Giannis trade proposal could instantly make Rockets title contenders

The Houston Rockets have been linked to a lot of star players, but two stand above the rest: Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

My colleague Jack Simone recently made a compelling case that the Rockets should avoid Durant to keep their assets available for Antetokounmpo. It's hard to argue. Antetokounmpo is six years younger, and at this stage, considerably better. If the Rockets could land Antetokounmpo, they'd invariably become title contenders.

That said, Durant may come cheap - Antetokounmpo will not. A new ESPN trade proposal has the Rockets landing him:

The cost is substantial.

Rockets push chips all-in for Antetokounmpo

Let's hammer out the details.

That's a pretty penny. It's also reasonable. Antetokounmpo is one of the very best players in the NBA. He's in his prime. The Bucks will receive a godfather offer, whether it comes from the Rockets or elsewhere.

Most Rockets fans will be comfortable parting with Cam Whitmore. More will have hope invested in Reed Sheppard, but that's the cost of doing business. Any sensible person will understand that three first-round picks are a fair price for Antetokounmpo - if anything, the Rockets might have to include a fourth in this package.

Alperen Sengun is a different matter.

Parting with the first All-Star to come out of the rebuild will sting. Sengun has won the hearts and minds of Space City.

Should the Rockets move him for a perennial MVP candidate?

Rockets must think carefully about trade proposal

Frankly, I don't want to answer that question with a definitive "yes" or "no".

Nobody should envy the job of an NBA general manager. OK, fine - it actually sounds like a pretty sweet gig. Some of us spend hours on NBA 2K simulating the role.

Still, it's not easy. A GM makes difficult judgment calls without an empirically provable answer. The Rockets would either win an NBA title from making this deal, or they'd live to regret making it.

Acquiring Antetokounmpo might launch the Rockets instantly into title contention. It might not. In theory, he may elevate Jalen Green's game. If he doesn't, the Rockets may need to acquire another scorer with some of their leftover assets.

Unless Amen Thompson can step up to the plate. If he emerges as a certified second option, the Rockets may still look to move Green for a more reliable floor spacer. Otherwise, the plan will still be to build an elite defense by surrounding Thompson and Antetokounmpo with shooters, but they'll need a different 2 - think less Malik Beasley, more Zach LaVine.

The Rockets are one of the most flexible teams in the NBA. That makes it difficult to predict their future.

At this point, it wouldn't be shocking if Durant was a Rocket before this piece gets published.