RADIO
RotoBaller has assembled NBA injury updates and advice on various injury situations throughout the NBA to prepare for your daily lineups on February 19, 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 2/19/16
Returning From Injury
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG, DET): Caldwell-Pope will return to action after missing four games with a core muscle strain. Rookie Stanley Johnson will return to a reserve role.
Tobias Harris (SF/PF, DET): Harris sat out the last three games before the break, but is expected to be healthy to debut for his new team in Detroit. The Pistons will ease him into action at first, with Anthony Tolliver and Marcus Morris seeing boost in minutes until Harris gets acclimated with his new teammates.
Ersan Ilyasova (SF/PF, DET): Ilyasova will join his new team on the court on Friday. Unfortunately for his fantasy relevance, he's looking like a bench player for the Magic.
Al Jefferson (PF/C, CHA): Big Al will make his return in tonight's game against the Bucks. Cody Zeller and Frank Kaminsky will see their playing time cut back once Jefferson gets up to speed.
Kevin Martin (SG/SF, MIN): K-Mart is available to play on Friday. His role could be severely diminished though as Slam Dunk Champ, Zach LaVine has played well in Martin's absence.
Nerlens Noel (PF/C, PHI): Noel practiced on Wednesday and said he felt "great" afterwards. I would continue to monitor his status going into Friday's game because he could still be a game-time decision. Knee injuries tend to be tricky. Should he miss the game, Jahlil Okafor will likely see bigger minutes.
Brandan Wright (PF/C, MEM): Wright is back from knee surgery, and will return Friday night. He'll be eased in slowly, but could be in for some heavy lifting with Marc Gasol out indefinitely with a broken foot and no replacement acquired at the deadline.
Questionable To Play
Marco Belinelli (SG/SF, SAC): Belinelli is struggling with dental problems and is doubtful for Friday night against Denver. If he were to sit out, reserve guards Darren Collison and Ben McLemore would see extra time.
Omri Casspi (SF/PF, SAC): Casspi's been having problem with his wisdom teeth (what's up with the Kings and their dental problems?) and is doubtful against the Nuggets. If he were to sit, James Anderson and Ben McLemore would pick up extra minutes on the wing.
Jordan Hill (PF/C, IND): After suffering a dislocated finger right before the break, Hill is listed as questionable for Friday's game. He still had stitches in the finger on Wednesday, and it's unclear if he will be able to effectively play through the discomfort. Ian Mahinmi and Lavoy Allen would see a boost in his absence.
Marvin Williams (SF/PF, CHA): Williams is playing on Friday after being listed as questionable with a sprained neck.
Out Short Term
Alan Anderson (SG/SF, WAS): Anderson has been declared out for Friday, but is expected to return any day. He's coming off two major ankle surgeries and will be eased into action.
Jerryd Bayless (PG/SG, MIL): Bayless hyperextended his knee on Wednesday, will not play this weekend. Michael Carter-Williams and O.J. Mayo will see a boost in his absence.
Kevin Garnett (PF/C, MIN): Garnett has been dealing with a sore knee, and still hasn't practiced. Young stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Gorgui Dieng have been seeing massive minutes in his absence.
Spencer Hawes (PF/C, CHA): Hawes is expected to miss the next couple games for the Hornets. Frank Kaminsky will be the top option off the bench, while the soon-to-return Al Jefferson could render Hawes fantasy irrelevant.
Courtney Lee (SG/SF, CHA): Lee was forced to miss some practice time to take a physical, and his Hornets debut will be pushed back to Sunday as a result. Nicolas Batum and Marvin Williams will start on the wings for short-handed Hornets, with Jeremy Lin and Jeremy Lamb coming off the bench. Williams moving to the 3 will also allow for Cody Zeller and Frank Kaminsky to keep their minutes up even with the return of Al Jefferson.
Kawhi Leonard (SG/SF, SA): Leonard will miss his second straight game with a calf injury. Kyle Anderson will start at SF again, with Rasual Butler seeing extra time off the bench.
Jameer Nelson (PG, DEN): Nelson has been out for several weeks with a sprained wrist. While the swelling is down, he's still considered doubtful for Friday's game. Emmanuel Mudiay will continue to see significant minutes, with Randy Foye seeing added action from the bench.
Dwyane Wade (PG/SG, MIA): Wade has been declared out for tonight's game with knee soreness. Gerald Green and Justise Winslow will see a boost in playing time, while Goran Dragic will see heavy usage on offense for a Heat team that's already going to be missing key starters Chris Bosh (blood clots) and Hassan Whiteside (one game suspension).
Hassan Whiteside (C, MIA): Whiteside is suspended for Friday's game against Atlanta. With Chris Bosh out as well, we'll see a lot of Amar'e Stoudemire, Justise Winslow, and Josh McRoberts, as well as a ton of small ball lineups in what could be an ugly game for the short-handed Heat.
No Timetable to Return
John Henson (PF/C, MIL): Henson has been out since the 26th with a bad back and is still unable to even practice. Miles Plumlee and Greg Monroe have picked up the slack in his absence.
Terrence Jones (SF/PF, HOU): Jones was diagnosed with a concussion after being involved in a car crash. He isn't with the Rockets in Phoenix ahead of their game on Friday, and when he will return is still unclear. Corey Brewer has been playing a big role in his absence, while Josh Smith and Marcus Thornton could see more time off the bench.
On the Mend
Alec Burks (PG/SG, UTA): Burks has shed his walking boot from his December ankle surgery, and could return shortly after the All-Star Break. His return could cut into the minutes of Trey Burke, Rodney Hood, and Raul Neto.
Eric Gordon (SG, NO): The shooting guard for the Pelicans is finishing up his rehab from finger surgery, and has begun non-contact practice. He should be back by the end of February or early in March. In the meantime, Bryce Dejean-Jones will remain starter at SG, with PGs Norris Cole and Jrue Holiday continuing to see increased minutes and usage.
Brandon Knight (PG/SG, PHO): Knight has been out since January 19th with a groin injury, but is reportedly nearing a return to the Suns lineup. Archie Goodwin and Devin Booker will shoulder the load until Knight is ready to go.
Donatas Motiejunas (SF/PF, DET): Montiejunas has been out since the new year with a back ailment, and will likely be eased back into action by the Pistons. He can be a solid role player for his new team once he gets back to game speed.
Rodney Stuckey (PG/SG, IND): Stuckey has begun light practice as he recovers from an ankle sprain and is expected to return at the end of the month. Monta Ellis and George Hill will handle most of the backcourt duties in the meantime.
Out Long Term
Chris Bosh (PF/C, MIA): There are whispers coming out of Miami that Bosh may miss the rest of the season because of blood clotting in his calf. Given that Bosh has had issues with this in the past, the team will likely proceed with extreme caution and it looks like his 2016 season is over. Amar'e Stoudemire, Justise Winslow, and Josh McRoberts could all see a boost in playing time with Bosh out.
Jimmy Butler (SG/SF, CHI): Butler is suffering from a balky knee which will keep him out until early March. E'Twaun Moore has been starting at the 2 for Chicago and is being given a ton of usage in big minutes. Derrick Rose has also seen a bump in usage, while the likes of Doug McDermott, Mike Dunleavy, and Tony Snell will see some added minutes on the wing.
DeMarre Carroll (PF, TOR): Carroll had knee surgery in December, and is reportedly ahead of schedule with his recovery. There's a long-shot chance he comes back for the end of the year, so if you have an unused IR spot, stashing him there is better than nothing. In the mean time, Terrence Ross and Patrick Patterson will continue to see a boost production from Carroll's absence. The Raptors are reportedly big players in the trade market.
Tyreke Evans (PG/SG, NO): Evans will reportedly have surgery on his knee and miss the remainder of the season. Norris Cole remain starter for the rest of the year, with Jrue Holiday and Bryce Dejean-Jones continuing to play big roles.
Marc Gasol (C, MEM): Marc Gasol has a broken foot and is out indefinitely. In his absence, Zach Randolph will see a lot more run, while Brandan Wright will also play a big role as he returns from his own injury. JaMychal Green and the newly acquired Chris Andersen will also help fill the void.
Manu Ginobili (SG/SF, SA): Cringe warning: the Argentine had to have testicular surgery after taking a knee to the crotch from Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson. He'll be out until at least early March. Danny Green might find his way back to last season's fantasy value if he ends up taking on a bunch of Ginobili's minutes. Jonathan Simmons and Patty Mills could also see more run off the bench.
Blake Griffin (PF/C, LAC): Griffin, who broke his hand in a fight with the team trainers, will likely be out with the injury until sometime in March, after which he'll face a four game suspension for the fight. 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. Cole Aldrich and Wesley Johnson have also gained relevance with extended playing time.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF, CHA): MKG is out for the season now as he received surgery on his torn labrum. The Hornets have acquired Courtney Lee to help fill the void on the wing.
Nikola Mirotic (SF/PF, CHI): Mirotic still appears to be a few weeks away with complications from appendix surgery. Bobby Portis will continue to be a good play unless Chicago makes some moves at the trade deadline to shake up the rotation.
Kelly Olynyk (C, BOS): Olynyk's has a painful shoulder injury. While it won't require surgery, he'll be out until mid-March. Tyler Zeller, Jared Sullinger, Amir Johnson, and Jonas Jerebko could all see more run than usual in the Celtics' unpredictable frontcourt rotation.
Austin Rivers (PG/SG, LAC): The son of Coach Doc Rivers is out until around mid-March with a broken hand. As a result, Jamal Crawford will see more minutes off the Clippers' bench.
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 Mirza Teletovic and Sonny Weems lurking on the bench.
