NBA Trade Rumors: Bucks’ Giannis Linked to Rockets Amid Kevin Durant Buzz | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

NBA league sources are reportedly monitoring the possibility that the Houston Rockets will attempt to trade for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in the future.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant is the Rockets’ “dream trade target,” but the Suns have been “adamant” about keeping him.

Provided the Rockets can’t make any progress on the KD front, Stein noted that rival teams are “keeping an eye on a possible Houston pursuit” of Antetokounmpo.

Giannis, who turns 30 next month, is in the middle of his 12th NBA season, all of which he spent with the Bucks.

The eight-time All-Star, two-time NBA MVP, one-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, one-time NBA champion and one-time NBA Finals MVP is having another outstanding individual season so far in 2024-2025.

Through twelve games, he leads the NBA with 32.3 points per game, 12.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.4 steals, while also shooting 60.6 percent from the field.

Despite Antetokounmpo’s dominance, the Bucks are a very disappointing 4-9 and could be in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 season.

Before he signed a five-year, $228.2 million contract extension with the Bucks in 2020, there were plenty of rumors and speculation surrounding a potential Giannis trade, but last year he doubled down on his commitment to the franchise with a sign a three-year contract. , a $175.37 million extension for the 2026-2027 campaign with a player option for 2027-2028.

With the aging core of Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Brook Lopez having failed to produce winning results so far this season, one wonders if Milwaukee’s front office will want to tear things down anytime soon.

If that were to happen, the Rockets would be an obvious trade candidate due to the bevy of draft picks and young players they possess.

After winning 22 or fewer games in three straight seasons, the Rockets took a big step forward last season by going 41-41.

So far this season they are 9-4 thanks to emerging players like Jalen Green, Alperen Şengün, Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson who made significant contributions.

While the Rockets’ future is bright, adding a superstar like Giannis to the roster could accelerate the timeline to contend for a championship in a major way, so it’s a move they should at least consider if it’s a becomes a real possibility.