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So far, this NBA season has been going somewhat smoothly, as COVID-19 has fortunately not impacted many teams. It’s still early in the season, but many players have unfortunately dealt with injury setbacks, including big-name players.
Injuries are unfortunately bound to happen and in fantasy basketball, it’s important to be wary of them as changing lineups can be more demanding than football.
Let’s look at some injury outlooks for players who may have come across a setback recently.
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Short-Term Injuries
Danilo Gallinari, PF, Atlanta Hawks- ankle
Gallinari is now dealing with an ankle sprain and will be out for a minimum couple of weeks. The veteran has averaged nine points in two games with the Hawks this season. De’Andre Hunter is a strong add at this point as he has scored at least 15 points in three of the past five games and played at least 31 minutes in the last five games.
Marcus Morris Sr., SF, Los Angeles Clippers- knee
A knee injury has kept Marcus Morris out of the Clippers’ lineup this entire season. Veteran Nicolas Batum remains the starter, but he is not a great fantasy asset considering he’s only averaging 8.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists.
Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Minnesota Timberwolves- wrist
Towns has been dealing with a dislocated wrist since December 26 and his timetable to return remains unclear at this moment. It’s likely he may not play at all this week, meaning Naz Reid is still a good fantasy pickup if he’s available. The center has scored double-digit points in the past four games.
LaMarcus Aldridge, PF, San Antonio Spurs- knee
Aldridge is currently dealing with a knee injury and hasn’t played since December 27. While’s he out, Jakob Poeltl will be getting more minutes, but he’s not worth adding in fantasy as he’s only averaging 5.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
Kevin Durant, SF, Brooklyn Nets- COVID-19 protocols
Durant is not injured, but it’s worth noting he will miss the next few games after encountering someone who has COVID-19. Expect guys like Jeff Green and Taurean Prince to see increased minutes and they could be worth a stash in fantasy as a result.
Mid-Term and Long-Term Injuries
T.J. Warren, SF, Indiana Pacers- foot
Warren started off the season well, averaging 15.5 points per game in four games, but he sustained a foot injury and is now out. The only thing that remains unclear is exactly how much time he will miss, though it could be quite a bit. Doug McDermott figures to see more minutes and is worth a stash as he has been averaging 11.7 points per game this season.
Ja Morant, PG, Memphis Grizzlies- ankle
The Grizzlies’ star point guard is dealing with a Grade 2 left ankle sprain that he sustained early last week and is expected to miss multiple weeks as a result. This is a huge blow to Memphis as Morant is one of the cornerstone players of the franchise. In his absence, Dillon Brooks and Tyus Jones will see increased playing time. Brooks is worth grabbing and starting, as the guard is currently pacing the team with 17.5 points per game.
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