Giannis out for four weeks as Lakers and Celtics join the race to sign him
The uncertainty surrounding his physical condition and his long-term plans only intensifies the attention on his current status and the challenges he now faces.
The game played this Wednesday, December 3, between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Detroit Pistons resulted in a costly victory for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who suffered a calf injury and will now be sidelined for three to four weeks.
In addition, this situation coincides with the possibility of a potential trade that the player is evaluating alongside his agent, as he considers what his future in the league might look like in the near term.
This physical setback affecting the Bucks' star could jeopardise something highly significant for his 2025 season. Because of that, he hopes his recovery can be as quick as possible so he can return to the court and continue pursuing the goals he has set for himself.
Before this recent injury, Giannis Antetokounmpo had already missed six games, and that unfavourable statistic is now working against him as he aims for important awards handed out at the end of the NBA season.
He must play in a minimum of 65 games to remain eligible for MVP, All-NBA, and other honours. This calf strain could result in his All-NBA and MVP voting streak ending.
Meanwhile, despite the Los Angeles Lakers making this past year's trade for Luka Doncic, they're still in a position to put together a compelling trade package for one of the league's best two-way threats. Lakers trade idea lands Giannis Antetokounmpo
In a trade idea proposed by Bleacher Report, the Lakers could acquire Antetokounmpo by sacrificing their bench and draft capital for the foreseeable future.
Los Angeles Lakers receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks receive: Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht, first-round pick swaps in 2026, 2028, 2030 and 2032 and a 2031 first-round pick
In what would be a league-altering trade, the Lakers create a star-studded lineup while the Bucks begin their first rebuild in almost a decade.
With a starting lineup of Doncic, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Antetokounmpo, and DeAndre Ayton, the Lakers can worry about filling out their depth later on in the season.
Also, CBS Sports has listed the Boston Celtics as a possible trade partner for the Milwaukee Bucks. While the New York Knicks look like the Greek Freak’s preferred destination right now, anything can happen as this situation progresses.
The deal between the Celtics and the Bucks would be simple:
Enter Jayson Tatum, a perennial MVP candidate and 2024 NBA champion who is three years younger than Antetokounmpo. The Bucks could pursue a title not only next year, but for two more years after that, as Tatum is under contract through the 2028-29 season (with a player option for 2030).
“The Bucks could get a true superstar with a long-term contract back for the one who’s leaving, tank out the rest of this season, get the lesser of two pretty valuable picks (their own and New Orleans’), and then immediately try to trade that pick for more help for Tatum,”.
In acquiring Antetokounmpo, the Celtics get a player who has finished top-three in MVP voting in three of the last four seasons. Not to mention, his defence is a cut above Tatum’s. Antetokounmpo would take over as the alpha, allowing Jaylen Brown to slot into the No. 2 role, which he played perfectly during the Celtics’ title run in 2024.
