If the Milwaukee Bucks are really going to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo, it's up to them to find the best trade partner that can give Milwaukee a chance to remain a quality team into the future even without its superstar.
The Houston Rockets might be that team.
According to Yahoo Sports writer Morten Stig Jensen, the Rockets can offer an 'A' grade package in return for Giannis.
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The Yahoo article laid out trade proposals from every team in the league for Antetokounmpo, and the Rockets' offer sure looks like one of the best.
Here's how that idea shaped up:
- Bucks get: Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams, Tari Eason, 2027 PHX first and 2031 HOU first
- Rockets get: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jericho Sims, Amir Coffey and Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Thompson is a potential superstar, and Sheppard's star is rising, too. Eason is also a young enough player to have lots of future value.
And that 2027 Suns first-round pick could end up high in the draft.
"This is a haul for Milwaukee, to the point where you can even argue if Houston is leaning in too heavily," Stig Jensen writes. "On the other hand, it's Giannis Antetokounmpo. Having him paired with Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün would form the longest frontline in the league, which can only be a good thing for Houston's championship equity."
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It's hard to imagine Houston giving up Thompson in particular without a major fight. But if the Rockets believe that will get them Antetokounmpo, maybe they would.
Stig Jensen gives this trade only a 2-out-of-5 likelihood of actually happening, but it's probably one the Bucks should dig into just in case.
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