NBA Injuries and Who Can Benefit Instead (Week 22)

7 years ago by Dennis Clausen

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It’s the final week in most fantasy hoops leagues, and as usual for this time of the year, we have a handful of injuries that we have to work through. For those of you in leagues around 10-12 teams, things shouldn’t be as difficult as it relates to availability in the waiver wire.

However, when you start talking about leagues with 14 teams and up, especially with 15 or so guys on your roster, things can get a little tricky. As a result, any type of production will help, even if it’s only for a game, or two.

Don't forget to give me a shout on Twitter @Den_Clausen. Good luck this week.

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Notable Injuries Around The League

Hassan Whiteside - C, Miami Heat (left hip pain)

If you are a Hassan Whiteside fantasy owner, you know that when things are good, they are good. On the same token, when things are bad, they are bad. If there is one thing Whiteside is historically known for outside of his efficient play, it’s his inability to remain healthy and on the court. Thoughout Whiteside’s NBA career, the big man has been plagued with several injuries, notably ankle and knee ailments, that have forced him to miss significant time during his tenure in the league. This time, Whiteside is dealing with what is being labeled as a “strained left hip flexor” that occurred during a routine morning shoot around. With Whiteside being listed as day-to-day, fantasy owners may as well interpret that as “a few games.” However, is anyone set to benefit from Whiteside’s absence moving forward? Maybe, but it really depends on how big your fantasy league is. If you are in a 10-team league, you probably won’t benefit much from this situation. However, those involved in deeper leagues may benefit from picking up rookie center Bam Adebayo. Though he likely won’t see as much action as he did while Whiteside was out in December, especially with James Johnson back in the picture, Adebayo will still get around 20 minutes per game, and is a quasi-threat for a double-double if given the opportunity. Outside of Bam, Kelly Olynyk and James johnson are both projected to see an average increase of around 2.6 percent to their usage percentages.

Dwyane Wade - SG, Miami Heat (left hamstring strain)

Here’s a shocker, Dwyane Wade is injured again. The veteran prematurely exited Saturday’s matchup against the Washington Wizards early in the fourth quarter and currently doesn’t have a timetable for a return. This is bad news for those who are currently enjoying Wade’s increase in production since his return to Miami. However, there is some good news in all of this as it opens up the door for more playing time as well as a projected increase in production for many. Veteran point man and offensive powerhouse Goran Dragic is slated to see 1.7 percent usage percentage increase without wade on the floor. That number increases while the aforementioned Whiteside remains out. Rodney McGruder, who will also likely see an increase in his time checked in, will also see a usage percentage increase of 3.2 along with a 6.1 plus/minus differential. If you haven’t swiped up McGruder as of yet, you should really consider it, especially if you are looking for someone to replace Wade. If Wayne Ellington is still floating around, pick him up too.

Enes Kanter - C, New York Knicks (back spasms)

Kanter suffered his latest bout with back spasms and was unable to go during Sunday’s 132-106 loss to the Toronto Raptors. In his place, two-way center Luke Kornet got the nod and started at the five. He was impressive to say the least, accumulating 18 points, four boards and a block in 34 minutes of action. Though Kanter could find his way back into the lineup as early as Tuesday night against the Dallas Mavericks, it took him a few games to recover while dealing with the same issue back in November. Even if you get a game or two out of Kornet, especially if you have Kanter on your roster, go ahead and pick him up. However, upon Kanter’s return, he will likely have no value moving forward.

Andre Roberson - SG, Oklahoma City Thunder (ruptured left patellar tendon)

I know some of you are thinking “Roberson’s been hurt for weeks” and that’s ok. However, since Roberson went down for the season, the Thunder haven’t really filled the void at the two spot. After experimenting with Josh Huestis, Alex Abrines and Terrance Ferguson, the team still struggled. However, after reaching a buyout agreement with the Lakers, Corey Brewer was signed and has found his way into the starting rotation. Since then, Brewer has started two games, dumping a combined 29 points on Phoenix and San Antonio. Though those stats aren’t eye-popping, his efficient 45 percent field goal percentage gives him a little value in 9-category leagues with a large amount of teams.