\u201cI think Houston would be the most interested and invested in going to get him,\u201d Sports Illustrated\u2019s Chris Mannix says of potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade suitors.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
On a newly released episode of Open Floor: Sports Illustrated\u2019s NBA podcast<\/a>, veteran league insider Chris Mannix said he believes the Houston Rockets<\/a> will be the most interested trade suitor for Milwaukee Bucks<\/a> superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Houston would be the most interested and invested in going to get him,\u201d said Mannix, who has ties with Rockets head coach Ime Udoka dating back to his Boston head coaching stint (where Mannix is based).<\/p>\n Regarding what a potential Bucks-Rockets deal<\/a> might look like, Mannix said on SI\u2019s show:<\/p>\n Everything not named Amen Thompson, and just do it. Jalen Green\u2019s contract<\/a>\u2026 I think they\u2019d probably like to hold on to Alperen Sengun, but they could put together a deal that would probably appeal to Milwaukee.<\/p>\n Other rumored suitors have included teams such as the San Antonio Spurs<\/a>, Brooklyn Nets<\/a>, and Toronto Raptors<\/a>. At 52-30, Houston had by far the best record among that group in the recently completed 2024-25 season \u2014 which could present the most appeal to Antetokounmpo (if the 30-year-old, as believed, wants to contend for an NBA title<\/a>) and perhaps give the Rockets the most incentive to get a deal done.<\/p>\n Operating as a 6-foot-11 power forward, Antetokounmpo averaged 30.4 points (60.1% FG), 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game in the 2024-25 season. A two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP), the \u201cGreek Freak\u201d is a nine-time NBA All-Star and a perennial MVP candidate.<\/p>\n \u201cWe think Houston probably has the most they can offer,\u201d added co-host Rachel Nichols, who also has extensive experience covering the NBA.<\/p>\n Of course, it isn\u2019t yet confirmed that the 2024-25 MVP finalist wants to leave. A recent report indicated that a meeting between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks would be held in late May<\/a>, at which point the player\u2019s desires might become known. But it\u2019s now June, and there has been no confirmation of whether such a meeting has yet taken place. Stay tuned!<\/p>\n