The Houston Rockets’ roster may truly have no untouchables.
Kurt Helin of NBC Sports shared a surprising report on Thursday about the Rockets All-Star big man Alperen Sengun. Helin says that Houston would be open to trading away Sengun as part of a potential deal for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Additionally, Helin notes that Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., a former top-three pick, would likely be included in any trade for Antetokounmpo as well. Houston also has several future draft picks, both their own and ones that they acquired from other teams, to entice Milwaukee with on top of that.
We know that the Rockets, a 52-win team that lost in the first round of the playoffs this year, are particularly interested in making a move for the former MVP Antetokounmpo this summer. Recent indications have been that the interest could be mutual too.
But Antetokounmpo will be turning 31 later this year, which would make it all the more stunning if Houston includes the 22-year-old Sengun as part of a trade. Sengun is already a top-five center in the league, averaging 19.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game this season in a fairly low usage role. The Turkish big man is also coming off the first All-Star selection of his career.
Fellow 22-year-old Jalen Green would figure to be the Rockets’ more logical trade centerpiece for Antetokounmpo, especially with veteran Fred VanVleet capable of doing the heavy lifting in the backcourt for Houston. But reports have indicated that the Rockets remain stunningly high on Green.
Of course, this could all be a moot point for Houston at the end of the day. After all, some notable figures seriously doubt that Antetokounmpo will even be traded away at all.
