Rockets best realistic offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo when he hits the trade market

The Houston Rockets were bounced by the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs after earning the second seed. It was this group’s first taste of the postseason. Houston is loaded with young talent, but their need for a superstar scorer could not be more obvious. The Rockets have the assets to land the best player available, and that will be Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Bucks are at a crossroads. They have been bounced in the first-round of the playoffs for three straight years and do not have enough talent around Giannis to be a serious title contender. Damian Lillard’s Achilles injury further complicates their path. Antetokounmpo wants to compete for championships and that appears impossible with the Bucks roster and lack of assets to improve.

The Rockets have the mix of draft picks and young talent to entice Milwaukee, but what would Houston give up to land Giannis? Here is their best realistic offer.

Rockets may land Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason with a monster offer

Amen Thompson is rumored to be the only untouchable Rocket moving forward. That means Alperen Sengun may headline a Giannis trade after his All-Star breakout. It would be difficult to play the two non-shooting stars together and this package is the Rockets' simplest path to executing this deal.

Beyond a young star like Sengun, the Bucks will be searching for salary relief and draft capital. Houston likely takes back less money than they send out in this trade to avoid being hard-capped at the first apron, which means the deal involves more teams. The Bucks would love to get back their picks from New Orleans, but that may not be possible. Here is the gist of what the Rockets would offer for Giannis.

This a monster offer that would immediately interest the Bucks. They get off the final year of Connaughton’s contract along with grabbing a 22-year-old All-Star, the third overall pick in 2024, an elite defender, and four first round draft picks to restock their cupboard. Milwaukee would not have tank, which is their goal as they don’t own their draft picks through 2030.

The Rockets would flip Connaughton and immediately have a superstar to pair with Thompson, Jalen Green, Fred VanVleet, and Jabari Smith Jr. in Space City. They would be significantly better and have options for further upgrading their roster. This is the type of trade Houston needs to be a serious title contender, and it could quickly become reality this summer.

The Houston Rockets were just eliminated and their offensive woes were on full display. It is time to upgrade and there is no bigger move than adding Giannis Antetokounmpo. There is already rumored interest, so fans should be watching closely. It is time for the Rockets to take their swing and it could be franchise-altering.