While nothing appears imminent, the momentum is building for a possible trade of Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Boston Celtics. The idea of a trade gained real traction on Friday, with rumors circulating the Celtics would deal Jaylen Brown, but that there would have to be a third team involved to facilitate it all. 

As noted by Bobby Manning of CLNS Media, there is absolutely risk in making this move, but there's risk in every deal you make. If there was no risk, Antetokounmpo simply wouldn't be available.

So, let's dig a little deeper on everything:

A 13-year veteran of the Milwaukee Bucks, Antetokounmpo is a 10-time All-Star, a nine-time All-NBA selection, a five-time All-Defensive team selection, a two-time MVP and an NBA champion.

He's been the Defensive Player of the Year, an NBA Finals MVP and is a member of the NBA's 75th All-Anniversary team.

He's 31 years old and will turn 32 in December. He averaged 27.6 ppg this past season.

The upside is clear on multiple fronts:

1) The most dominant interior player in the league, Antetokounmpo would completely change the style of play for Boston. The Celtics were heavily reliant on the three-point shot this year, which directly led to an upset loss in the first round of the playoffs. By bringing in Antetokounmpo, the team gets better at the rim. The doubles that will come on Antetokounmpo will also open up looks on the outside for the shooters that remain.

2) Antetokounmpo is also a defensive and rebounding presence. The Celtics have utilized the "big man by committee" for several years, and this would give them a game-changing presence defensively as well.

3) Antetokounmpo would reportedly sign a long-term deal in Boston, meaning he'd pair with Jayson Tatum for the next four or five years, giving the Celtics multiple chances to win the title.

1) Tatum and Brown have been a major part of the most successful decade of the 2000s for the Celtics, as the tandem has appeared in two NBA Finals in the last five years. Do you really want to break up that kind of success, especially when both players are under 30 years old?

2) Antetokounmpo has a significant injury history. He's played more than 70 regular season games just once in the last seven years, and he played only 36 this past season. Do you really want to trade the durable (and younger) Brown for a player who is older and more prone to injury? And do you really want to sign Antetokounmpo long-term and take on the risk into his mid-and-late 30s? At a number that will probably be more than $70 million per year?

Remember when the Bucks acquired the aging and injured Damian Lillard to pair with Antetokounmpo? We saw how that worked and it's part of the reason why the Bucks are in the position they are in. 

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