When Giannis Antetokounmpo's name was floating in trade rumors this past season, Houston was one of the teams that reportedly said something along the lines of "I'm good." Not word for word, but NBA insider Marc Stein (subscription required) reported back in December that they were among the teams expected to hold off on pursuing the two-time MVP. That hasn't worked in their favor.
While they made the playoffs, they currently sit in a 0-2 hole against the Los Angeles Lakers... who have not gotten a single minute from Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves. The Rockets have a wounded animal in front of them, but suddenly, they've become the prey here. Deciding against trading for one of the best players in the world was probably a bad idea.
Rockets could have used the Greek Freak right about now
What made the Rockets' stance so perplexing is the fact that they have Kevin Durant, a 37-year-old superstar who can still get the job done but is aging. He showed as much with a team-high 23 points in 40 Game 2 minutes. While he came to play, most of his teammates struggled, and it helped propel the Lakers to their second consecutive win.
The timelines don't exactly mesh. Durant is the win-now superstar, while the Rockets have several up-and-comers like Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun who are just starting to blossom. Trying to get the two timelines to mesh hasn't worked, and it could spell an early exit for the Rockets that may have been avoidable with a trade for Giannis, another win-now piece.
Giannis and KD. Could you imagine? The Greek Freak's interior dominance paired with Durant's elite marksmanship would have created a headache for opposing defenses. It would have given both of the stars exactly what they are lacking: a true superstar next to them who could get the best out of them with their complementary play. Instead, the Rockets played it safe and kept their core together.
Perhaps they were scared off by the injuries. Perhaps they thought their youth complemented Durant better. Those are fine stances to take in the long-term, but they're hurting them currently.
An early exit should change Houston's tone
The Rockets aren't out of it yet. Teams have come back from 0-2 deficits like nothing. However, this one looks undeniably lopsided. The Lakers are playing like the far superior team despite being led by a 41-year-old forward. All of Houston's youth and athleticism, things the team prided itself on for the entire regular season, have not done them much good in this series.
If things go south, it would make all the sense in the world for the Rockets to get involved in Giannis talks this summer. Durant will be another year older, and if they truly want to maximize what's left of the former Hall of Famer's career, pairing him with someone who could immediately beef up their title odds could be the perfect recipe for success.
The Milwaukee Bucks would likely be glad to listen to any Houston offer, given that they do boast an intriguing amount of young pieces that could be useful in jumpstarting a rebuild/retooling. It could be a win-win if the Rockets decide to change course.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
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