When Damian Lillard sat on the bottom in the midst of a playoff recreation, grabbing at his left foot, the implications had been bigger than the heartbreaking actuality of a 34-year-old star dealing with an damage that has been recognized to change careers.
The torn left Achilles tendon that Lillard suffered in Recreation 4 of the Milwaukee Bucks‘ first-round playoff sequence in opposition to Indiana will possible change the franchise’s future.
Now, with Lillard dealing with a prolonged rehabilitation and any hopes of the Bucks profitable a championship subsequent season all however dashed, the crew has to resolve what to do with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Is it time to commerce him and rebuild?
Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP who led the Bucks to a championship in 2021, told the New York Times in August 2023 that if he did not imagine that “all people’s going for a championship … I am not signing [a contract extension].” The next month, the Bucks accomplished a blockbuster commerce for Lillard. And some weeks later, Antetokounmpo agreed to a three-year, $186 million cope with Milwaukee.
Although final season was a bust, with the Bucks getting eradicated within the first spherical of the playoffs amid accidents to the crew’s superstars, hope remained. In the event that they had been each wholesome, the Bucks may be nice. They simply wanted time to develop extra chemistry. They usually wanted just a little luck to each be on the court docket.
Now, there aren’t any what ifs.
Is it panic time for the Milwaukee Bucks with Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future doubtful? | Breakfast Ball
The Bucks haven’t any probability with out Lillard; not with the Cleveland Cavaliers and reigning champion Boston Celtics foaming on the mouth to deliver house the Larry O’Brien trophy. So, what is going on to come back first? Is Antetokounmpo going to request a commerce or are the Bucks going to waive the white flag, and use probably the greatest gamers within the league as a bartering chip to get some younger expertise?
What’s clear is the dam is about to interrupt, with the Bucks being within the untenable place of three straight first-round playoff exits alongside a 30-year-old megastar who has made it clear that his endurance is operating skinny.
The Bucks cannot stay aggressive whereas ready out Lillard’s return, not with two gamers on supermax contracts and the Bucks not able to rebuild by means of the draft.
It is a disgrace contemplating how a lot Antetokoumnpo has made it clear that he loves Milwaukee, the crew that chosen him with the fifteenth total choose within the 2013 draft and helped rework him from a gangly teenager right into a chiseled champion nicknamed “The Greek Freak.”
It is also a disgrace for Lillard, who told FOX Sports throughout coaching camp in September that final season was “the hardest yr of my life.” Not solely was he adjusting to being traded from a Portland Trail Blazers crew with which he had spent his total 11-season profession, however he was additionally coping with the psychological anguish of a divorce from his spouse, with whom he shares three kids.
This season, Lillard hoped issues can be completely different. He obtained his physique and thoughts proper, pouring himself right into a strict coaching and consuming routine whereas surrounding himself with household at any time when he may. And over the following seven months, it appeared as if he and Antetokoumnpo had been lastly determining how one can turn out to be the one-two punch the remainder of the league feared they may turn out to be, clinching the fifth-seed after a shaky begin.
However their ascent up the Japanese Convention ladder was waylaid by Lillard lacking a month with deep vein thrombosis in his proper calf. He returned a lot earlier than anticipated in Recreation 2 in opposition to the Pacers – however simply two video games later, he suffered the torn Achilles tendon.
“I really feel dangerous for [Lillard],” Bucks coach Doc Rivers informed reporters. “The man tried to come back again for his crew. It is a robust one: a blood clot adopted by this. It’s simply robust. That’s why you have got teammates and household round him. He’s only a nice freaking dude on the basketball stage however extra vital as a teammate, a father and all that stuff. Nobody deserves it.”
Now, the Bucks are in a troublesome place.
After profitable the title in 2021, they’ve tried to get again atop the league however have failed.
They fired coach Mike Budenholzer after their first-round exit in 2023. They then fired Adrian Griffin after 43 video games earlier than hiring Rivers. They traded Jrue Holiday to accumulate Lillard. They dealt Khris Middleton for Kyle Kuzma, who has underperformed this postseason.
However they’ve repeatedly fallen flat on their faces, with their 119-118 extra time loss to the Pacers in Recreation 5 on Tuesday but once more launching them into summer season break months earlier than they’d hoped.
Certain, the Bucks have had some dangerous breaks. Middleton suffered a knee sprain throughout the first spherical of the 2022 playoffs. Antetokounmpo sustained a again damage throughout the 2023 postseason and was sidelined for your complete 2024 playoffs due to a calf damage. And Lillard missed two playoff video games final postseason due to an Achilles tendon damage earlier than this yr’s devastating blows.
It has all led to the Bucks being pushed to the sting.
Lillard is out. Antetokounmpo is disillusioned. And the Bucks are going to be compelled to make some robust selections, doubtlessly parting methods with the participant who put them on the map.
Melissa Rohlin is an NBA author for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand coated the league for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Instances, the Bay Space Information Group and the San Antonio Categorical-Information. Observe her on Twitter @melissarohlin.
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