Inside The Rockets

NBA Trade Idea: Bucks' Khris Middleton to Rockets?

The Houston Rockets could trade for Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton.

Jeremy Brener

Sep 30, 2024; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Khris Middleton (22) during Media Day at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Sep 30, 2024; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Khris Middleton (22) during Media Day at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images / Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
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The Houston Rockets have reportedly long been coveting a star to put on the roster in hopes of increasing their odds at becoming a contender.

Bleacher Report writer Dan Favale suggests a trade that would send Dillon Brooks and Tari Eason to the Milwaukee Bucks for Khris Middleton and a 2031 first-round pick.

"Middleton can help its offense without infringing upon others, and his contract expires as soon as this summer (player option). Really, though, the Bucks need the Rockets to covet the 2031 first-rounder and the mystique it emanates in future trade talks," Favale writes.

While Brooks isn't necessarily locked into the future of the Rockets and isn't untouchable, Eason should only be included in trades for top-tier players, and Middleton simply isn't in that group.

Eason has been playing very well for the Rockets off the bench to start the season, and he is quickly emerging into one of the best players for Houston.

Trading a young Eason for an established, but oft-injured Middleton would be absolute malpractice for the Rockets, and it's a deal that would likely get general manager Rafael Stone to laugh and hang up before even entertaining a counteroffer.

Eason, Brooks and the Rockets are getting ready for their NBA Cup opener tonight as they take on James Harden and the Los Angeles Clippers at 7 p.m. CT inside Toyota Center.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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