ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Monday that Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has become “open-minded” about the possibility of leaving Milwaukee for the first time in his career. Subsequent reports indicated that San Antonio and Houston were two teams to monitor if Antetokounmpo requests a trade — he’s under contract through at least 2026/27, with a player option for ’27/28.
Within a story exploring potential fits for Antetokounmpo, Kurt Helin of NBC Sports cites league sources who say that the Rockets would be open to trading All-Star center Alperen Sengun. While Helin doesn’t explicitly say Houston would only consider moving Sengun for a player of Antetokounmpo’s caliber, it seems safe to assume that’s the case.
If the Rockets and Bucks were to discuss Antetokounmpo, it’s unclear whether Milwaukee would prefer a package that includes Jalen Green rather than Sengun, Helin writes, adding that forward Jabari Smith Jr. would likely be part of any offer for the two-time MVP. Houston has a surplus of future first-round picks that could be dangled as well.
Sengun’s possible inclusion in an offer for Antetokounmpo makes some sense from a fit perspective, since a core of Amen Thompson, Antetokounmpo, and Sengun would not be ideal for offensive spacing — none of them are effective three-point shooters right now. And while the Rockets reportedly view Thompson as untouchable in trade talks, the same has not been said of Sengun to this point.
A 6’11” big man from Turkey, Sengun averaged 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 49.6% from the floor and 69.2% from the line in 76 regular season appearances for the Rockets this season (31.5 minutes per game). In his first playoff series, a first-round loss to Golden State, the 22-year-old averaged 20.9 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 5.3 APG and 1.9 SPG, converting 45.0% of his field goal attempts and 62.5% of his free throws in seven games (36.6 MPG).
Sengun signed a five-year, $185MM rookie scale extension with Houston last October. That deal, which includes a player option in ’29/30, will kick in starting next season.
Lol the old league sources hey. Slightly better than anonymous sources, maybe, probably not. The silly season is beginning.
I like the Idea of Giannis to the Rockets. If they make it happen, I like the supporting cast they have in place of VanVleet, Brooks and Steven Adams to play alongside him.
The rockets have a history with Greek players; Spanoulis, Papanikolou, Tsakalidis.
Agree, but I’m not giving up Sengun. He can spread the floor just enough and will only get better. It’s not like spacing would be better with Thompson, Giannis and Adams. I’d still like that team if Houston did pull the trigger though.
Penguin gets beat up against the better centers in the league and I would include him in a trade for the freak in a heartbeat. Bad take.
“Agree, but I’m not giving up Sengun. He can spread the floor just enough and will only get better.”
Not a guarantee. He was worse this year than he was last year and his shooting efficiency, especially for a center, is bad. He also doesn’t have a three point shot and in this league, you need one if you want to really spread the floor as a center.
He’s probably taking more shots, ie no.1 option. Anybody else score consistently v the warriors. Rockets would love both, I’m sure.
I’d give up Sengun in a heart beat. He’s an empty stat filler, awful floor spacer, awful on defense, and the rest of the team is better when he’s off the court
How old is he? Empty stat filler? They just finished 2nd in the west. Obviously they’re young and need to take a few playoff failures yet. By the way if I’m the Bucks, it’s definitely Sangun, Thompson, Whitmore and picks or bye. Other places in Texas tax country might be keen and have a pretty decent package.
Rockets have to offer both Sengun and Thompson for Giannis
Competitive offer is absolutely required.
Celtics would offer Brown and 2 Firsts
or KP Holiday and 4 Firsts (via third team)
Thunder would offer Hartenstein, Joe, Kenrich Williams and 6 Firsts
Spurs would offer Vassell, Johnson, #2 pick and 3 Firsts
No deal, I’m not overpaying. Those other teams can have him. Houston have about as bright a future as any. Giannis will go wherever he wants. Boston aren’t trading for Giannis lol.
Raptors definitely will trade for him
I’m sure they would. It’s all talk until Giannis actually states he wants out. At which point, he’ll be traded where he wants.
Sillivan –
HOU – I’d balk at losing both Sengun and Thompson for Giannis.
BOS – I like Brown and picks, but I doubt Bucks ownership wants to make Celtics better than they already are; injury concerns with that other Boston offer
OKC – for the simple fact that they’re stuck with Lillard, I say Bucks will want more than mere role players – like Hartenstein, Joe, and Williams – in return. I agree with Luke Adams: OKC would HAVE TO throw in either Jalen Williams or Holmgren to get any traction whatsoever on a Giannis deal. And if they win it this year, why change a good thing?
SA – I could be wrong, but I don’t think Giannis will be content splitting the pie three ways with Wemby and Fox. And does Wemby strictly become a perimeter player with Giannis clogging up the interior?
GSW – if it’s gonna take the world to acquire Giannis, then so be it. Even with a healthy Steph and Jimmy, there just isn’t enough offense and interior presence to take them seriously. Plus, teams that trade for a major in-season player rarely, if ever, go on to to win the championship the same year.
Send Jimmy, Draymond, Podziemski, and two firsts to Bucks
Bucks send Giannis and AJ Green to Warriors
Warriors sign and trade Kuminga to Nets for Cam Johnson
Nets trade Thomas and Sharpe(?) to Bucks for Porter Jr and Prince
As a Thunder fan, I agree. Choosing between JDub and Chet would be tough with JDub’s struggles this postseason and Chet’s injury history. As much as I’d miss either, I’d def make that trade for Giannis. Especially since they would both most likely be max’d in their next contracts.
Sillivan with silly man trades
Which Rockets have the biggest trade value outside of Sengun and Thompson?
Jalen Green – bust?
Sheppard – bust?
Smith – expiring contract
Eason – expiring contract
Rockets have 4 standard contracts to sign this summer
VanVleet
Adams
Smith
Eason
They don’t have tax room for Thompson in 2027
Trade your trash for Giannis. Alpert, can fleet, brooks, Jabari. Alpert has negative trade value sue to that albatross contract.
The Ringer’s formula ranked Sengun as having the 46th most trade value in the league and I lean toward agree. I dont think a below max deal for a young all-star is going to be perceived as negative trade value around the league. Plenty of teams would trade for him right now.
I would say no GM would be this stupid but Nico Harrison still had a job but trading Sengun would be up there with one of the dumbest things you could possibly do
Nico trade Luka for AD and Cooper Flagg
Mavs next 20 years is Cooper Flagg
What is wrong with it?
What’s wrong with it that offer is not correct. Cooper Flagg is not on a team yet so he could not (and did not) trade for Cooper Flagg.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 makes zero sense… that draft pick was included in the AD trade??? Another casual that’s just talking to talk
Sillivan is no casual, he’s a hoops prodigy!
If one makes their brain really twist around they could say he traded Luka for Davis knowing Davis was injured or likely to be injured soon therefore making it more likely that the Mavs would get a lottery pick. If he hadn’t traded Luka they may have gotten one of the 6-8 spots and no shot at Cooper or anybody else in a decently deep draft.
People refuse to see past 2-3 years when out of shape Luka is injured half the time.
There is no one who’d pick the Lakers to be better than the Mavs in 3 years given the current rosters. Luka and no one, not even a center.
You’re making a fatal mistake. Lakers are the NBA s team, America’s team even. Silver has already set the wheels in motion. I mean what luck, lol. You think it’s an accident Luka ended up in L.A? Any and every free agent stud post LeBron will be lining up.
Lakers have a lot of characteristics players want in a team: the second biggest market, a historical franchise, great weather. Would it really shock you if they pull some voodoo cap magic and trade for another star who wants to be there sooner rather than later? Or sign someone in free agency?
Yep.
After the 2027-28 season the Lakers will only have Vanderbilt on the books after Luka declines the player option of his 1+1 extension he signed in the prior off season.
They’ll use the opportunity to form a new big 3.
After Rudy Gobert retires Anthony Edwards will get frustrated of getting close but not quite getting there. With no way for the Wolves to get better and with him going into the last season of his rookie extension he’ll force a trade to the Lakers.
Nikola Jokìc along with Luka will be free agents.
The Lakers will sign whatever role players they need with some of their cap space.
Jokìc and Luka will split whatever cap space is left over.
Outrageous yet, would anybody be surprised? I do see Jokic as extremely loyal though.
If you are trading Sengun, you are pairing Giannis with what star? Because as much potential as Amen has, he isnt there yet.
Honestly, I hope they do it and destroy their future.
Penguin is no star
Just literally an all star and in his early 20s but anyway.
NBA all star means nothing
Based off your name, I would like to believe that you combine every nba players’ name with animals
Sengun has shown he can’t be your defensive backline in the playoffs. Same issue with Sabonis but worse for Sengun. Trading him for giannis would be a steal
Sengun greatly improved his defense this year and feel he did a pretty good job in the GS series. Their defense wasn’t the problem whatsoever. It was their offense.
Golden State isn’t a team that puts a lot of pressure on the rim though either.
Per sources, the Wizards are willing to deal former Finals MVP runner up Jordan Poole for Giannis.
If the Rockets can get him without trading Sengun or Thompson, they should do it. But I would not include either of those guys in a trade for Giannis (or anyone else). They can have Jabari and Green and a boatload of picks.
Buddy, no team is keeping their top 2 players in a Giannis trade. Sengun is perfectly tradeable, Thompson is the keeper.
Laughing
Man I just don’t care for the title of the article. It’s clear they might deal him for Giannis, yes.
I doubt for anyone else available.
But how many opened the article thinking they were open to dealing Sengun, in general.
“Could Rockets include Sengun in a deal for Giannis” would be more appropriate.
But I just spent five minutes explaining something that will most likely not change with title creation.
I get where you’re coming from, but Helin’s report didn’t actually say they would only consider moving Sengun for Antetokounmpo. It just said “Houston would be open to trading Alperen Sengun, league sources told NBC Sports.”
Since that line comes within a larger discussing about Giannis, you could make a case that it implies they wouldn’t consider moving Sengun for any other player, but without that laid out explicitly, we don’t want to put words into another reporter’s mouth.
Having said all that, I actually think it was the story, not the headline, that needed to be tweaked slightly to best reflect the content of the original report (and I made some slight edits with that in mind).
Yes Sengun looks promising but him and Giannis are too similar of players to coexist together while also seeing Sengun take the next step. Two non-shooting bigs who occupy the same spots on the floor who both thrive as the fulcrum of their team’s offense. Don’t fall into the mistake of acquiring Giannis, extending Sengun, then wondering why Sengun isn’t thriving as expected because he went from a 1A/1B situation to a clear #1 and #2, and then overpaying to get rid of him.
You don’t necessarily need to move him for Giannis as I’m not sold on Green being good enough to be the 2nd star so trading him should also be on the table regardless. Offer Milwaukee Green + Smith + picks and then flip Sengun to another team for a guard/wing star (or rising star) that would fit better (on paper) with Giannis.
Sengun isn’t there as a playoff force yet, but he’s close, and, in any event, his development is well ahead of their other young players (at a longer lead position). He is paid per a real contract now, and that alone makes him more available than Thompson (who they hope is only beginning to ascend and has two more seasons on his RSC). But, other than Thompson, he’d be the young player I’d least like to deal. Without him, they could easily take a step back if they don’t add a stud big as part of their offseason.
only want giannis in SA if he goes to texas.
Giannis has interest in raptors or nets. Nets won’t be a playoff team with him, which leaves the raptors. I’m sure wiz fans got something slick to say.
Trade Green with whatever else to make the money work. Keep Fred do not touch Al he is not to be replaced.
IF, and I mean IF Giannis is even actually available…. you’re competing primarily with the Spurs package.
No. 2 (Harper), No. 14, Vassell, Barnes, and Sochan for Giannis
versus
No. 10, a Suns FRP, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith, and Reed Sheppard for Giannis
Personally…. Spurs package > Rockets.
If you’re swap Sengun for Green… probably lean more to the Rockets b/c Harper is an unknown quantity. Both teams though are making a near all-in win now move.
However, now their frontcourt is super weak besides Giannis. They’d be relying on probably using the Mid-Level to bring in a Center. Maybe that is Brook Lopez.
FVV, Green, Amen, Giannis, Lopez versus FVV, Brooks, Amen, Giannis, Sengun
I think post-Giannis they still would have enough assets to flip FVV or Green in either scenario and improve their lineup.
PG — Dame
SG — Jalen Green
C —- Brook Lopez
PF — Jabari Smith Jr
SF — Kyle Kuzma
Smith, Whitmore, Green, #10 pick this tear, future #1 …….. that pick Kasparas Jakucionis backup PG.
Yea I don’t see Dame playing in 2026.
Giannis isn’t available and hasn’t requested a trade.
All this guy needs is…..to play PF
Any trade package would start with Smith, Sheppard and #10