RADIO
RotoBaller has assembled NBA injury updates and advice on various injury situations throughout the NBA to prepare for your daily lineups on March 11, 2016. Understanding the injury landscape, and who plans to benefit instead, is critical for setting your fantasy basketball lineups daily.
Here we will focus on the important questions: Who is injured? When are they coming back? Should you stash an injured player on your roster? Who is getting an opportunity in the mean time?
This injury analysis should assist in setting your daily lineups for both DFS formats and seasonal leagues. Consider this your one-stop overview of fantasy-relevant injuries in the NBA.
NBA Daily Lineup Injury News and Updates for 3/11/16
Returning from Injury
Ty Lawson (PG, IND): Lawson suffered a minor sprain Monday, but it appears he has avoided major injury. The Pacers' next game is Saturday so there's a good chance he's ready to go.
C.J. Miles (SG/SF, IND): Miles practiced fully on Wednesday so he appears to be ready to return to the floor on Saturday against Dallas.
Questionable To Play
Bradley Beal (SG, WAS): Beal, who is dealing with a pelvis injury, joined the team in Utah Thursday. This means that it's very likely the young guard will suit up on either Friday or Saturday. Garrett Temple would be relegated to bench duties once again if Beal is ready to go.
Marco Belinelli (SG/SF, SAC): The Sylvester Stallone look-alike was forced out of action Wednesday with a back injury, and is looking iffy for Friday's game. Darren Collison and James Anderson would see extended minutes if the Italian Stallion can't go.
Norris Cole (PG/SG, NO): Cole didn't play Wednesday and looks like he will be questionable for Friday. Jrue Holiday, Orlando Johnson, and Toney Douglas would all be candidates for some extra run should Cole sit out.
Stanley Johnson (SG/SF, DET): Johnson is being called a game-time decision with a shoulder injury, after being considered highly doubtful heading into today. Tobias Harris and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope have been playing massive minutes on the wing in his absence, with Reggie Bullock the main guy off the bench.
Zach LaVine (PG/SG, MIN): LaVine has a bit of a shoulder injury. While it's not considered very serious, it does have him in pain and there's some possibility he could sit a game. Shabazz Muhammad and Tyus Jones could see more action if LaVine sits.
Ben McLemore (SG, SAC): McLemore suffered a fracture in his finger but should be able to return soon and play through the pain. With Marco Belinelli out, James Anderson and Darren Collison will be poised to play extra minutes.
Jodie Meeks (SG, DET): Meeks still has no definite timetable to return, but is listed as questionable for Friday's game. He would compete for bench minutes with Stanley Johnson and Reggie Bullock.
Timofey Mozgov (C, CLE): The Russian big man missed Wednesday's and Thursday's games with an illness. He will likely be back for the Cavs next game.
Zach Randolph (PF/C, MEM): Z-Bo was out Wednesday and looks like he could be in danger of missing Friday's game. Ryan Hollins earned 25 minutes in a start at center with Randolph out, while JaMychal Green has been getting massive minutes.
Lance Thomas (SG/SF, NYK): Thomas, despite not sustaining any structural damage to his knee, will likely miss a few games. He already missed Wednesday's game so he will be day-to-day.
Anthony Tolliver (SF/PF, DET): Tolliver could play as soon as Friday, but likely will have to prove himself in a few more practices before getting significant minutes again.
Dwyane Wade (PG/SG, MIA): Wade is considered a game-time call with a thigh injury. If he were to sit, Josh Richardson, Justise Winslow, and Gerald Green could see a boost in playing time, while Goran Dragic would handle the ball more and have more upside.
Out Short Term
Arron Afflalo (SG/SF, NYK): Afflalo will miss his second straight game with a strained abdominal muscle. Right now there is no word on the extent of the injury. Sasha Vujacic would start in his place.
John Henson (PF/C, MIL): Henson is out until at least March 15, but hopes to practice on Friday.
Chris Andersen (PF/C, MEM): "Birdman" could make his return from a shoulder injury on Friday, but he's not a lock to play. JaMychal Green has been playing significant minutes for the Grizzlies due to all the frontcourt injuries in Memphis.
Kelly Olynyk (C, BOS): Olynyk has been limited painful shoulder injury. Tyler Zeller, Jared Sullinger, Amir Johnson, and Jonas Jerebko could all see more run than usual in the Celtics' unpredictable frontcourt rotation.
Nikola Vucevic (PF/C, ORL): Vucevic is dealing with a strained groin and has been ruled out for Friday. Jason Smith will start in his place at center.
Lou Williams (PG/SG, LAL): Williams has missed the past few games with a hamstring injury. Williams was already losing playing time on the tanking Lakers in favor of younger players like D'Angelo Russell, and likely won't be rushed back.
Mo Williams (PG/SG, CLE): Williams will be out for around another week with a knee injury. Matthew Dellavedova has a firm grasp on the backup PG spot for Cleveland.
No Timetable to Return
Spencer Hawes (PF/C, CHA): Hawes is dealing with a back injury and is at least a week away from a return. Cody Zeller, Al Jefferson, and Frank Kaminsky will likely eat up all the big man minutes for Charlotte even when Hawes returns to action.
Jahlil Okafor (PF/C, PHI): Okafor has missed several games with a shin injury and has no timetable to return. Jerami Grant will continue to start in his place.
Chris Bosh (PF/C, MIA): It turns out that Bosh is not dealing with any blood clots at the moment, and he is still hopeful he can return this season. There is still no timetable for his return though.
On the Mend
Jimmy Butler (SG/SF, CHI): Butler, and the Bulls, received good news that there were no major issues with Butler's left knee. Butler could be back sooner rather than later.
DeMarre Carroll (PF, TOR): Carroll had knee surgery in December. The Raptors are now hopeful he'll return for the last 10-15 games of the season, though he'd certainly be eased back into action. In the mean time, Terrence Ross and Patrick Patterson will continue to see a boost production from Carroll's absence.
Blake Griffin (PF/C, LAC): Griffin, who broke his hand in a fight with the team trainers, has said he is "very close" to a return. He'll still have to face a four game suspension for the fight, so it won't be tomorrow. The Clippers have been managing without Griffin and Chris Paul, J.J. Redick, and DeAndre Jordan have stepped up in his absence, and they should continue to have increased value without him. Jeff Green and Wesley Johnson will see smaller minutes once Griffin does return.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SG/SF, BKN): RHJ has been out since early December recovering from a fracture in his ankle and still has no time table to return, but he has started practicing in full. When he returns, he could see a big role on the wing competing with low-tier starters Wayne Ellington and Bojan Bogdanovic.
Out Multiple Weeks
Alexis Ajinca (PF/C, NO): Ajinca suffered a fractured sternum and is out for awhile. Omer Asik is starting again for the Pelicans with Kendrick Perkins playing a much bigger role than he should be for an NBA team in 2016.
Alec Burks (PG/SG, UTA): Burks isn't expected to practice for a few days and possibly up to two weeks. He's still a ways away, and Rodney Hood will keep seeing heavy minutes until he's back.
Danilo Gallinari (SF, DEN): Gallinari is out with multiple tears in his ankle, which means he's likely out for the season as far as most seasonal leagues. While that timetable leaves open the possibility of a return for the end of the regular season (he's reportedly ahead of schedule in his recovery), the Nuggets will play it carefully. JaKarr Sampson is starting in Gallinari's place, while Will Barton shoulders a bigger and more consistent role off the bench. Gary Harris and Kenneth Faried have taken on much bigger roles on offense for starting unit.
Kevin Garnett (PF/C, MIN): Garnett has been dealing with a sore knee, and still hasn't practiced. Coach Sam Mitchell has said KG is at risk of missing the rest of the season. Young stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Gorgui Dieng are the future of the team and have been seeing massive minutes in Garnett's absence. There's no point in the Timberwolves rushing the veteran back this year.
Brandan Wright (PF/C, MEM): Brandan Wright is out indefinitely with a sprained MCL. JaMychal Green and Chris Andersen will see a boost in his absence.
Out for the Season
Michael Carter-Williams (PG/SG, MIL): MCW will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing hip surgery to fix a torn labrum. O.J. Mayo, Jerryd Bayless, and Giannis Antetokounmpo will all see time at point now.
Mario Chalmers (PG/SG, MEM): All signs seem to point to Chalmers being done for the season with what is feared to be a ruptured Achilles. Briante Weber could see heavy minutes as a result.
Bryce Dejean-Jones (PG/SG, NO): Dejean-Jones has a broken wrist. The Pelicans guard situation is a mess.
Tyreke Evans (PG/SG, NO): Evans will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing knee surgery. Norris Cole remain starter for the rest of the year, with Jrue Holiday playing a huge role off the bench.
Marc Gasol (C, MEM): Marc Gasol has a broken foot and is out for the season. In his absence, Zach Randolph, Brandan Wright (when he returns from his own injury), JaMychal Green, and Chris Andersen will do their best to fill the void.
Eric Gordon (SG, NO): Gordon will miss the remainder of the season after getting surgery on right ring finger. No surprise here as he hasn't played a full season since his rookie year.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF, CHA): MKG is out for the season now as he received surgery on his torn labrum. Nicolas Batum has shifted to SF with Courtney Lee, Jeremy Lin, and Jeremy Lamb filling the void at the other wing spot. Marvin Williams is also seeing more time at the SF in bigger lineups.
Beno Udrih (PG, MIA): Udrih will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a plantar plate in his right foot. Josh Richardson will see added minutes, while Dwyane Wade will play a bigger role in ball-distribution when Goran Dragic needs a breather.
T.J. Warren (SF, PHO): Warren suffered a fractured foot, and will miss the remainder of the season. P.J. Tucker will continue to see massive minutes at small forward, with Sonny Weems lurking on the bench.
