Giannis Antetokounmpo Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Bucks Notes: First-Round Loss, Budenholzer, Free Agency, Antetokounmpo, Crowder

April 27th, 2023 at 8:04am CST by Arthur Hill

After winning a league-best 58 games during the regular season, the Bucks could only manage one victory against a determined Heat team in the postseason, writes Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The betting favorite to win the title heading into the playoffs saw its season end in shocking fashion Wednesday night with an epic fourth quarter collapse and an overtime loss.

“For me, I think this has been the worst postseason ever,” Giannis Antetokounmpo said. “I don’t think, you know, like we have a number in there, like every other team has a number (of games to win a title) like 16, 15, 14, and this like, we’re stuck at 15. I don’t think we’ve ever, as long as I’ve been in the playoffs, been stuck – maybe we lost in the first round – but not stuck at 15. Which is kind of hard to deal with.”

The back injury that Antetokounmpo suffered in Game 1 affected the direction of the series, but there were plenty of other explanations for Milwaukee’s first-round defeat. There were turnovers, missed free throws, rebounding lapses and a lack of focus at critical times.

Several players refused to talk to the media after being eliminated, but those who did expressed severe disappointment.

“I feel like we had the roster to do more than what we’ve done,” Jae Crowder said. “We came up short. Obviously we had a championship in mind and that’s the only conversation we always had, is championship. So we came up short big time. And we failed.”

There’s more from Milwaukee:

Among the lapses were questionable coaching decisions by Mike Budenholzer, who was heavily criticized in the press and on social media following Wednesday’s loss. Budenholzer failed to call a timeout after Jimmy Butler tied the game with 0.5 seconds left in regulation or as the Bucks failed to get off a shot as the final buzzer sounded in overtime. There were rumors that Budenholzer might be fired before the Bucks won the title in 2021, and Tim Cato of The Athletic considers it unlikely that he’ll survive Wednesday’s performance.
Brook Lopez, who will be a free agent, and Khris Middleton, who has a $40.4MM player option, will be the names to watch this offseason, per Bobby Marks of ESPN (Insider link). If the front office brings back both players, the Bucks will be a tax team for the fourth straight year.
Antetokounmpo will become eligible for an extension in September, but that could just be a formality, according to Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype. Gozlan expects the two-time MVP to wait and seek a new long-term contract once his current deal expires.
Crowder is among several free agent bench players who face uncertain futures this summer. After the Bucks gave up five second-round picks to acquire him in February, he got into just three games and played 40 total minutes during the series, notes Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer (Twitter link).

Central Notes: Antetokounmpo, Pistons, Cunningham, White

April 25th, 2023 at 10:46pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Giannis Antetokounmpo “pushed himself to exhaustion” and required a postgame IV after the Bucks’ Game 4 loss to Miami, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports (video link). That’s one of the reasons why Antetokounmpo, who returned from a back injury suffered in Game 1, didn’t speak to the media afterward. He’s listed as probable to play in Game 5 on Wednesday, Eric Nehm of The Athletic tweets.

We have more from the Central Division:

The Pistons are still conducting first-round Zoom interviews with head coaching candidates this week, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press tweets. Bucks associate head coach Charles Lee, former Connecticut and Overtime Elite coach Kevin Ollie and Pelicans assistant Jarron Collins are reportedly meeting again with the team’s brass this week on follow-up interviews. However, the Pistons don’t appear to be in any rush to name a replacement for Dwane Casey, who accepted a front office job.
Even if the Pistons slide to the fifth pick in the lottery, the return of Cade Cunningham next season will guarantee a much more competitive team, Keith Langlois of Pistons.com opines. GM Troy Weaver notes that stars like Blake Griffin and Joel Embiid dealt with major injuries early in their careers and wound up better for it. “It propelled them. I think the same thing will happen with Cade,” he said. “He won’t have a problem fitting in at all. I expect him to be full blast when it’s time.”
Bulls guard Coby White showed improvement at both ends of the floor this season as he enters restricted free agency, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago writes. White has gotten better with his play-making, decision-making and finishing at the rim. Defensively, opponents no longer hunted for his matchup. White will seek a suitor willing to give him an expanded role.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Will Play In Game 4

April 24th, 2023 at 5:33pm CST by Arthur Hill

5:33pm: Antetokounmpo will play tonight, according to Budenholzer, Eric Nehm of The Athletic tweets.

9:59am: The Bucks will have Giannis Antetokounmpo for Monday’s Game 4 in Miami, assuming there are no last-minute setbacks, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. Antetokounmpo was able to participate in this morning’s shootaround with his teammates (Twitter link from Jamal Collier of ESPN).

The two-time MVP sat out Games 2 and 3 with a lower-back contusion he suffered in the series opener. The teams split those two contests, with the Bucks winning big on Wednesday and the Heat rebounding with a blowout Saturday night to take a 2-1 series lead.

Antetokounmpo had been listed as questionable for tonight, just as he was for the past two games. Coach Mike Budenholzer said Giannis was able to do some individual work on Sunday before the team’s film session.

Central Notes: Hayes, Grant, Antetokounmpo, Bucks Series

April 23rd, 2023 at 6:58pm CST by Dana Gauruder

While Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey appear to be the Pistons’ backcourt starters for at least the next few seasons, there are legitimate questions about the future of another backcourt lottery pick — Killian Hayes. Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press (subscription required) tackles that subject and anticipates the Pistons won’t extend Hayes this offseason. Instead, they’ll allow Hayes to enter next offseason as a restricted free agent, giving him extra motivation to have a strong fourth season and increase his market value.

We have more from the Central Division:

The Pistons must address wing defense and shooting in free agency this offseason, Sankofa opines (subscription required). Bringing back unrestricted free agent Jerami Grant for a second stint with the organization would fit the bill, or they could make a run at restricted free agents Cameron Johnson and Grant Williams, Sankofa writes.
Giannis Antetokounmpo did some individual work before the Bucks’ film session on Sunday, Eric Nehm of The Athletic tweets. However, coach Mike Budenholzer did not have an immediate update on his superstar’s status for Monday’s Game 4 against the Heat. Antetokounmpo was later listed as questionable, according to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. The top-seeded Bucks are down 2-1 in the series.
In a related topic, Nehm details how the Bucks struggled offensively without Antetokounmpo in Game 3. Whether or not he returns from his back injury and plays in Game 4, Milwaukee will have to do a much better job matching Miami’s physicality.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Won’t Play In Game 3

April 22nd, 2023 at 5:09pm CST by Arthur Hill

Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss at least one more game with a lower back contusion, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Bucks have decided to keep their superstar on the sidelines for tonight’s Game 3 in Miami.

Antetokounmpo suffered the injury in Sunday’s Game 1 when he crashed to the court on a drive to the basket. He was ruled out for Wednesday’s Game 2 shortly before tipoff, and the Bucks have decided to use the same caution for tonight’s contest.

In a pre-game meeting with the media, coach Mike Budenholzer said Antetokounmpo has made progress in his recovery, but added, “These things just aren’t always a linear thing,” tweets Eric Nehm of The Athletic. Budenholzer declined to point to a specific problem that’s preventing Antetokounmpo from playing, telling reporters, “He’s just not ready to go.” (Twitter link)

Milwaukee responded without its team leader to even up the series with a 16-point win on Wednesday. Game 4 will take place Monday night, so Antetokounmpo will have just one off day to try to heal.

Bucks Notes: Haslam, Lopez, Depth, Giannis, Matthews

April 22nd, 2023 at 7:52am CST by Luke Adams

Before buying a stake in the franchise, Jimmy Haslam first spoke to Bucks co-owner Wes Edens when he was mulling the possibility of bidding for the Timberwolves, according to Jim Owczarski of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

“We actually took a look at the Minnesota Timberwolves and a friend of mine said, ‘You should call Wes Edens, he operates a team in the upper Midwest, they’ve had great success,'” Haslam said. “‘Cause you’re concerned, can you attract players, can you win in a small market? So we had about an hour-and-a-half conversation and Wes was hugely helpful.”

While Haslam didn’t end up investing in the Timberwolves, his conversation with Edens made him more comfortable jumping at the chance to purchase a stake in the Bucks when the opportunity arose. Asked for his thoughts about the future of the team in Milwaukee, Haslam expressed confidence in the Bucks’ long-term outlook.

“The first time Wes and I ever talked was (asking) could an NBA team not just reside here, but could it be successful? And they’ve obviously proved they can,” Haslam said. “They’ve punched way over their weight in almost everything in the NBA, starting first of all on the court, which is what counts. I anticipate the team being here for a long time. Listen, this isn’t a turnaround situation. These guys have done a hell of a job, so we’re gonna be quiet and listen and learn, and if we can help down the road, that’s great.”

Here’s more on the Bucks:

Brook Lopez made an All-Star team back in 2013 but has never played in the Olympics and fell just short of earning his first Defensive Player of the Year award this spring. Although he’d like to earn more accolades before he calls it a career, Lopez says he’s motivated by missing out, per Lori Nickel of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I use all that stuff,” he said. “I’d like to be a part of an Olympic team. I still feel like I have a long career left. Hopefully playing the way I play, maybe a couple of all-stars? I have my personal goals, but the way things roll out, it’s definitely motivation for me.”
Without Giannis Antetokounmpo available in Game 2 due to his lower back contusion, the Bucks showed off their depth and proved that they’re capable of holding down the fort until the MVP finalist returns, writes Jamal Collier of ESPN.com. Pat Connaughton was one of the role players who provided a critical spark for the team, Owczarski writes for The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Will Antetokounmpo be able to return for Game 3 in Miami? That’s still to be determined, as the star forward has been listed as questionable for Saturday’s contest. Giannis did some individual work on Friday, but didn’t take part in practice with his teammates, per Owczarski.
Wesley Matthews, who played nearly 18 minutes in Game 1 of the series and then missed Game 2 with a right calf strain, has been ruled out for Game 3 as well. A source with knowledge of the situation tells Owczarski that the Bucks are hopeful Matthews’ strain isn’t as severe as the one that sidelined him for nine games in February and March.

Injury Updates: Morant, Giannis, Wiggins, Payne

April 20th, 2023 at 8:59am CST by Arthur Hill

Going into Wednesday’s Game 2, there were indications that Ja Morant‘s right hand injury had healed enough for him to play, writes Joe Vardon of The Athletic. In a meeting with reporters shortly before game time, Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said his star guard was “feeling a little bit better,” adding that he just had to clear some tests regarding his grip and his ability to dribble.

The announcement that Morant would miss the game was made about an hour before tipoff. Jenkins explained that the team decided to be cautious with the injury, which an MRI revealed involves soft tissues between the bones in Morant’s hand.

“He got all the testing and was still battling some soreness, a little pain,” Jenkins said. “It’s just a collective decision. We all decided that, and obviously he’s a warrior, he wants to be out there, would do anything to be out there, but we just felt like hey, just given all the testing results, give him this game and just wait a couple more days in between.

“We’re hopeful that with the progress he’s making the last couple of days, you know, he’ll be back sooner rather than later. Can’t guarantee when that’s going to be, but it was just one of those things that we just couldn’t, you know, pull it to have him in tonight.”

The series will resume Saturday night in Los Angeles.

There’s more injury news to pass along:

It was also close to game time Wednesday when the Bucks determined that Giannis Antetokounmpo wouldn’t be available, per Jim Owczarski of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Antetokounmpo had been upgraded to questionable, but the team opted to not to take a risk with his injured back. “I told him this morning, like, I know you’re going to want to come back but if you don’t, just know we got you,” Jrue Holiday said. “Again, our team has the ultimate confidence in each other and we know how Giannis is. We know Giannis is going to try and make that Superman effort and come back and play 48 minutes and do what he does, but like I said, we can hold down the fort until he comes back.”
The Warriors are listing Andrew Wiggins as questionable for Thursday’s Game 3 with soreness in his right shoulder, tweets Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee. Wiggins has been dealing with the shoulder issue since the postseason began, but he was able to play 39 minutes in Game 2.
Backup point guard Cameron Payne remains questionable for the Suns in Game 3, tweets Law Murray of the Athletic, who adds that coach Monty Williams indicated that Payne has to overcome “movement-related hurdles” before he can play again.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Won’t Play In Game 2

April 19th, 2023 at 6:22pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Bucks will try to even their series against the Heat tonight without Giannis Antetokounmpo, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. The two-time MVP will sit out the contest with a back injury he suffered in Sunday’s Game 1.

Antetokounmpo missed Tuesday’s practice with a back contusion he sustained on a hard fall while driving to the basket and was initially listed as doubtful for Wednesday’s game.

Coach Mike Budenholzer had been optimistic about Antetokunmpo’s chances to play, but the team opted to be cautious with its superstar. Budenholzer added that Antetokounmpo was upgraded to questionable to comply with NBA guidelines in case he was able to suit up, according to Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel (Twitter link).

Antetokounmpo’s absence means Milwaukee faces a more difficult task to avoid falling into a 2-0 hole when the series shifts to Miami. Game 3 will take place Saturday night, giving Antetokounmpo two off days to heal up.

Central Notes: Quinn, Antetokounmpo, Cavs, DeRozan, LaVine

April 18th, 2023 at 7:03pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Heat assistant coach Chris Quinn confirmed he has an interview lined up with the Pistons for their head coaching position, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel tweets. Quinn has been on Miami’s coaching staff since 2014. Quinn is among at least eight candidates the Pistons have interviewed or reportedly plan to interview.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t practice on Tuesday but coach Mike Budenholzer remains optimistic the superstar can play in Game 2 of the Bucks’ series against Miami on Wednesday, Jim Owczarski of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. The superstar suffered a lower back contusion in Game 1. “We have 24-plus hours before game time so he’ll get treatment,” Budenholzer said. “We’ll see how he feels. I think there’s been a lot of progress and hopefully there’s more in the next day or so.” Later in the day, the Bucks listed Giannis as doubtful to play in Game 2, The Athletic’s Eric Nehm tweets.
The Cavaliers have lingered in the shadows of LeBron James‘ two stints with the organization. They are finally emerging with a different core group in the post-LeBron era as the No. 4 seed in the East, as Nick Friedell of ESPN details. “Success bears your legacy,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “So the better or more games we win in playoffs, crunch-time situations, that’s how these guys will build their own legacy, at the same time paying respect to those who came before us.”
It’s certainly no slam dunk that the Bulls will run back the Zach LaVine–DeMar DeRozan combination for another season. DeRozan hopes the organization gives them another chance to show what they can do together, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times writes. ‘‘Man, what’s crazy is even talking to [LaVine] on the plane [late Friday], we haven’t even scratched the surface,’’ DeRozan said. ‘‘We haven’t been fully ourselves, and that’s the scary part about it.’’

Injury Notes: Giannis, Morant, Hart, Randle, Payne

April 18th, 2023 at 11:16am CST by Luke Adams

After previously stating that X-rays on Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s back injury came back negative, Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer said on Monday that an MRI also came back clean, tweets Eric Nehm of The Athletic.

The Bucks haven’t made any official announcements yet about Antetokounmpo’s availability for Game 2 on Wednesday, but Budenholzer told reporters on Monday that the superstar forward was making progress despite still being sore.

“He’s getting some treatment and I think we’ll just continue to monitor him for the next day or two,” Budenholzer said. “Probably fortunate that there are two days between games, so I think still mostly positive, mostly optimistic, but we’ll see how he feels over the next day or two.”

Here are a few more injury-related notes from around the NBA:

The status of Grizzlies star Ja Morant for Wednesday’s game vs. the Lakers remains up in the air due to his hand injury. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported on NBA Today on Monday (Twitter video link) that there’s “significant doubt” about Morant’s ability to play in Game 2. Shams Charania of The Athletic hears that tests on Morant’s hand revealed no breaks and that his availability could end up being a question of pain tolerance. The All-Star guard referred to his pain level on Sunday as a 10 out of 10.
One day after listing Josh Hart as doubtful for Game 2 due to a left ankle sprain, the Knicks have upgraded him to questionable (Twitter link). Knicks forward Julius Randle also provided a positive update on his own ankle sprain, telling reporters that he’s feeling no ill effects after playing in Game 1, though he admitted that his conditioning isn’t yet where he wants it to be (Twitter link via Nick Friedell of ESPN).
Suns guard Cameron Payne, who was limited to 48 games this season due to injuries and didn’t play in Game 1 on Sunday, has been listed as questionable for Tuesday’s Game 2 due to low back soreness, tweets Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic.