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Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Why one Western Conference team makes perfect sense for Giannis Antetokounmpo

By Jarrod Prosser | Last updated Apr 29, 2025 10:30 AM ET

An ageing roster. A third straight first round playoff exit knocking on the door. No control over their draft picks. Suspect coaching. And now, his only high-caliber teammate sidelined. What is there keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee?

Giannis has, in so many ways, been an anomaly since entering the league as a wide-eyed and charmingly innocent teen in 2013. One of those ways has been an endearing loyalty to his adopted Wisconsin home. With practically every other NBA team coveting him, Giannis has stayed true to Milwaukee while still flexing his leverage as virtually every NBA superstar does.

He famously stalled on signing a contract extension in 2019, only putting pen to paper in late 2020 after the Bucks sent out a haul of draft picks to acquire Jrue Holiday. That, of course, ended up in a championship winning season, so all’s well that ends well. When that team began to falter and more scoring punch was needed, Antetokounmpo was once again cryptic about signing an extension. Enter Damian Lillard and voila! Another extension signed by Giannis.

The Bucks, though, now have no arrows in their quiver. Antetokounmpo (30) should see his future away from Milwaukee. Likewise, the Bucks should see moving their franchise players as the skeleton key to a rebuild.

Whilst every team will want Giannis, only those with the right assets will be at the negotiating table. Brooklyn, New Orleans, Oklahoma City (with Giannis, they would go scorched Earth on the league for the next half decade), Atlanta and Houston would all be front and center.

But what team needs Giannis the most? What team could most do with an elite scorer who can also facilitate and fits into a defensive team ethos?

The second-seeded Rockets are currently trailing the Golden State Warriors 3-1 for a very simple reason: they can’t score enough points.

Giannis has averaged north of 30 points per game for the past three seasons and hasn’t scored below 26 per game since the 2017 season. While he doesn’t solve their shooting needs, he does provide both interior and midrange efficiency.

Giannis also gives Houston the playmaking that it doesn't consistently receive. Alperen Sengun is a nifty passer but is not yet a true offensive hub. Fred VanVleet’s stature is beginning to work against him more often than not. Jalen Green is a nightly crapshoot. In short, Antetokounmpo would provide an offensive focal point that the team currently lacks.

Any player in Houston coach Ime Udoka’s rotation has to be able to play at least a modicum of defense. Five All Defense nods and a Defensive Player of The Year trophy for Antetokounmpo should put Udoka at ease.

What would it take for Houston to gain Giannis’ services? While they can’t outbid the Thunder – nobody can – Houston has so much young talent that some of them are nightly DNP’s, as well as a bevy of juicy picks including some belonging to Dallas and Phoenix that suddenly look quite appealing.

Would Jabari Smith, Tari Eason, Jalen Green and four first rounders get it done? Would it take moving Sengun? Would the Rockets get a discount if they took on Lillard’s salary, as well?

The Rockets could choose to move redundant but talented youngsters like Cam Whitmore and Reed Sheppard in a deal. They could look to use the shooting of those two and move on from VanVleet and Dillon Brooks. The possibilities are practically limitless.

Houston needs a guiding star. The Bucks need to cut bait. Giannis needs a new start.

It’s just too perfect.

Jarrod Prosser

Jarrod is a basketball lifer and has the knees to prove it. A former player, coach, trainer, scout and administrator, Jarrod has extensive and intimate knowledge of everything that happens on the hardwood. He has covered the NBA since 2018 for publications in the USA and his native Australia

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