The Houston Rockets finished the 2025 campaign as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference but were upset in the opening round by the Golden State Warriors. Houston won 52 games during the regular season, marking their return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
This made obvious to Houston’s front office the need to find a No. 1 option, which it wasted no time doing. The Rockets acquired veteran superstar Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns in a relatively cheap package highlighted by Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and five second-round picks.
Houston landing Durant for such a low asking price could open the door to adding another superstar at the 2026 NBA trade deadline, or at least that’s what one NBA analyst envisions.
Rockets Envisioned To Build NBA Juggernaut With Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Rockets are in one of the NBA’s best positions, and not enough people are talking about it. Even after adding a 15-time All-Star to a team led by Fred VanVleet and Alperen Şengün, Houston still has Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and more young talents who haven’t hit their prime or even had a chance to prove themselves.
This roster flexibility is why NBA analyst Nick Wright proposed the idea of Houston chasing Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo next February to pair with Durant.
“I think, oddly, they actually still, if he were to become available mid-season, might have the ability to still trade for Giannis,” Wright said on his podcast. “You could make a trade if you are the Rockets where you are sending out Fred VanVleet, Reed Sheppard, Brooklyn [Nets’] first in 2027, Phoenix’s first in 2027, Dallas [Mavericks’] first in 2029, Phoenix’s first in 2029, and their own in 2030.”
Rockets receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Bucks receive: Fred VanVleet, Reed Sheppard, 5 first round picks@getnickwright says Giannis is not out of play for Houston… even with Kevin Durant pic.twitter.com/eW5vXwFn9S
— What’s Wright? with Nick Wright (@WhatsWrightShow) June 24, 2025
It’s worth noting with Antetokounmpo’s three-year, $186 million contract extension he signed with the Bucks in 2023, Houston would need to include more salary in a possible deal.
Why This Trade Proposal Makes Sense For Both Teams
Out of the dozens of trade ideas surrounding Antetokounmpo, this one is far from the worst. VanVleet is an NBA champion who could mentor younger players in Milwaukee, but the real appeal comes with Sheppard and the draft capital.
The former Kentucky Wildcats guard had little opportunity to shine in Houston because of their flooded backcourt, but he flashed serious potential in Summer League and took advantage of the moments he was given. Meanwhile, the Suns, Mavericks, and Nets are projected to struggle at the respective times the Bucks would control their picks.
“Those are valuable prime first-round picks. I don’t think they’re going to do that, but the point is it’s not like by going for Durant they punted on any chance at Giannis, and I think that’s very useful,” Wright concluded.
The Rockets’ decision to retain core young assets like Thompson and Smith Jr. while adding Durant demonstrates their strategic approach to building a championship contender.
No one is quite sure how much longer Antetokounmpo will spend in Milwaukee, but if he becomes available in the next year or so, the Rockets could make a serious run to acquire the two-time MVP.
