Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miss Some Time | Fantasy Basketball Impact for Bucks, Including Damian Lillard, Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis and Others

Somebody needs to tell the NBA to stop making headlines. Sports fans are supposed to be focused on the Super Bowl.

Joking aside, I'm here to discuss the injury to Giannis Antetokounmpo and what it means for the Milwaukee Bucks. Let's dive right in!

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The Injury

Antetokounmpo has missed the past three games, and is expected to be out through the All-Star break. He's dealing with a mild calf strain.

It's not a long-term injury, but he's one of the top fantasy players in the game, so it's a massive blow to fantasy basketball teams that roster him.

In 41 games so far, Giannis is averaging 31.8 points, 12.2 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.3 blocks across 34.9 minutes. He's shooting a ridiculous 60.8% overall. Antetokounmpo is just 18.8% from behind the 3-point line, but attempts less than one a game this year. A more alarming percentage is his 57.7% mark from the free-throw line.

Milwaukee has three games before the All-Star break. The Bucks play back-to-back games right away after the break, so it's possible Giannis sits out the next four games, and then maybe is managed for the remainder of the season in an effort to keep him fresh and healthy for the postseason.

Bucks Fantasy Outlook

With Giannis sidelined, Damian Lillard should be the clear cut offensive leader for the Bucks. That doesn't mean he'll score the most points every game, especially because opposing teams can key on him now, but Lillard is easily the No. 2 scorer on the team this season.

Dame is a fantasy player you should be starting every night he's active, but you should expect some monster numbers over the next few games.

The player who is likely going to see the biggest boost in fantasy production in Bobby Portis. He's available in nearly 93% of leagues now, and should be at 100% until Antetokounmpo is back.

Portis is averaging 13.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.6 blocks across 25.1 minutes on the season. With Giannis out, Portis averages 20.8 points, 12 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.1 steals and blocks a game.

It's clear to see Portis is a better fantasy player with Giannis out. With him out the past two games, Portis has combined for 49 points, 32 rebounds, 11 assists, four blocks and two steals. Add him and utilize Portis until Giannis returns.

Brook Lopez is another big who has the opportunity to be a better fantasy asset for the next couple games. He's averaging 12.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.9 blocks on the year. 

Lopez averages 16.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and blocks and 0.9 steals with Giannis out. That's not as drastic a change as Portis sees, but those who roster Lopez should be expecting a bit more over the next week or two.

Bucks newcomer Kyle Kuzma also should be more involved than if Antetokounmpo were healthy right now. He's rostered in 86% of leagues right now.

Kuzma is obviously still getting adjusted after the trade to Milwaukee, but I doubt the team holds him back, especially because he's needed.

In his first game with the Bucks, Kuzma played 24 minutes off the bench, tallying 12 points, seven rebounds and one assist. He shot 4-of-13, but was a solid 3-for-8 from 3-point land. I wouldn't mind streaming Kuzma, especially if I rostered Giannis, and Portis was already rostered.

Taurean Prince is really the only other forward on the team who might play a bit more with Giannis out. Across 25.7 minutes a game this season, Prince is averaging 7.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.1 blocks.

He's rostered in just 8% of leagues, and shouldn't rise too much more, unless his numbers really explode. Prince is an option for those of you in the deepest of fantasy leagues.

I'd much rather take a gamble on Gary Trent Jr. He's up to 14% rostered after a little surge up of late.

Across 24.7 minutes a game, Trent is averaging 9.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1 steal a game. With Giannis out the past three games, Trent is averaging 14 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1 steal across 25.2 minutes. He's worth streaming in some deep leagues.

AJ Green is another option, but him being rostered in just 2% of leagues should tell you all you need to know.

He's been extremely streaky of late, swapping single- and double-digit scoring performances over the past eight contests. He's mostly just a 3-point specialist, and doesn't provide much else from a fantasy perspective.

Andre Jackson Jr. starts for the Bucks, but is more out there for his defensive abilities than anything. He's owned in just 1% of leagues and really should only be rostered in the deepest of fantasy leagues out there.

Pat Connaughton could be another option for an increased role and fantasy production, but he's been in and out of the rotation all year, so he's extremely tough to trust. He's dealing with a calf injury himself, so I'd do my best to look for a different Buck.

Ryan Rollins is another guard who might play some more minutes as a result of Giannis being out. He's barely owned in any fantasy leagues.

Rollins is averaging 5 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.4 blocks across 12.2 minutes a game. He'd really need another guard to be out to play a bigger role, but he's at least worth keeping tabs on.

The last player I want to mention is newcomer Kevin Porter Jr. He's rostered in 8% of leagues.

Porter hasn't played a game with the Bucks yet, so there's not much to go off. The Bucks play Sunday afternoon, so I'd suggest looking at the box score to see if Porter can carve out a role. 

Final Thoughts

The loss of Antetokounmpo is a big loss for the Bucks in real life. The team has been average at best for a few weeks now, and life won't be any easier with their superstar out.

The team's goals are to make noise in the postseason, so holding Giannis out now is the smart move. If healthy, Giannis can almost single handedly lead Milwaukee to wins.

Expect Lillard to guide the Bucks for the time being, and then a group effort to fill in the massive void left by Antetokounmpo. Portis is the guy I'd want to pick up in fantasy leagues, even if only a few of you can make that move right now.

Lopez should have some added value, and Kuzma might be worth streaming as well. I like that Kuzma can get into the flow of things, but he'll have another adjustment period when Giannis returns to the court.

There's not many good/great waiver wire options the Bucks have outside the ones rostered in nearly every league already. Trent is the guard I'd most want to add right now, and Porter is another intriguing name to keep an eye on.

Giannis has big numbers this season, and somehow he needs to be replaced for the next week or so. Take advantage of some of the Bucks' other players while you can, because Giannis is going to dominate when he returns to action.