Reject Antetokounmpo? Rockets Stone Showdown: Appreciate the Bucks superstar, but have no intention of super deals

In the offseason this summer, there are actually many superstar names associated with the Rockets, such as Durant and Booker of the Suns, the Bucks' super forward Antetokounmpo, and even Morant of the Grizzlies may be associated with the Rockets. But everyone knows the final result that the Bucks left Antetokounmpo and they also introduced a number of strong players. Although he gave up Lillard, the Bucks will not be weak next season. After all, after star players such as Miles Turner join, the Bucks, coupled with Antetokounmpo's heroic performance, will have the opportunity to go further in the Eastern Conference next season. The Rockets ended up not getting Antetokounmpo, but they got a superstar and top pitcher who seemed more suitable for the Rockets - Kevin Durant. As the star of the Suns last season, Durant averaged 26+6+4 per game last season, shooting 53% from the field and 42% from three-point shooting. He is also another superstar in the Rockets in the past five years. Moreover, what the Rockets need most is super shooters and top scorers like Durant, so compared with Antetokounmpo, although Durant is older, his shooting ability and scoring ability are indeed the most suitable for the Rockets.

So does the Rockets have a chance to chase Antetokounmpo? It seems impossible now, because the Rockets have tight salary space and their lineup has taken shape. The Rockets cannot use other chips, such as Shin Kyung, Amen Thompson, etc. to exchange Antetokounmpo, because the Rockets' current lineup has no shortcomings: Amen, Ethan, Smith Jr., and Finney Smith on the defensive end; on the offensive end, there are also star players such as Durant, Van Vritte and Shin Kyung. The Rockets, which are both offensive and defensive, should be better next season. So in an interview, Manager Stone also made it clear that the Rockets now have no intention of trading Antetokounmpo.

In a recent interview, Rockets general manager Stone talked about the message Antetokounmpo was traded to Houston. He said "this is not the case at all" because he has a very good relationship with Bucks general manager Jon Horst. He admired Antetokounmpo very much, but the Bucks manager made it clear at the time that they would not make any trades.

Although the Rockets may have some intentions, and even the teams in the league are salivating about Antetokounmpo, the Bucks don't want to send their superstar away at all. Even if the Bucks lose Lillard and the team's lineup is seriously aging, Antetokounmpo, as a superstar and MVP developed by the Bucks himself, it is impossible for the Bucks to send him away easily.

Therefore, this is also the reason why the Rockets finally chased Durant. If the Rockets are between Antetokounmpo, the Bucks' superstar Antetokounmpo and Durant, the Suns' superstar, the Rockets are more inclined to get the former, but the Bucks don't want to let go at all, and Durant's style is also very suitable for the Rockets. In the end, the Rockets chose to trade to get Durant.

After all, the Suns where Durant is located are asking for cheaper chips. If you want to trade Antetokounmpo, the Rockets may have to use future stars such as Shin Kyung and Amen Thompson to make this deal, which is probably something the Rockets can't bear. Therefore, although Manager Stone admires the Bucks' superstar Antetokounmpo very much, he has no intention of starting this super deal. The more important reason is that the Bucks do not want to let go.