When the Rockets were rebuilding Phase 1, Fagan said Houston needed a young cornerstone. With a chance to trade for an All-Star with the ability to lead the team, Stone would be willing to give away young players and first-round picks from the team.
Some Houston media outlets said that the cornerstone of Stone's vision is a giant like Antetokounmpo or Doncic.
What general manager wouldn't want to have a cornerstone like Brother Alphabet? Brother Alphabet has the strength and popularity in the United States, and he can help Fertitta make money. Some Rockets fans also want the Bucks to dismantle and then trade Antetokounmpo to Houston.
It looks like head coach Udoka wants to coach Antetokounmpo as well.
Udoka said at a press conference at the end of the season: If I take over the Bucks or the 76ers, I'll be in the playoffs.
How many truths are told in a tongue-in-cheek way.
Udoka was afraid that Houston fans would misunderstand and quickly added: I still think coaching the Rockets is the right choice, because this team is built for the future.
Udoka did not hide his ambitions, his assistant coaching team is all acquaintances, he rejected the return of former Rockets cornerstone Harden, reused veterans to compress the playing time of young players, and publicly said: I am not looking for a team that can return to the playoffs or go out in the first round, I have been on the highest stage of the Finals, and I want to return there.
The Rockets are still in the rebuilding phase and are in the fiercely competitive Wild West. In contrast, the Bucks or 76ers, who have All-Star interior in the East, are better options for Udoka.
"FadeawayWorld" suggested that the Rockets make an offer to the Bucks and send the No. 3 pick, Green, Jr. and Amen as chips.
The American outlet proposed a trade that saw the Rockets send Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, Steven Adams, a 2024 first-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick, and a Bucks for Antetokounmpo.
The Rockets beat the Bucks at home this season, scoring 48 points, 17 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block on 15-of-26 shooting. Udoka said in an interview after the game: "It's hard for Antetokounmpo to defend alone, but as long as we can control his teammates, then we can accept that he plays well. It's a daunting task to deal with the alphabet, but sometimes we have to pick a cup of poison.
For Udoka, results are the most important thing, and the development of young players is secondary. At one point this season, it was rumored that the Rockets wanted to trade Jalen Green for Nets Bridges. Some American media said that Bridges is the fierce player that Udoka wants.
Of course, in the end, the deal didn't happen. The Nets have publicly claimed that Bridges is the core of the team, and Rockets general manager Stone has also backed Prince Jalen Green.
It's unknown whether Jalen Green was influenced by the trade rumors, but after the All-Star break, he slowly began to find his groove and played his own crazy March show, which once gave fans a shadow of the cornerstone.
However, Jalen Green was beaten back to his original form after entering April, so many Houston fans thought that he should be traded for an All-Star with the No. 3 pick.
Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. have been pressed to the bench by Udoka in the final quarter several times this season.
Some Rockets fans believe that Smith Jr. is also a bargaining chip that can be traded, because his progress is too slow, he has no offensive ability with the ball, and his physical confrontation is average.
Many Rockets fans are optimistic about Amen, who is also Udoka's favorite player. However, some fans are worried that Amen will not be able to practice shooting, so he will be targeted by opponents in the playoffs.
The Bleachers has repeatedly said that the Rockets should build around "Jokic Jr." Alperen Sengun, sacrificing some young players in exchange for an All-Star.