The Kevin Durant commerce saga is lastly over, with the Slim Reaper quickly to start his new chapter for the Houston Rockets.
Whereas it was kind of confirmed that Kevin Durant could be traded this summer time, most anticipated his worth to be a tad bit larger.
In spite of everything, the Houston Rockets traded for KD by giving up simply Jalen Inexperienced, Dillon Brooks, the 2025 No. 10 total choose, and 5 second-round picks.
For the reason that Rockets nonetheless have a haul of belongings, NBA Evaluation Community proposes a hypothetical commerce the place they handle to amass Milwaukee Bucks celebrity Giannis Antetokounmpo.
- Houston Rockets obtain: Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Milwaukee Bucks obtain: Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith Jr., 2027 first-round choose (by way of BKN), 2028 first-round choose, 2030 first-round choose
There’s little doubt that the Rockets’ beginning 5 with Durant’s addition can be phenomenal, however including Antetokounmpo will solely make them higher.
Regardless of the Bucks celebrity hinting at his want to remain in Milwaukee, he has been a mainstay in NBA commerce rumors because the workforce’s first-round elimination within the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Contemplating each Fred VanVleet and Jabari Smith Jr. have a workforce choice for the upcoming season, the Rockets have absolute management over their future.
Giannis will make a whopping $54.1 million subsequent season, however him forming a duo with KD may lastly be the Rockets’ ticket to lifting the Larry O’Brien trophy.
In spite of everything, Durant and Antetokounmpo are glorious scorers. However the scariest half about this duo could be the Greek Freak’s defensive skills.
Combining their abilities with younger stars like Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, the second-seeded Rockets might lastly recover from the hump subsequent season.
Proposed Houston Rockets depth chart:
| Beginning 5 | Bench |
| Reed Sheppard | Aaron Vacation |
| Kevin Durant | Nate Williams |
| Amen Thompson | Cam Whitmore |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Tari Eason |
| Alperen Sengun | Steven Adams |
Antetokounmpo accomplished his twelfth season with the Bucks. Throughout his tenure, Giannis has gained a plethora of particular person accolades.
On high of that, he ended the Bucks’ 50-year championship drought by main the workforce to the 2021 NBA title.
Nevertheless, since successful the 2021 championship, the Bucks have been on a relentless decline. Antetokounmpo has been phenomenal, however the supporting forged alongside him is solely not ok to win the title.
The Bucks already traded Khris Middleton this season and with Damian Lillard tearing his Achilles tendon within the postseason, it’s unlikely that the Bucks will contend for an NBA Championship subsequent season.
So, what’s one of the best factor they will do? Get a haul of draft belongings and a younger star in Smith Jr. They’ll both eat up VanVleet’s contract for a 12 months or flip him for extra belongings.
Both method, if the Bucks resolve to commerce Giannis, it will mark the top of arguably one of the best period ever for the franchise within the historical past of the league.
