Change appears to be inevitable in Milwaukee.
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is “ready for a new home” ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports, and the organization is finally open to offers for the two-time MVP.
An injury could complicate the chances of an in-season trade. Any team that acquires Antetokounmpo wouldn’t just be getting him as a rental, but his uncertain injury status going forward risks pushing trade discussions to the offseason as the former NBA Finals MVP rehabs.
Here’s what you need to know about Antetokounmpo’s injury and when he could return.
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What is Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury?
Antetokounmpo is dealing with a right calf strain for the second time this season.
The Bucks star suffered the injury in a loss to the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 23, less than a month after returning from a calf strain in the same leg that cost him about three weeks in December.
While not necessarily a major or season-ending injury, Antetokounmpo’s uncertain timetable for a return could make the path to a trade before the deadline more complicated because of the size of a potential deal. Here’s what we know about Antetokounmpo’s possible return date.
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How long is Giannis Antetokounmpo out?
Antetokounmpo predicted after his injury that he would miss 4-6 weeks, though Bucks coach Doc Rivers said after an MRI that the former MVP has “really no timetable.”
When asked whether the team will be extra cautious with Antetokounmpo’s return this time around, Rivers told reporters, “I thought we did that last time,” though he did note it’s “concerning” that the injury keeps popping up.
The early end of Antetokounmpo’s timetable would put him on track for a return in the range of Feb. 20, but calf strains tend to be tricky, and any team that Antetokounmpo plays for is likely to be as cautious as possible considering it’s his second of the season. If Antetokounmpo misses six weeks, he wouldn’t return until the first week of March.
In all likelihood, any team that might acquire Antetokounmpo would have him available ahead of the playoffs, barring another injury.
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Calf recovery timeline in NBA
Calf strains are especially difficult to judge in sports because each player responds differently and there is a legitimate risk of re-aggravation. There are even some examples players suffering Achilles tears shortly after returning from or playing through a calf strain.
Antetokounmpo missed only three weeks with a calf strain earlier in the season, which is standard for a lower-level or moderate strain, but he’s likely to miss more than three weeks after re-injuring the same calf.
Because the risk of re-injury is fairly high, a player’s return timeline from a calf injury often depends on which point of the season it is and the team’s level of caution.
