The Bucks were hoping to extend their first-round series long enough for Giannis Antetokounmpo to return, but the two-time MVP was never close to being activated, according to Jamal Collier of ESPN. Antetokounmpo revealed on Friday that the left calf strain he suffered April 9 was still limiting him to the point where he could only run at about 30-40%.
“I tried my best to come back to help my teammates,” he said. “It’s kind of hard to see them being out there and not being able to help them, but I just couldn’t. I did all the tests I had to do, these protocols you have to follow and have to check the boxes. I wasn’t even close at checking the boxes.”
It’s the second straight season that an Antetokounmpo injury has contributed to a first-round exit for Milwaukee. Collier notes that injuries in general prevented the Bucks from establishing any kind of rhythm after Doc Rivers replaced Adrian Griffin as head coach in late January. Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton only played eight games together under Rivers.
Antetokounmpo pointed out that the team had to adjust quickly after the trade for Lillard was completed late in the offseason and then again after the coaching change. He plans to visit Lillard in Oregon this summer to start preparing for next season.
“Obviously, it doesn’t feel good. The wound, you know, it’s fresh. It’s open. You just lost in the first round,” Antetokounmpo said. “But I’m not a guy who makes excuses. Right now, I do believe that when me, Khris and Dame and Brook (Lopez) was on the floor and we’re healthy, we were one of the best offenses in the NBA. And you can go and check that.”
There’s more from the Central Division:
- The condition of Antetokounmpo’s calf will affect his decision to represent Greece this summer, Collier adds. Antetokounmpo has indicated that he would like to play in the Olympics, but he hasn’t made a firm commitment. The Greek team will have to win a qualifying tournament in early July to earn a spot in Paris.
- After missing two straight games with a rib contusion, Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen is listed as questionable for Sunday’s Game 7, tweets Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. Evan Mobley rolled his ankle Friday night, but he’s not on the team’s injury report, according to Fedor.
- The Bulls plan to explore trade options involving starting center Nikola Vucevic, a source tells Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. Vucevic, 33, is owed a total of about $41.5MM over the next two years. He was noticeably slower on defense this season, Cowley observes, and he dropped to 29.4% from three-point range.
- Tyrese Haliburton is familiar with the playoff history between the Pacers and Knicks and he’s looking forward to being part of it (video link from The Indianapolis Star). He’s also eager for the matchup with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, whom he said are both close friends.
I’d suggest the Bulls find another C first before they do something stupid again.
They are the worst organization in American sports, what team is gonna look at what Vuc did last year and want that contract on their cap? Orlando played AK like a fiddle, Vuc has negative trade value, Bulls are stuck because of how consistently poorly this dumpster has been run
I’d say you’re wrong only because the White Sox are much worse. But you can’t go wrong either way really.
The Charlotte Hornets are on line 1.
They’d be better off starting Drummond , I’d rather draft a big and start them right away even, dumping vuc is overdue.
They would have to trade Vuc for lesser salary somehow to pay Drummond, who is now a free agent.
True, but I don’t see Drummond fetching a massive deal, plus if he’s truthful in wanting to return it’s possible. But starting a rookie is probably most feasible alternative to vuc. Personally I would explore vuc for Nurkic
Stupid is in Reinsdorf’s blood, maybe literally as it appears his son is not really any better at running an org.
The Bulls had a huge chance to be rid of this freeloader when his contract was up (and fairly certain they tried to move him then but could not). No realy reason to have resigned him after such mediocre results, but thats what Bulls teams doo.. Name recognition to get rubes into the stands, and be mediocre. That is when players are not conning the orgs with injuries.
Team Villanova and Team Knicks are the same?
Allen healthy this series is over. Adversity has affected the Cavs. They better have learned from last yrs Knicks series. Three guys that have been disappointed to me are Mobley, LaVert, Okoro. They need to level up.
Bulls shouldn’t panic and ‘dig the hole’ deeper. For now, just keep Vucevic. See where the team stands at the trade deadline next winter. Don’t think it is that simple to just find a better than average center. Vucevic isn’t being paid a massive amount of money. Bulls may just have to ride out the next season 24/25 to get contract flexibility.
Spoken like AK’s Brother in Law.
Nic Claxton is the type of player that the Bulls need. Young, athletic, tall, great shot blocker, aggressive, not afraid, good with the ball. Imagine almost every team is interested in Claxton. Not enough players like Claxton to go around.