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Rockets 'Open' To Trading Alperen Sengun For $175 Million MVP

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated May 15, 2025 10:39 PM ET

The Houston Rockets made the playoffs this year for the first time since 2020. They were the second seed in the West and played the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 2025 postseason.

Despite having home-court advantage in the series, though, the Rockets lost to the Warriors in seven games.

Houston was led in scoring during the regular season by Jalen Green, who averaged 21.0 points and played in all 82 games. Meanwhile, Alperen Sengun made his first All-Star team and averaged a double-double (19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds) in 76 games.

Some believe the Rockets need to trade for a bona fide superstar this summer to become a legitimate title contender. To acquire a superstar, though, Green and/or Sengun may have to be traded.

According to Kurt Helin of NBC Sports, the Rockets are open to trading Sengun for Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo. Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Monday that Antetokounmpo is open-minded about leaving the Bucks for the first time in his career.

"Houston would be open to trading Alperen Sengun, league sources told NBC Sports, but the Bucks may be higher on a Jalen Green-based trade (depending on how they rate Green)," Helin wrote. "Jabari Smith Jr. is likely part of any deal, and the Rockets have a lot of future first-round picks — their own and others, such as Brooklyn and Phoenix picks — that could be part of the trade. It likely takes a third team to make the math work, but it’s very doable."

The Bucks will not trade Antetokounmpo unless the future Hall of Famer asks out.

Antetokounmpo, 30, does not have a no-trade clause in his contract. He averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks for the Bucks this season in 67 games.

Milwaukee lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in five games. The franchise has won just one postseason series since winning the 2021 championship.

Antetokounmpo will make $54.1 million next season. The two-time MVP signed a three-year, $175 million extension in October 2023.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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