RealGM Basketball Wiretap

19 April 2025

• Damian Lillard Cleared Of Deep Vein Thrombosis, Resumes Contact Workouts

  Damian Lillard has been medically cleared of his deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and is no longer required to take blood-thinning medication, sources told ESPN on Friday.

  Despite this positive development, Lillard will not be available for Game 1 of the Bucks' first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday. Lillard will now enter a recovery phase that includes resuming contact workouts and gradually ramping up his basketball activities before returning to game action.

  Lillard is averaging 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game in his second season with the Bucks. Lillard has been sidelined since March 18th, when the Bucks suffered a loss to the Golden State Warriors.

  His absence represents another significant injury setback for Milwaukee, which has struggled to maintain a fully healthy roster during playoff runs since capturing the NBA championship in 2021.

  The medical clearance marks an important milestone in Lillard's recovery process, with his most recent scan showing substantial improvement in his condition.

  The Bucks organization has emphasized that they are following strict medical protocols throughout Lillard's recovery, prioritizing his long-term health over immediate playoff availability.

  "Damian's most recent weekly scan shows that his injury has significantly improved which will enable him to move ahead safely with increased basketball activity," said Bucks General Manager Jon Horst in a statement this week. "Damian's health remains our No. 1 priority. We have followed strict protocols and will continue to do so. We are pleased with the positive news about Damian's progress."

• Bucks Expect Jericho Sims To Be Available For Playoffs

  The Milwaukee Bucks are getting healthier as the playoffs draw nearer. Damian Lillard is out to start the playoffs, but the Bucks should have Jericho Sims back for Game 1 against the Pacers on Saturday.

  Sims has been out since injuring his thumb on March 16. However, Milwaukee head coach Doc Rivers said he thinks the backup center will be ready to play when the playoffs start this weekend.

  "Yes. I think so, pretty sure of that," Rivers said of Sims' being active against Indiana.

  In 14 games after being acquired at the trade deadline, Sims averaged 2.4 points and 4.9 rebounds in 15 minutes per game for Milwaukee. The Bucks acquired Sims from the New York Knicks in a deal for backup guard Delon Wright. Sims was acting as Milwaukee's primary backup for Brook Lopez at the time of his injury.

• Damian Lillard Increasing Basketball Activity With Blood Clot Showing 'Significant Improvement'

  Damian Lillard has made significant improvement on his deep vein thrombosis in his right calf. He will continue to increase his on-court basketball activity.

  Lillard's availability for the Milwaukee Bucks' first round series against the Indiana Pacers remains uncertain.

  "Damian's most recent weekly scan shows that his injury has significantly improved which will enable him to move ahead safely with increased basketball activity," said Bucks General Manager Jon Horst. "Damian's health remains our No. 1 priority. We have followed strict protocols and will continue to do so. We are pleased with the positive news about Damian's progress."

• James Harden, Giannis Antetokounmpo Named NBA's Players Of Week 25

  James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo have been named the NBA's Players of the Week for Week 25.

  Harden averaged 29.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 10.5 assists as the Los Angeles Clippers went 4-0 and captured the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference.

  Antetokounmpo averaged 27.7 points, 11.7 rebounds and 10.0 assists as the Milwaukee Bucks went 4-0.

• 2025 NBA Playoffs: First-Round Matchups Set As Regular Season Concludes

  The Oklahoma City Thunder secured homecourt advantage for the duration of the playoffs with their 68-14 record and NBA-best +12.9 Net Rating. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics were bunched together in second and third in both record and Net Rating.

  The best matchups of the first round figure to be the Los Angeles Lakers against Minnesota Timberwolves less than a year after Luka Doncic faced them with his former team in the Western Conference Finals. The Houston Rockets against either the Golden State Warriors or Memphis Grizzlies will also be close and contentious, as should the New York Knicks against the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference.

  The opening games of the playoffs begin next weekend following the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament on Friday.

  Western Conference
  • (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner between loser of Golden State Warriors/Memphis Grizzlies or Sacramento Kings/Dallas Mavericks
  • (2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Play-In Winner of Golden State Warriors/Memphis Grizzlies
  • (3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
  • (4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) LA Clippers

  Eastern Conference
  • (1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Play-In Winner between loser of Orlando Magic/Atlanta Hawks or Chicago Bulls/Miami Heat
  • (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner of Orlando Magic/Atlanta Hawks
  • (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons
  • (4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
  
  NBA Play-In Tournament
  Western Conference
  • (8) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (7) Golden State Warriors (Tues., Apr. 15 - 10 p.m. ET on TNT)
  • (10) Dallas Mavericks vs. (9) Sacramento Kings (Wed., Apr. 16 - 10 p.m. ET on ESPN)
  
  Eastern Conference
  • (8) Atlanta Hawks vs. (7) Orlando Magic (Tues., Apr. 15 - 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT)
  • (10) Miami Heat vs. (9) Chicago Bulls (Wed., Apr. 16 - 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN)

• Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo Named NBA's Players Of Week 24

  Kawhi Leonard and Giannis Antetokounmpo has been named the NBA's Players of the Week for Week 24.

  Leonard averaged 24.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals as the Los Angeles Clippers went 4-0.

  Antetokounmpo averaged 36.0 points, 12.3 rebounds and 13.7 assists as the Milwaukee Bucks went 4-0.

• Ronald Dupree Leaves Scouting Position With Bucks To Become GM Of LSU

  Former star LSU player, 11-year pro and longtime NBA executive, Ronald Dupree, will join Matt McMahon's staff in the newly created position of General Manager. Dupree has served since 2017 as a scout for the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and since the 2023-24 season has been the Director of Global Scouting for the franchise.

  Dupree has used his firsthand experience in his time with the Bucks to create a deeper understanding for the team of player development, departmental collaboration, data analysis, global talent evaluation, and strategic planning.

  "I am thrilled to announce Ronald Dupree as the first General Manager of the LSU basketball program," said Coach McMahon. "This is a special day as we welcome Ronald and his family home to LSU. As the college basketball landscape changes, it was important to add a star to our staff from the NBA's front office world. Ronald's experience in roster construction, player evaluation, player development, and much more will add great value to our players, future recruits, staff, and our program."

  Dupree played at LSU from 1999-2003 under then LSU Coach Jon Brady.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Records First 35-17-20 Stat Line In NBA History

  Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 35 points, 17 rebounds, and 20 assists as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 126-113 on Thursday night.

  Antetokounmpo is the first player in league history to record that stat line.

  Antetokounmpo finished the game shooting 12-19 from the field.

  "When you're the primary ball handler, you just gotta keep on making good decisions for the team," Antetokounmpo said after the game. "I feel like most of the time, I try to make the best decision for myself or for my teammates."

  Antetokounmpo is also the third player this season to have 30 points and 20 assists in a game after Nikola Jokic and Trae Young.

  The Bucks were coming off Tuesday's win against the Suns where they shot 68.9% from the field.

• Bucks Optimistic About Damian Lillard's Return From Blood Clot Issue

  Doc Rivers expressed renewed optimism that Damian Lillard could return to the Milwaukee Bucks from deep vein thrombosis in his right calf before the end of the season, though the team is simultaneously preparing for postseason scenarios without their star guard.

  "We have much more hope today than we did three days ago," Rivers said before Thursday's game against Philadelphia.

  Lillard has missed eight consecutive games since being diagnosed with the blood clot issue. Despite receiving what Rivers described as a "great report" on his recovery, Lillard did not travel with the team due to concerns about how flying might affect his condition.

  The Bucks announced last week that Lillard would be out indefinitely, a notably different approach than the San Antonio Spurs took with Victor Wembanyama, who was ruled out for the season in February after being diagnosed with similar thrombosis in his shoulder. With the regular season ending in 10 days and playoffs beginning shortly after, the timeline remains uncertain for Lillard's potential return.

  Rivers acknowledged that the team must focus on adapting their approach without Lillard, who is in his second season with the Bucks and is averaging 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists. Because Lillard turns 35 this offseason, the Bucks have a fairly narrow window of contention.

  "You work on what we don't have... because there's no guarantee we are going to have him," Rivers said. "We get him back, we know how to play. But we don't know how to play in the long term without him."

• Wes Edens: Bucks Made Basketball Moves, No Second Apron Mandate

  The Milwaukee Bucks were part of a big transaction ahead of the trade deadline. Milwaukee sent out Khris Middleton in a deal that brought in Kyle Kuzma from the Washington Wizards. While that move did help the team to get under the second apron, Bucks co-owner Wes Edens said that wasn't the motivation.

  "The moves we made at the deadline were basketball moves," Edens said. "And the financial was a part of it, in the consideration of the second apron, but I think that (general manager) Jon Horst and his organization did and recommended what they thought would be best for the basketball team and I think that they did a great job."

  When asked if there was a mandate from ownership to get the team under the second apron, Edens was firm in his answer.

  "No. No. Not at all. None of that," Edens said.

  Edens previously said that the financial penalties and restrictions on roster building are a new thing that teams are dealing with under the current CBA.

  "For the first time, they've included both financial penalties and sporting penalties and so you do not want to be in the second apron if you can avoid it," Edens said. "We have come out of our pockets to put the best team we can on the field and spent a lot of money doing so and have a championship to show for it and a lot of wins. But we always want more."