Rockets' Kevin Durant trade looks even better with latest Giannis Antetokounmpo drama

The Houston Rockets, in trading for Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns this past offseason, landed the star that they had coveted to bring their young core into bona-fide championship contention, and, so far, it has worked out swimmingly.

Yet, as rumors surrounding another superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, continue to heat up, it has become even more clear that they made the right move. While teams await news concerning Antetokounmpo's availability, and freeze their assets accordingly, Houston already has its roster intact, and they will be in a much better position to contend as a result.

Although Antetokounmpo is an unstoppable force, and almost any team would fall to their knees at the chance to add him to their roster, Durant is the piece that the Rockets were missing, and, while other teams navigate the uncertainty that the Bucks have left them with, Houston will continue to be one of the most formidable teams in the NBA.

The Rockets made the right move with the Kevin Durant trade, and it continues to reveal itself on a daily basis

When the Rockets traded for Durant, there were many who had doubts about the viability of the move. Would Durant, who was on a one-year contract at the time of the trade, want to end his career in Houston? Would his scoring abilities require the team to lean too heavily on his presence in order to keep their offense afloat?

So far, these questions have been answered in rapid succession. Before the start of the season, Durant signed a two-year, $90 million contract extension: well below the maximum amount he could have commanded on the open market.

Meanwhile, his fit has worked out perfectly in Houston alongside the team's other star scorer in Alperen Sengun. As the Rockets near their quarter-mark of the season, they are second in the league in offensive rating, third in defensive rating and fourth in points per game.

For teams seeking out another star, however, Antetokounmpo will be their prime target this season. After Milwaukee got out to a rough, 9-13 record, to start the season, it has since been announced that Antetkounmpo's representation and the organization are discussing his future (and, by extension, the possibility of a trade away from the Bucks).

No matter where Antetokounmpo goes, he will command a massive return package if he is traded.

The Rockets not only got their star in Durant, but did it without parting with vital pieces of their budding young core. Therefore, no matter what rumors may be floated over the next few weeks, it is clear that Houston made the right move.