With the league anticipating a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade next summer, the Houston Rockets are quietly positioning themselves as one of the few teams with the flexibility and assets to make a serious run at the Milwaukee Bucks superstar.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said Thursday that Antetokounmpo’s latest public comments about his future suggest a possible trade request could be looming — and that front offices around the league have already begun preparing for the possibility.
“[Antetokounmpo] just gave you the answer to that question,” Windhorst said on ESPN’s First Take. “He said six or seven months. He didn’t just pull that number out of thin air — he thought very carefully about how long it was until the end of the season. And what he basically said there is, ‘I’m going to give it another evaluation at the end of the season.’”
According to Windhorst, Antetokounmpo’s days in Milwaukee are already numbered.
“It is very clear to the whole league that Giannis’s situation in Milwaukee is probably short-term,” Windhorst said. “Could they surprise the league this year and have a great run in the Eastern Conference? I’ve seen stranger things. The Eastern Conference is not particularly strong, and that’s why Giannis is leaving the door open. But the league is preparing for the end of Giannis’s tenure in Milwaukee.”
Rockets Armed With Trade Firepower
If that moment arrives, the Rockets could be uniquely equipped to capitalize. According to salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron newsletter, Houston’s asset pool ranks among the most formidable in the NBA.
The Rockets control up to five future first-round picks, including two unprotected selections from the Phoenix Suns in 2027 and 2029 — both widely viewed as potential blue-chip assets given Phoenix’s roster post-Kevin Durant and uncertain future.
Gozlan notes that Houston also possesses multiple young cornerstone players — such as Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson — who could headline any trade package if the front office chose to pursue Antetokounmpo aggressively.
By comparison, the New York Knicks, whose exclusive negotiating window with Milwaukee has officially closed according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, have far less to offer. Their most tradable pick — a heavily protected selection from Washington — may never convey. Meanwhile, other contenders like Golden State can only move four future first-round picks, limiting their ceiling in a potential bidding war.
Giannis Plays Coy About Future — For Now
Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP and 2021 NBA champion, attempted to downplay trade speculation this week but ultimately reignited the conversation with his remarks.
“First of all, I haven’t read that story,” Antetokounmpo said after Wednesday’s practice. “When the season starts, I try to get off social media and focus on my craft and the team. But yeah, I’ve said this many times: I want to be in a situation where I can win — and right now, I’m here. I believe in this team. I believe in my teammates. I’m here to lead this team to wherever we can go.”
However, in a follow-up comment, the Bucks superstar left the door wide open for change.
“I think I’ve communicated with my teammates and the people I respect that the moment I step on this court or in this facility, the rest does not matter,” he said. “Now, if in six, seven months I change my mind, I think that’s human too. You’re allowed to make any decision you want.”
Houston Waiting for Its Moment
The Rockets, who have quietly transformed from a rebuilding team into a potential contender under coach Ime Udoka, especially with the arrival of Durant, are now one of the few franchises capable of acting quickly if Milwaukee’s season falters and Antetokounmpo explores his options.
While the market is expected to be fierce — with San Antonio and Golden State also looming — Houston’s depth, assets, Durant’s star power and aggressive front office approach could make them one of the early favorites should the Giannis sweepstakes officially begin.
For now, the Rockets are waiting — but ready to strike.
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