Despite recent reporting indicating that rival scouts and executives view Houston as a favorite to make a big in-season splash, NBA insider Marc Stein writes at Substack that “consistent whispers” around the league point to the Rockets waiting until the offseason to buy more time to see if a big trade target shakes loose.
Houston expressed interest in trading for Kevin Durant this past summer and was immediately rebuffed by Phoenix. According to Stein, similar rumors are starting to percolate about a potential down-the-line Rockets pursuit of Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
As we’ve relayed, the Bucks aren’t expected to entertain any offers for their franchise legend even amid a 4-9 start to the year. But the Rockets’ treasure chest of draft assets and young players could put them in prime position to be a suitor if Antetokounmpo ever decides to ask out of Milwaukee.
Stein notes that Giannis has an admiration for Rockets legend Hakeem Olajuwon. Antetokounmpo is selective about who he works out with, but hasn’t been shy about training with Olajuwon, who Steins says would be a strong recruiter in this specific scenario.
We have more from the Southwest Division:
- After missing the first 12 games of the season for the Grizzlies, rotation wing Vince Williams Jr. made his return on Friday, Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal writes (Subscriber link). In his first two games back with the team, Williams is averaging 6.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists as part of the rotation. Williams broke out for the Grizzlies last season, starting in 33 games and averaging 10.0 PPG. Meanwhile, Desmond Bane returned from a seven-game absence on Friday, playing off the bench for the first time since his rookie season. He started the team’s next game on Sunday.
- Grizzlies rookie center Zach Edey exited Sunday’s contest against the Nuggets with an ankle injury and did not return ESPN reports. It’s unclear what the severity of Edey’s injury is, but he left when the Grizzlies were up by 18 points, so there’s a chance he was held out for the rest of the game as a precautionary measure.
- Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic continues to be listed as probable on the team’s injury reports, but the type of injury he’s dealing with in recent games has changed. According to Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal, Doncic was affected by a left groin strain before that listing was changed to a right knee contusion. When asked about his injury status, Doncic said he feels “a little bit less” than 100% right now. “I mean, it’s probably a matter of time, just, there’s not a lot of time to rest, but I’ll get better. I promise,” Doncic said.
- The Pelicans are 2-8 in their last 10 games as injuries continue to mount, with almost every member of their regular rotation suffering some sort of injury. New Orleans’ most recent loss came to former Pelicans player JJ Redick‘s Lakers. According to Christian Clark of NOLA.com, Redick acknowledged that New Orleans’ health issues are preventing them from reaching their potential. Redick played in New Orleans from 2019-21 alongside Brandon Ingram, who finished Saturday’s game with 32 points and eight assists, and Zion Williamson, who missed the matchup with an injury. “With Zion, the biggest thing is him being healthy,” Redick said. “We all want to see Zion perform and play because he’s a special player. I got a chance my second year, before I got traded, to see sort of the version 1.0 of Point Zion. It’s been fun to watch that from afar as he’s gotten opportunities to initiate the offense and be the ball handler in the pick and roll.“
Houston has a lot of nice pieces that would help the Bucks rebuild accelerate. Jabari Smith would definitely be coming back to Milwaukee in that offer. I just don’t see it happening until next summer though.
Agreed. If Giannis gets moved, it’s going to be like the Pels trade of Anthony Davis, even if they have to sit him until the offseason. Unlike the Pels, though, they have absolutely no incentive to tank, as their pick is owed to one of two teams regardless of where they finish in the standings.
I feel like Giannis’ package should be at the AD level. Giannis has more accolades and done more for the city of MKE than AD did for NOLA. I just don’t see a trade currently during the season that makes them want to trade Giannis asap. The East is still weak, and with Philadelphia having a horrible start to the season and injuries, Bucks can still get into the play in game or grab a 4-6 seed somehow.
The Rockets are 10-4, not 4-9.
They’re saying the Bucks are 4-9 but unlikely to consider trading Giannis to Houston.
That’s what I get for speed reading.
Bucks get:
– Fred Van Fleet ($44M) team option 2025/2026
– Jabari Smith ($12.3M) 2025/2026 salary
– Amen Thompson $(9.6M) 2025/2026 salary
– Tari Eason ($5.6M) 2025/2026 salary
– 2027 Rockets 1st rounder unprotected
-2027 Suns 1st rounder unprotected
– 2030 1st rounder unprotected
– 2031 2nd rounder unprotected
Rockets get:
– Giannis ($57M 2025/2026 salary)
– Pat Connaughton ($9.4M salary)
Rockets get to form a championship contender under Sengun/Shephard/Green/Giannis while still having Dillon Brooks for new few years.
Bucks get a new nucleus under Amen/Smith/Eason and valuable picks since they do not possess any of their own picks until 2031.
Both teams win and get what they want.
I have a feeling Houston will do whatever they can to avoid including Eason. General vibe around him is that he’s untouchable for any move that isn’t going to make them immediate championship favorites, and idk if Giannis is that move. More likely they try to include one of Reed Sheppard or Cam Whitmore, maybe even both.
I wouldn’t move Sheppard. I agree with you on Whitmore, he should be included in this hypothetical trade proposal. I haven’t see Eason yet play but from what most posters here are saying about him this year, I’ll look forward to seeing him live.
One guy could be Tate? He has a 7.5M salary and next year will be a FA. Any way he gets included in the deal?
Only as a salary piece on Tate. He’s useful as a bench player, but that’s his ceiling, and he’s been around for a while. Already 29.
Eason is probably the best individual player aside from Sengun on the roster, imo. Ruthless attacker with the ball, can shoot, and he’s an *elite* defender. The only guys with better individual d-ratings than him have barely played, so he functionally is the best. Per 100, he’s rated as similar in impact to Jaylen Brown.
Sheppard has hella upside, but he’ll never be a proper 2-way player and he’s very undersized for a shooting guard.
*individual D-ratings “on the Rockets”, specifically.
GSW will stand pat and win
HOU will overpay for Giannis and not win
I can’t imagine any scenario where MIL trades Giannis during this season. If and when they do, it will be in the offseason based on an RFP sent to 29 teams. In a case like this, it really doesn’t matter where Giannis wants to go, at least to MIL.
AD should be the best comp, but, based on what’s happened in the trade market for stars since that deal, the booty for Giannis will be well north of that. AD was younger, but, at the time of the trade, he was constantly injured and had no NBA championship pedigree. The KD deal is relevant too, but he wasn’t really in his prime. When it comes down to it, no player this good and this accomplished and still in his prime has been made available in a trade since at least the 2011 CBA, which is really the beginning of the modern era of NBA payrolls. So who knows? But it won’t be lower than expected.
Yeah, agreed. That’s going to be a wild trade if it happens. Carmelo to the Knicks is another comp, though I don’t expect nearly as many players to be shuffled around and more draft compensation (three firsts, a pick swap, multiple 2nds, and seven players from *just the Knicks*, not even including the Nuggets and Wolves; wild circus shot of a trade).
Still, it’s going to be more like 20 teams, as at least a third of the league just doesn’t have enough assets to be interesting for Milwaukee, though they could get involved if it turns into a 3-team deal a-la the Cavs jumping into the Harden deal to the Nets.
Absolutely. No way to predict even the most serious contenders now, let along the pieces. Perceptions of team strength and player value (particularly for young players) will change by the offseason, in some cases drastically. What is easy to predict is that, as long as MIL gives itself a good window to deal, and lets the suitors do most of the work, they should wind up with something reflecting his highest and best value, in currency they find acceptable. There is no reason for teams not to get involved in it, even if just to keep tabs. Maybe a real opportunity comes out of it, like CLE got, or maybe they just take advantage of the matching salary umbrella the deal creates. At least one “additional” team that should certainly be involved is the NOP, which holds MIL’s upside position in each of the 2026 and 2027 drafts. I don’t see them as the buyer, but if Griffin can’t extract a premium for his position here, then he needs to find a new job.
Every single thread has to be something about the Warriors huh Babey J