Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Rumors: Two Top NBA Analysts Would Boldly Move Alperen Sengun For Bucks Superstar  

Two of the best NBA analysts, Zach Lowe and Tim Legler, have talked themselves into pairing Giannis Antetokounmpo with Kevin Durant at Alperen Sengun's expense. The Houston Rockets have been a force this season, boasting a 15-6 record with the second-best net rating behind defending champions and favorites, the OKC Thunder.

Sengun has played at an All-NBA level, averaging career highs of 23.1 points, 7.1 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.3 steals. He's shooting 50.5%, including 38.5% from beyond the arc. With Sengun playing at this level, not many would trade the 23-year-old, who has the upside of being in MVP conversations.

However, Zach Lowe and Tim Legler believe the Rockets should do it if that means they can land Giannis Antetokounmpo. They chose between Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, hypothetically assuming that the Bucks would ask for either player in a trade.

"I would probably be willing to part ways with Sengun," Legler said on "The Zach Lowe Show" on Monday (40:56 onwards).

"I said the same thing," Lowe replied.

Both admitted they wouldn't "feel great" about trading Alperen Sengun, but getting a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo outweighs that gut punch. Here's Legler's explanation:

"People get, you know, they'd lose their minds here, 'Oh, you're talking about trading Sengun,' no. I mean, think about what we're saying here. Giannis, and he has proven it this year with what he's doing.

"There's been no precipitous decline at all in Giannis' dominance. ... Sengun is a player I've come to love. But if you look at stylistically, if you add a Giannis to the mix, like that's gonna fit better if Sengun isn't there because of the amount that Sengun has the basketball."

Tim Legler added that Amen Thompson has more upside than Alperen Sengun due to this defense and downhill playmaking. Meanwhile, Zach Lowe said he would be "terrified" to trade Thompson.

Logistically, the Rockets would have to trade Sengun for Giannis Antetokounmpo either way to match salaries and balance the books. He's earning $33.9 million of his five-year $185 million contract this season (contract details via Spotrac).

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Rockets trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo could bring them closer to the Thunder

The OKC Thunder are the clear favorites to repeat as champions. They are first with a 23-1 record, best defense (104.1) and No. 1 net rating (+15.9), while ranking in the top five on offense (120.0). No team can match them physically.

The Rockets came closest on opening night with a full-strength roster, only to see Shai Gilgeous-Alexander close them in double overtime. Even then, the Thunder were missing Jalen Williams, their second-best player and an All-NBA nominee. It could have been a lopsided result if not for his absence.

If the Rockets are to advance past the Thunder in the Western Conference, trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo might give them their best shot. A frontcourt duo of Kevin Durant and Antetokounmpo would arguably be the best in the NBA.

The Rockets will also be an even better defense than they already are if they replace Sengun with Antetokounmpo. The 31-year-old Bucks superstar has shown no signs of regression when healthy, averaging 28.9 ppg, 10.1 rpg and 6.1 apg on a whopping 63.9% from the field, including a career-high 43.5% from deep on 1.4 attempts.

Alperen Sengun has upside, but a chance to win now with a former NBA champion, a two-time MVP, a Defensive Player of the Year and a finals MVP in Giannis Antetokounmpo is hard to ignore.