The Houston Rockets never had a real shot at acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo, and now we know why. General manager Rafael Stone revealed that the Milwaukee Bucks immediately made it clear Giannis was not on the table, shutting down trade talks despite earlier speculation that Houston could be a surprise landing spot.
On ESPN Radio’s Houston affiliate, the Rockets general manager was asked—without naming him directly—if the Rockets had explored Giannis Antetokounmpo’s availability with the Milwaukee Bucks. They had, but Stone shut it down. “No,” he said. “I deal well with Jon Horst [Bucks GM], I really like him. Jon was very clear that they weren’t doing anything. So, that was that.”
Rockets GM Rafael Stone on if there was any truth to the Giannis-to-Houston trade buzz at the beginning of the offseason
"No. I deal well with Jon Horst (Bucks GM), I really like him. Jon was very clear that they weren’t doing anything. So, that was that."
(h/t @BucksRealm) pic.twitter.com/aeHetLgXlz
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) August 22, 2025
Although the Rockets surfaced several times this summer in connection with the Greek Freak, the team ultimately chose to pursue Kevin Durant. The Rockets were never serious frontrunners, as analysts consistently pointed to the Brooklyn Nets as the most likely landing spot based on their assets and future draft capital.
Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Bucks
For years, Giannis Antetokounmpo has fueled trade rumors, with multiple teams exploring ways to bring him on board. Despite his loyalty to the Bucks, league GMs continue to track his situation closely, increasingly convinced he could be tempted to depart.
The two-time MVP guided the Bucks to a championship in 2021 and has consistently ranked among the league’s top three players. Since that title run, however, Milwaukee has struggled to regain the level of contention that initially secured Giannis’ commitment.
This recent stretch with Damian Lillard ranks among the toughest in the Giannis era, and even his MVP-level output of 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game last season could not prevent the team’s struggles.
With Lillard, Khris Middleton, and Brook Lopez gone, the Bucks are entering uncharted territory, hoping their latest moves convince Giannis to stay. They acted quickly to acquire Myles Turner and added Taurean Prince and Kevin Porter Jr. to strengthen depth and versatility.
Revamped Bucks
The Bucks now field a roster capable of challenging for a higher seed in a weakened Eastern Conference. As teams like the Celtics and Pacers struggle with injuries, Milwaukee has an opportunity to rally and assert itself as a formidable playoff threat.
Still, the Bucks have not explored trading Giannis, but they won’t fully understand his intentions until he returns from EuroBasket this summer. With three more years and $174 million left on his contract, Giannis remains tied to Milwaukee, yet he always has the option to push for a new situation if he chooses.
The Bucks can take comfort in the fact that the moment hasn’t come, and if they handle things carefully, they could avoid it entirely. Should Giannis decide to move on, they can be assured of receiving a substantial return for his talent. In any case, Milwaukee maintains full control and has already been keeping rival teams from targeting their franchise star.
