Giannis Antetokounmpo trade idea involves 8 players, 5 picks and a $285 million star

The Milwaukee Bucks have made one thing abundantly clear heading into the June 23 NBA Draft: no offer on the table is good enough yet.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst confirmed the Bucks "have yet to receive an offer that they're willing to accept" for Giannis Antetokounmpo, with the Miami Heat still unable to put together a package that moves the needle in Milwaukee. 

Since standard trades have stalled, it opens the door for more creative solutions, and Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus proposed a more complex alternative that involves three franchises, 8 players, 5 picks, and a $285 million star that ultimately sends Antetokounmpo to the Boston Celtics.

The trade breaks down by team:

• Boston Celtics get: Giannis Antetokounmpo.
• Atlanta Hawks get: Jaylen Brown, who signed to a five-year, $285.39 million supermax extension, Andre Jackson Jr., the No. 27 draft pick, and a $3 million trade exception.
• Milwaukee Bucks get: Jonathan Kuminga, Zaccharie Risacher, Corey Kispert, Buddy Hield, Max Shulga, the No. 8 and No. 23 picks, a 2027 unprotected first-round pick, and a 2029 unprotected first-round pick.

The reason the Bucks avoid taking Brown directly comes down to fit. Per Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Milwaukee has made clear they "don't want a mid-career player if they're trading Giannis." So, flipping Brown to a third team makes the most sense for everyone.

For Boston, Antetokounmpo provides a dominant rim presence and defensive anchor that elevates the Celtics into something dangerous in the East alongside Jayson Tatum. Milwaukee walks away with two first-round picks in the upcoming draft, two promising young forwards in Risacher and Kuminga, and two future unprotected firsts. It is the same kind of rebuild capital the Bucks actually want. 

Atlanta, stuck in play-in territory annually, lands Brown as a star scorer to pair with first-time All-Star Jalen Johnson and push toward consistent playoff seeding.

As Eric Pincus notes, the real test is how this deal compares to what the Heat, Trail Blazers, and Cavaliers are offering and that answer is expected by June 23.

More NBA news:

• The one reason Bucks are turning down every Giannis Antetokounmpo offer
• De’Aaron Fox’s Spurs future revealed after NBA Finals disaster and it’s hardly a surprise
• Gilbert Arenas wants Jalen Brunson statue after the Knicks’ Spurs triumph — his reason says it all
• Shaquille O'Neal identifies what Victor Wembanyama needs to do after Spurs' Finals collapse
• Spurs finally find Victor Wembanyama's perfect championship partner