Team reporter: Antetokounmpo is still the Rockets number one trading target this summer

According to The Athletic reporter Kelly Iko, Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is still the Houston Rockets' number one trading target this summer. According to previous news, Antetokounmpo is open to leaving the Bucks in the offseason, but the superstar has not yet made a trade request.

Iko said: Team sources said that the Bucks' superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo remains the Rockets' number one trading target in the trading market, but in the past week, there has been extremely high uncertainty about the actual operability of the Antetokounmpo deal, and we also need to consider that Milwaukee may require the Rockets to provide extremely high quotes in this transaction, which may also be unbearable to the Rockets.

In the NBA regular season this season, Antetokounmpo made a total of 67 appearances in 82 games, averaging 34.2 minutes per game, with averaging 30.2 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks, and 3.1 turnovers and 2.3 fouls, with a shooting percentage of 60.1%, a three-point shooting percentage of 22.2%, and a free throw shooting percentage of 61.7%. In the playoffs, Antetokounmpo played 5 games in total, with averaging 37.6 minutes per game, with averaging 33 points, 15.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1 steal and 1 block, and 4.6 turnovers and 2.4 fouls. His shooting percentage was 60.6%, a three-point shooting percentage of 20%, and a free throw shooting percentage of 69.8%. Antetokounmpo renewed a three-year contract with the Raptors in October 2023 with a total amount of US$175 million. Antetokounmpo's contract will not expire until the summer of 2028, and the contract for the 2027-28 season is the player option.

It is worth mentioning that according to previous predictions by Bleacher Report reporter Zach Buckley, he believes that if Antetokounmpo really chooses to apply for a trade with the Bucks this summer, he is most likely to have the Rockets or another Texas team, the San Antonio Spurs, because Texas has no state income tax. According to Toronto Raptors and team reporter Doug Smith, the Raptors and Antetokounmpo are also interested in each other, and the Raptors can also provide the Bucks with a lot of bargaining chips. I don’t know what will change this summer. Antetokounmpo has never left the Bucks throughout his career, and the Bucks have also given him enough support and help. Will Antetokounmpo choose to apply for a transaction this summer? Will a large number of teams with a large number of young talents and future draft picks, including the Rockets, Spurs and Raptors, have they a chance to get this top star?