ESPN: Look out for Rockets as potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade suitor with Bucks

The Houston Rockets have long been rumored as a potential trade suitor for Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

And with Milwaukees recent elimination from the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs and the Achilles tear suffered by co-star Damien Lillard, speculation over Antetokounmpos future has ramped up in recent days.On Friday, longtime ESPN insider Brian Windhorst added to it by listing both the Rockets and San Antonio Spurs as potential suitors.Regarding Houston and the Greek Freak, Windhorst said:Houston has the Phoenix pick(s).

They have a whole bunch of pieces on their roster.

What if they hop up into that top-four (of the 2025 draft lottery)? Look out there.Brian Windhorst says watch out for the Rockets and Spurs as Giannis trade locations."Both of them are in the lottery...

[Houston] has Phoenix's pick.

They have a whole bunch of pieces on their roster.

What if they hop up into that top 4? Look out there." pic.twitter.com/2d25aFGF1q ClutchFans (@clutchfans) May 2, 2025While the Rockets also have a significant amount of first-round draft capital in years beyond 2025 both their own and assets from the Suns, Dallas Mavericks, and Brooklyn Nets the placement of the 2025 selection will be known after the May 12 lottery.

Thus, if the drawing goes Houstons way, that could make it the most premium asset of all since there wont be the question of where the pick ends up in the first-round order.Granted, the Spurs also have a similar chance (2025 lottery odds) of moving up into one of those top-four lottery picks.

So, too, do other teams.

Its also worth noting that Antetokounmpo is under contract through at least the 2026-27 season, so its unlikely for the Bucks to consider moving a perennial All-Star and Most Valuable Player (MVP) candidate unless he specifically asks to be dealt.

That hasnt happened yet, at least not to public knowledge.So, there are many dominoes that still need to fall before any Antetokounmpo pursuit could go from hypothetical to serious.

But, as the May 12 lottery looms, its a storyline worth monitoring.During the 2024-25 regular season, The Athletics Kelly Iko reported that Houston was not interested in breaking up its young core for Antetokounmpo.

However, its at least possible that circumstances could change in the subsequent offseason and after using the recently completed season to gather more data and information regarding the teams existing young core.A 6-foot-11 power forward, Antetokounmpo averaged 30.4 points (60.1% FG), 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game this season.More: Marc Stein: NBA teams monitoring potential Houston trade pursuit of Giannis AntetokounmpoThis article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: ESPN: Rockets might soon pursue Giannis Antetokounmpo trade with Bucks.

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