Overview
- Antetokounmpo said he expects an MRI to confirm a right calf strain and projected a four-to-six week absence, which would keep him out past the Feb. 5 deadline and the All-Star Game.
- Milwaukee sits 18–26 and 2.5 games out of the final East play-in spot, and the Bucks are 3–11 without Antetokounmpo this season, raising expectations of further slippage.
- League reporters now describe a deadline trade as unlikely, with multiple sources characterizing any blockbuster as more plausible on draft day or in the summer.
- Rival executives say Milwaukee’s limited draft capital has stalled efforts to buy at the deadline, with reported targets generating little traction and a strategic pivot to selling under discussion.
- Frequently cited suitors include the Knicks, Warriors, Heat and Lakers, with some outlets noting teams are holding assets for a possible offseason bid, though one report says clubs continue to probe a pre-deadline deal.