The Houston Rockets lost Game 4 on the road against the Golden State Warriors 109-106 on Monday night. With the loss, the Rockets now trail 3-1 in the series.
If Houston loses this series after being the number two seed in the Western Conference, the Rockets may have to make a substantial move in the offseason. One player that the Rockets could target in a trade this offseason is Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Clutch Points Creates Mock Trade Between the Houston Rockets and Giannis Antetokounmpo
It is not a secret that the Rockets are going to make a massive move in the offseason for a superstar. Houston a lot to offer. They are going to either try and get Antetokounmpo from the Bucks or they are going to try and trade for Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns.
No matter who it is for, Houston has to make the move. The Rockets are clearing lacking a go-two scorer in the series against Golden State. Clutch Points writer Bailey Bassett created a mock trade between Houston and Milwaukee.
He has the Rockets acquiring Antetokounmpo from the Bucks. Bassett has Milwaukee acquiring Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, Jock Landale, Nate Williams, 2027 first-round pick, 2029 first-round pick, 2031 first-round pick, and a 2027 first-round pick from the Phoenix Suns. This would be a blockbuster trade for Houston and Milwaukee.
This trade would help the Bucks start a potential rebuild, although they also make ask the Rockets for either Alperen Sengun or Jalen Green. Milwaukee is also going to potentially lose once again to the Indiana Pacers in the first-round of the NBA playoffs. Bassett said of this potentially mock trade,
“If the Rockets are unable to come back in their series against the Warriors, then Houston might have to consider sacrificing some of their young talent and draft capital for an upgrade. The two-seed has only lost to the seven-seed six times in NBA history. Alperen Sengun is a young player who has already made the All-Star Game, and Amen Thompson likely isn’t far away from achieving that feat. Other recent first-round picks, including Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, Cam Whitmore, and Reed Sheppard, are all already contributing, but the Rockets don’t have a megastar on their roster.
Most championship-winning teams have a player who is clearly a top-10 player in the NBA. Antetokounmpo certainly fits the bill in that regard, and the Rockets should do whatever it takes to acquire him. In this deal, it costs Houston Dillon Brooks, Jock Landale, Nate Williams, Smith, Landale, and four first-round picks to get the two-time MVP.
Antetokounmpo would be a perfect frontcourt partner for Sengun. The Rockets’ center is one of the best passing big men in the NBA, but he lacks on the defensive end, especially when it comes to physicality and rim protection. Antetokounmpo just so happens to be one of the freakiest athletes and a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate. He’d also thrive catching lobs and backdoor cuts from Sengun.”
If Houston wants to get to the next level, they have to trade for Antetokounmpo or Durant in the offseason. The Rockets will need to get rid of some of the young players if they want to win an NBA title sooner rather than later.
