With the New York Knicks’ exclusive window to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo now closed, the Houston Rockets could be the next team positioned to make a legitimate run at the Milwaukee Bucks superstar.
ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks identified the Rockets as one of only two franchises — alongside the San Antonio Spurs — that could realistically assemble a trade package strong enough to tempt Milwaukee if Antetokounmpo ever becomes available.
“The one team that still does is Houston,” Marks said on ESPN’s NBA Today. “They went out and got Kevin Durant, but they still have a lot of draft picks to go out and make a deal. Of course, a player like Amen Thompson would be mentioned if they ever became available.”
Marks noted that the Bucks are currently in a holding pattern, with 11 of their 15 players unable to be traded until December 15.
“If they struggle, is there a way for them to improve their roster in the next two months? There isn’t,” Marks added.
Houston’s Arsenal of Assets
According to salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron newsletter, the Rockets can trade up to five first-round picks — including two unprotected selections from the Phoenix Suns in 2027 and 2029. Those picks are widely regarded as among the most valuable in the league, given the uncertainty surrounding the Suns’ future beyond their aging core.
A Kevin Durant–Giannis Antetokounmpo pairing could instantly vault Houston into the top tier of the Western Conference alongside the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. But the price of doing business could be steep. The key question: Will the Rockets be willing to part with Amen Thompson or Alperen Sengun?
Young Stars on the Rise
NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner recently pegged Amen Thompson — along with his twin brother Ausar in Detroit — as a potential first-time All-Star candidate this season, provided he continues to refine his offensive game.
“The athletic ability of these twins is off the charts,” Aschburner wrote.. “If either develops a more reliable offensive package, he could accompany an All-Star teammate — Sengun or [Cade] Cunningham, respectively — as his team’s second choice.”
Thompson already appeared in All-Star Weekend’s Rising Stars showcase last year, but Aschburner believes the 21-year-old is on the verge of breaking through to the league’s big stage.
Meanwhile, Sengun’s stock continues to soar following his breakout 2024–25 campaign and an eye-opening EuroBasket performance. The Turkish center led his national team to a silver medal, averaging 21.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game — including a triple-double in the quarterfinals — while earning All-Tournament honors.
Knicks’ Missed Opportunity
Earlier this summer, the Knicks had what was described as an “exclusive negotiating window” to acquire Antetokounmpo. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, preliminary talks between New York and Milwaukee took place in August after Antetokounmpo identified the Knicks as his preferred destination outside of the Bucks.
However, the discussions never gained traction.
“The Bucks insisted to the Knicks that they preferred not to move Antetokounmpo,” Charania reported. “Those in Milwaukee believe New York did not make a strong enough offer to continue even discussing a trade.”
By October, Charania confirmed on NBA Today that New York’s shot at Giannis had closed: “If things reopen during the season with this whole Giannis Antetokounmpo element, that window is no longer exclusive to the Knicks. Other NBA teams will enter the picture. I expect it to go beyond just New York.”
Houston’s Waiting Game
That statement effectively opens the door for Houston, which holds the combination of young talent, draft capital, and win-now veterans that could entice Milwaukee should the Bucks’ season falter.
Whether Rockets general manager Rafael Stone is willing to part with one of his young stars — and whether the Bucks ever decide to listen — remains to be seen. But as the Knicks fade from the race, the Rockets now loom as the league’s most intriguing wild card in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes.
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