The Houston Rockets came close but didn’t get it done in Game 7, and now they’ll have to figure out where to go from here. A lot of that starts with Jalen Green, who averaged 21.0 points in the regular season but finished the series with just 13.3.
It was Green’s first playoff series, so there may be a little leeway, but ultimately, the Rockets will have to ask whether to keep developing him or explore using him to land a bigger star. If they go with the second option, Giannis Antetokounmpo is the name that jumps out.
Giannis’s future is becoming a bigger topic after the Milwaukee Bucks fell to the Indiana Pacers. While he remains under contract for next season, a trade request would open the door for multiple teams to engage. Houston has the draft capital and young talent to enter that conversation. Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report offered one version of what that deal could look like.
Houston Rockets Receive: PF Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: SG Jalen Green, PF Jabari Smith Jr., F Cam Whitmore, PG Aaron Holiday, 2025 first-round pick (via Phoenix Suns), 2027 first-round pick (via Phoenix Suns)
“If the Rockets had had Antetokounmpo for their first-round series against the Golden State Warriors, we’d be talking about Houston moving on and seriously pushing the Oklahoma City Thunder to get to the NBA Finals.
Antetokounmpo is exactly what this team needs: A No. 1 scoring option who’s also a skilled passer and can dominate on both ends of the ball.
In this proposal, the two-time MVP would join a core of Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson, Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason to create a powerhouse in the West ready to compete for championships.”
