The Milwaukee Bucks were greatly concerned when Giannis Antetokounmpo went down with a non-contact injury. He went down just three minutes into a game against the Pistons. He left the game and did not return.
While fans speculated he suffered an Achilles injury, Antetokounmpo was ruled out with a calf strain. Doc Rivers said following the game that Antetokounmpo would be scheduled for an MRI to determine the extent of the injury. That would allow them to determine how much time he will miss.
The Bucks have now released a timeline of how long they expect Antetokounmpo to be out. However, they confirmed that there is nothing wrong with his Achilles.
GettyGiannis Antetokounmpo drives the ball. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks Announce Giannis Antetokounmpo to be Out 2-4 Weeks
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Antetokounmpo will be out 2-4 weeks with his calf strain. For it being a non-contact injury, the Bucks got some good news. That’s especially true now that Antetokounmpo might be looking to be traded after the Bucks have started so poorly.
Right now, the Bucks are 11th in the Eastern Conference standings. Antetokounmpo has decided to meet with his agent to determine his future with the franchise. Teams are lining up to figure out what kind of offers they will be giving the Bucks in their pursuit of Antetokounmpo.
Milwaukee is only going to trade Antetokounmpo if he demands to be traded. He is the face of the franchise, and the fanbase adores him. Antetokounmpo contemplated being moved over the summer, but he endorsed all of the offseason moves that Milwaukee made.
This injury comes at a bad time for the franchise, as they were hoping to show that he is healthy and still one of the best players in the league. On the other hand, teams have a track record over the last decade to look at with Antetokounmpo.
GettyGiannis Antetokounmpo celebrates. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Bucks Will Start Fielding Giannis Antetokounmpo Offers
Antetokounmpo being out will allow the Bucks to sift through the offers and choose the best one, if he wants to be traded. Of course, Antetokounmpo has the power to decide where he wants to go because he has only one guaranteed year left on his contract.
Of the teams that Antetokounmpo is willing to go to, Milwaukee will take the best offer available. Teams will need to offer multiple first-round picks and a good, young player in order to get consideration. A trade of Antetokounmpo signals an immediate rebuild for the Bucks.
There is still a chance that Antetokounmpo decides to stay in Milwaukee. He clearly has an affinity for the city, and he has played his entire NBA career there. In the past, he has talked about wanting to win multiple championships for the city.
A solution to this problem will likely come about in the next few weeks. Expect Antetokounmpo to be out on the longer end of this injury timeline until his future is sorted out one way or the other.
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