Sacramento Kings could have to play Giannis Antetokounmpo four times a year

The Milwaukee Bucks are 4-9 and currently sitting at 12th place in the uninspiring Eastern Conference. And as is usually the case when an aging core that entered the season with title aspirations fails to meet expectations, the Bucks' superstar big man is at the center of trade rumors.

If the hint above (or the cover image for this post) wasn't enough, the star in question is the Bucks' two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Antetokounmpo has already gifted Milwaukee with a title. So, at this point in his career, his goal is likely to solidify his legacy as one of the all-time greats. To many people, that means winning multiple championships (Antetokounmpo only has one).

Unfortunately, this year's Bucks' team doesn't look like they are capable of that, and Antetokounmpo himself isn't getting any younger (he'll turn 30 next month). So, this has led many people to speculate about the possibility of Antetokounmpo requesting a trade from the only franchise he's only ever called home.

Houston Rockets are interested in Giannis Antetokounmpo

On Sunday, it was reported by NBA Insider Marc Stein that the Houston Rockets are interested in acquiring Antetokounmpo if he does decide that he wants to be traded. Here is what he had to say:

“This has been interpreted in some corners of the league, as noted in a recent Sunday notebook, as a strategy designed to give the Rockets more time to see if dream trade target Kevin Durant were to become available down the road ... no matter how adamant Phoenix has remained about its desire to keep Durant in the desert. The following expansion of the conversation was inevitable given the various combinations of rising prospects and draft picks that the Rockets can assemble in theoretical trade offers, but similar whispers have begun to percolate among rival teams monitoring a potential down-the-road Houston pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo."

Given the Rockets status as a young team with a strong nucleus of players and a surplus of draft capital to dish out, it comes as no surprise that they would be interested in someone of Antetokounmpo's pedigree.

What this would mean for the Sacramento Kings

We are still a long way away from Antetokounmpo being traded to the Rockets. But if that did happen, it would not be good news for our Sacramento Kings.

First, it would give the Kings yet another giant to leapfrog in the already-loaded Western Conference. While the Rockets are ahead of them in the standings right now, you could make an argument that the Kings would beat them in a seven game series (a different conversation for a different article). But if the Rockets got Antetokounmpo without having to gut their entire roster (which is likely because the Bucks would probably prioritize draft capital instead of players to help kickstart their rebuild), the Kings would become major underdogs in that series.

Second, the Kings would go from having to face Antetokounmpo twice a year (because the Bucks are in the Eastern Conference) to at least three or four times a year, depending on how the schedule shakes out. That would be especially problematic given how little size the Kings have to deal with Antetokounmpo. In his last four games against the Kings, Antetokounmpo is averaging 34.5 PPG on 69.1% true shooting (per Stathead).

Let's just cross our fingers and hope this rumor never becomes a reality.