NBA Rumors: Rockets linked to two superstars after red-hot start

One of the bigger surprises in the NBA this season has been the Houston Rockets, who have the fifth-best record in the league thus far. This gives fans hope of making the playoffs and ending their rebuild.

With Houston better than expected, a new rumor has them trying to make a big move to upgrade their roster. According to NBA insider Marc Stein (subscription required), the Rockets have been eying Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant as well as Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Neither player appears to be available at the moment, though the Rockets have plenty of picks as well as young talent that they could offer in the event that either player becomes available. Durant is six years older than Giannis, making Giannis the more ideal trade target.

Not to mention that the Suns are currently a top-5 team in their conference while the Bucks are outside of the playoff picture. That will change, of course, but if Giannis demands a trade, then Houston would be an underrated landing spot.

NBA Rumors: Can the Houston Rockets land Kevin Durant from the Suns or Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Bucks?

The answer all depends on the availability of those two players. The Suns have been better than expected, leading to hope that they can finally live up to expectations. That could take Durant off the table but there is a small chance that Giannis might become available. If he does, then the Rockets could offer players such as Tari Eson and Jabari Smith Jr. several firsts and matching salaries such as Steven Adams and Dillon Brooks in a deal for Giannis.

That obviously wouldn't be equal value but if the Bucks are forced to move on from Giannis, then they aren't going to equal value. Instead, they will likely have to do a teardown. Eson has played well this season, while Smith Jr. holds significant potential. Add in three or four firsts and that would be as competitive of an offer as any team could manage in-season.

Landing Giannis would mark a dramatic shift for the Rockets, with them having a projected lineup of Fred Van Vleet, Reed Sheppard, Jalen Green (who can't be traded this season), Giannis, and Alperin Sengun. The Rockets currently have several nonshooters on their roster but that projected starting five would have at least three shooters around Giannis, with Sengun also slowly developing into a stretch five.

That might not make them an immediate title contender but they would have plenty of upside with Green and Sengun still emerging as stars, possibly giving them a big three if they were to land Giannis this season.