Bucks are back: Long Finals drought is over

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.”

The Detroit Pistons have considered pivoting from asset-collection mode to being buyers at the trade deadline. Detroit has just over $14 million in cap space to use to make trades ahead of the deadline. Earlier this season, it was expected Pistons GM Trajan Langdon would use that space to take on bad contracts, while continuing to add draft picks and young talent.

Now, Detroit’s strong play ahead of the deadline has Langdon reconsidering that approach. But don’t expect any blockbuster moves. Rival teams have said that the Pistons don’t seem to be considering any major moves. Instead, Detroit appears focused on making smaller, but targeted upgrades to their roster.