The Houston Rockets have two primary directions they could choose to go in. In two seasons as head coach, Ime Udoka took them to a second-seed finish in the loaded Western Conference. However, their lack of consistent scoring in the half-court became a major problem against the Golden State Warriors.
It ultimately led to the end of their season in the first round of the playoffs. But with a young roster, the room and potential for growth are immense. As a result, they could continue to build their squad, with presumed jumps from their youngsters. Or, they could take an almighty swing at an in-his-prime perennial MVP candidate.
Do the Houston Rockets Go After Giannis Antetokounmpo?
Ever since the possibility of Giannis Antetokounmpo potentially leaving the Milwaukee Bucks became a realistic option instead of a pipe dream, rumors about his next destination have been plentiful.
However, among the teams in consideration, Houston might be the perfect fit. With a roster already ready to contend and ample assets to make a potential trade happen, they offer everything that both Milwaukee and Antetokounmpo would want.
As a result, Bleacher Report, in their post-combine mock draft, believes the Rockets will take the plunge with the 10th overall pick.
Detailing the exact trade, Houston walks away with the Greek Freak, while the Bucks receive Alperen Şengün, Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore, Jock Landale, a 2027 first-round pick (via PHO) and a 2028 first-round pick, and the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Already, rumors have made it clear that the front office wouldn’t be against the idea of parting ways with Şengün to add a former two-time MVP to the team, making the trade a realistic possibility.
REPORT: The Rockets would be “open” to trading Alperen Sengun in a package for Giannis Antetokounmpo, per @basketballtalk
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The other option, however, is to add another rookie to complement their current core. With both Cam Whitmore and Reed Sheppard potentially carving out bigger roles on the team next season, the offense could stabilize almost instantly.
However, beyond those two, the latest mock draft from PFSN has Houston targeting Kasparas Jakučionis out of Illinois. “Kasparas Jakučionis brings the kind of backcourt versatility, IQ, and long-term upside that aligns perfectly with the Houston Rockets’ evolving roster and developmental timeline.”
A 6-foot-5 combo guard, he is a solid defender with the playmaking chops to run an offense at a high level. “Jakučionis offers a potential successor with a high ceiling and valuable on-ball instincts,” especially if Fred VanVleet isn’t on the team for long.
One of the best passers in the entire draft class, he can also be lethal scoring off the dribble, with a pre-injury shooting clip of 41% on 3s.
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Between the two options, there might not be a wrong answer for the Rockets. But as the Oklahoma City Thunder have shown over the last couple of years, a steadily built-in-house team offers significantly high upside without compromising on the future. Therefore, building with Jakučionis might be the safer bet for Houston.