Rockets’ rumored Giannis stance could leave them trapped between two timelines

The NBA offseason is filled with uncertainty. Last summer, the Houston Rockets shocked the league by pulling off a trade for Kevin Durant. Now, some fans are wondering if Houston could chase an even bigger swing by entering the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes.

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, that is not likely. When discussing the possibility of a trade for Antetokounmpo on NBA Insider Notebook with Jake Fischer, Fischer reported:

“I think the Rockets made their big, major move for a veteran with Kevin Durant back last summer. And I think the Rockets really do want to see what they can do with Fred VanVleet healthy and another year of maturation from Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson.”

Not entering the Giannis sweepstakes is too safe

If Houston chooses to take that path, it would be… logical? Safe? 

The Rockets are currently operating on two timelines. One is led by 37-year-old Kevin Durant. The other is led by 23-year-olds Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun.

Choosing not to make another major move this offseason would allow Houston to preserve its young core, but it could also leave the Rockets stuck between both timelines. Their young players may not be quite ready to compete for a championship, while Durant’s window continues to shrink.

A blockbuster deal for Antetokounmpo would come with huge risk. He has had durability concerns over the last four seasons, and he is a 31-year-old superstar who relies heavily on elite athleticism. However, the move would also push Houston firmly into championship contention next season.

Of course, the Rockets would have to hold onto their most important players for this to make sense. If acquiring Antetokounmpo meant losing Durant, Sengun or Thompson, the conversation would become more complicated.

But if Houston could land Antetokounmpo without giving up any of those three, the Rockets would suddenly have a championship-level core led by an in-his-prime superstar.

Would Milwaukee consider an offer built around Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Fred VanVleet and an obscene amount of draft capital? Maybe not. But if that type of package is even close to realistic, Houston needs to enter the Antetokounmpo conversation. Safety usually does not win championships.

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