East Notes: Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Pistons, Nerlens Noel, Nets

Bucks

Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will continue to have his right wrist injury evaluated in the coming days, coach Mike Budenholzer said, via Eric Nehm of The Athletic.

X-rays taken on the injury were “clean” and revealed strictly a sprain, Budenholzer added.

Antetokounmpo was forced to exit the Bucks’ road win over the Bulls after completing a chase-down block and then running into the stanchion under the basket. He immediately clutched his wrist after doing so.

Pistons

  • Center Nerlens Noel is not actively seeking a buyout, per Marc Stein of The Stein Line. The Pistons attempted to trade Noel ahead of the Feb. 9 deadline and have been listing him as “not with team” since then.
  • Noel, 28, has appeared in just 14 games with the Pistons. That isn’t likely to improve, as the Pistons are going with a younger frontcourt rotation of rookie center Jalen Duren, recently acquired center James Wiseman and forward/center Marvin Bagley III.

Nets

The Nets no longer have the star power of forward Kevin Durant and point guard Kyrie Irving, but they do seem to have increased depth.

The list includes the likes of forwards Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Royce O’Neale and Dorian Finney-Smith, wings Ben Simmons and Joe Harris, and guards Spencer Dinwiddie, Seth Curry, Cam Thomas and Patty Mills.

Eventually, coach Jacque Vaughn will have to decide who deserves the most playing time.

“We’re playing 10 guys right now,” Vaughn said, via Mark W. Sanchez of the New York Post. “Eventually that’s going to whittle down to nine or eight as you get into the playoffs, but I think that’s the biggest thing is being able to utilize the depth.”

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