter Wednesday's Game 5 trailing the Golden State Warriors 3-1. The series has exposed the franchise's clear need for a superstar to lead their young core.
While Jalen Green was long considered a key piece of that core, a recent proposal suggested that the Rockets could trade the fourth-year guard for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
"Potential trade framework: Antetokounmpo to the Rockets for Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore and three first-round picks... The Rockets find themselves on the cusp of championship contention," Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley wrote Wednesday. "Their disruptive, dominant defense is camera-ready for basketball's biggest stage. Their competitive fire and the fight instilled under head coach Ime Udoka can keep sturdy legs beneath them through the final rounds of a heavyweight brawl. But their 12th-ranked offense isn't cutting it. When they can't get out in transition or snare one of their many misfired shots, they're almost drawing dead (22nd in half-court offensive efficiency). Adding Antetokounmpo to the fold could immediately change that."
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Buckley noted that Antetokounmpo would be able to serve as the Rockets' lead scorer. The two-time NBA MVP has averaged 29.2 points per game over the past eight seasons.
While he has averaged at least 30.4 ppg over each of the past three seasons, Milwaukee has been bounced in the first round of the playoffs each year. Antetokounmpo has spent the first 12 years of his career with the Bucks and will be just 30 years old when the 2025-26 season.
He is coming off of yet another MVP-caliber season as he averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 60.1% from the field. Meanwhile, his defensive prowess would fit perfectly with Houston's identity.
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