Fantasy Basketball Injury Updates for Week 17 - James Harden, Zach LaVine, De'Aaron Fox, Darius Garland, Malcolm Brogdon

Heads up that I'm getting to this early on Monday so I can watch the Bulls against the Suns and do my podcast for the game. Double-check the latest injury reports before you go full speed ahead on any adds. This should give you a quick, general idea though.

Lots of strange, questionable injuries creeping up here around the trade deadline which is leading to a lot of insanity. Mostly, these guys are probably dinged up and being sat out just in case. The trade deadline has something to do with that, but there's no reason to jump to the conclusion that players are definitely going to be traded. Just fun stuff to think about, usually.

We'll just be covering the stuff that has changed since I wrote this article last week because I know you've been following and taking copious notes since we began! These players are listed in the alphabetical order of the teams for which they play.

Short-Term Injuries for Fantasy Basketball

James Harden, PG/SG, Brooklyn Nets - Hamstring

Did you like that intro? My thinly veiled implication here is that James Harden is likely NOT going to be traded. Steve Nash pretty much confirmed this in a recent press conference. Of course, people lie all the time, and I'm sure if the right deal came along they would be fine parting ways. However, it seems that The Beard is likely just nursing a sore hammy and while he's out Patty Mills, James Johnson, and Cam Thomas have some streaming appeal, and I'd target them in that order.

Nicolas Claxton, C, Brooklyn Nets - Hamstring

Nicolas Claxton is shaping up to be a huge "what if" as he always is it seems. I've moved on from him in a few leagues though I understand if you hang onto him after he blew up a few games ago. I just have no patience because he's never healthy and LaMarcus Aldridge is going to be coming back sometime relatively soon. His runway for value is shrinking. If he has to miss more time, and LMA misses more time too, then Blake Griffin and Day'Ron Sharpe are worth a look for a short stream.

Zach LaVine, SG/SF, Chicago Bulls - Back

Zach LaVine was able to play through the back spasms for a game, so I'm hoping he doesn't miss too much time here. In his absence, Troy Brown Jr. has been starting, but he isn't really worth a look. Javonte Green is the guy who needs to be scooped up in all leagues in the short term as he's averaging double figures in 2022 and he puts up steals and blocks left and right. Ayo Dosunmu clearly gets a bump for a bit, but he's likely owned in your league. If Coby White is available, keep an eye on his status. If he returns before LaVine, scoop him up for scoring and threes.

Darius Garland, PG, Cleveland Cavaliers - Back

Darius Garland has missed four games now with this issue, and in his stead, Brandon Goodwin is worth a roster spot. The Cavs are hopeful that he'll be back soon and I wouldn't be too concerned since they just traded for Caris LeVert. There's nothing seriously wrong with DG.

Maxi Kleber, PF/C, Dallas Mavericks - Knee

Maxi Kleber very well might play in the next Mavericks game, but if he can't Dwight Powell and Dorian Finney-Smith get the biggest bumps. Marquese Chriss remains intriguing but isn't getting the minutes to justify a spot. Kristaps Porzingis is also day-to-day, so you'll need to stay on his updates as well. If KP gets back to the court, no one is really worth a pickup here.

Austin Rivers, PG/SG, Denver Nuggets - Hip

Austin Rivers had to sit in the middle of Denver's last game because the hip flexor was bothering him too much. He's probably looking at some more games on the sidelines. Bryn Forbes saw 25 minutes without Austin Rivers and is worth a pickup for teams in need of threes and assists. Bones Hyland should get some more run too but he's better suited for deep leagues.

Cade Cunningham, PG/SG, Detroit Pistons - Hip

The Pistons have every reason to be super careful with rookie Cade Cunningham, and he's already missed three games with this hip injury. He could be back any day, but in his absence, Saddiq Bey, Cory Joseph, Hamidou Diallo, and Killian Hayes all get a bump. Bey is likely taken in your league, but those other three are probably available and I'd snag them in that order. Some would put Diallo higher, and that's fine too.

Otto Porter Jr., SF/PF, Golden State Warriors - Back

Otto Porter Jr.'s status wouldn't matter normally, but with Draymond Green out until March, there's still a lot of opportunity to be filled here. Jonathan Kuminga is the most intriguing add here as long as OPJ is out, but Juan Toscano-Anderson is also there to clog up the rotation. Taking a flier on Kuminga makes sense, but know that there will be bad games.

Eric Gordon, SG/SF, Houston Rockets - Heel

Is this a trade deadline special?!?! Could be. The Rockets are openly shopping the veteran guard, so hanging onto Eric Gordon through this injury doesn't make a lot of sense. Coach Silas started Alperen Sengun and Josh Christopher is getting minutes. Sengun should be rostered everywhere but likely isn't available in your league.

Isaiah Jackson, PF, Indiana Pacers - Ankle

I was probably more angry than anyone when Isaiah Jackson rolled his ankle badly just 22 seconds into Wednesday's game. That screwed up my DFS lineups and my one games-capped league where I scooped him up. He could return soon, but the Pacers are starting to get healthy now with Domantas Sabonis, Oshae Brissett, and Goga Bitadze all suiting up for their last game. Isaiah Jackson is just a deadline stash at the moment, but he's a darn good one. Terry Taylor was fun for a while, but now he's been benched as well. Goga might be the most appealing of those guys if you need someone who contributes right now.

Grayson Allen, SG/SF, Milwaukee Bucks - Hip

Grayson Allen might miss some more time, and if he does Donte DiVincenzo and Pat Connaughton should get more run. Both guys are intriguing adds, with DD being more intriguing for teams in need of steals and Pat being the obvious guy for threes. Neither guy is a must-add though.

Willy Hernangomez, C, New Orleans Pelicans - H&S Protocols

Unless you've been living under a rock, you probably are already aware that Jaxson Hayes has been on a tear recently as the starting PF for the New Orleans Pelicans. Willy is set to return at some point this week, which may rain on Hayes' parade, but I would definitely hang onto Hayes to see how things shake out. Willy probably isn't worth rostering as it's rumored that the Pelicans are now buyers at the deadline as they've moved into the play-in. That means Jonas Valanciunas is likely to stay in New Orleans.

Luguentz Dort, SG/SF, Oklahoma City Thunder - Face

Lu Dort fractured his nose, which is a tough blow as he was playing lights out. Obviously, I'd hang onto him as a nasal fracture shouldn't keep him out for too long. While he's away, Ty Jerome will play and is worth a look for teams in need of assists.

Matisse Thybulle, SG/SF, Philadelphia 76ers - Shoulder

It's just listed as "shoulder soreness" so Matisse Thybulle could return in their next game. If he remains out, his minutes will be split between Danny Green and Furkan Korkmaz, with Green being the much better pickup due to his ability to put up defensive stats. Either guy would be worth a look if Thybulle sits another game though.

Keon Johnson, SF, Portland Trail Blazers - Ankle

The Trail Blazers are in crisis mode, but the speculation is that they'll go young. The 19-year-old Keon Johnson is who many point to as their biggest return from the Norman Powell trade. However, it's unfortunately been reported as of the writing of this article that he's still weeks away from being cleared to play due to an ankle injury. The Blazers are interesting right now with Eric Bledsoe, Trendon Watford, Nassir Little, Cody Zeller, Larry Nance Jr., and Damian Lillard all out. Ben McLemore is a nice add for points as long as you can stomach his duds. Tony Snell and Justise Winslow are worth short-term adds as well.

De'Aaron Fox, PG, Sacramento Kings - Ankle

Is he getting traded?!?! Maybe. It's more likely that De'Aaron Fox has just been rehabbing from a badly sprained ankle, but the important update here is that he participated in practice finally. That's an important milestone and he probably returns to playing basketball sooner rather than later. His return will hurt Tyrese Haliburton and Davion Mitchell, but hanging onto both of those guys through the trade deadline makes a lot of sense.

Rudy Gobert, C, Sacramento Kings - Calf

Rudy Gobert has missed six straight games now, and he's set to miss Monday's game as well. Hopefully, you had the presence of mind to snap up Hassan Whiteside, who is healthy now. If Gobert returns, Whiteside is an easy drop.

Daniel Gafford, C, Washington Wizards - H&S Protocols

Thomas Bryant and Montrezl Harrell will hold down the center position in Washington while Daniel Gafford goes through the league's protocols. DG could return on February 11th at the earliest, so you're looking at about a week-long stream for TB if you choose to scoop him up. He hasn't been very good, but he was a nice player before his ACL injury.

Long Term Injuries for Fantasy Basketball

Malcolm Brogdon, PG/SG, Indiana Pacers - Achilles

Malcolm Brogdon got his first "questionable" designation in a long time, and that's the sound of all Brogdon owners (including myself) letting out a sigh of relief. It looks like he'll probably play again this season, though there's no telling how long that will last with the Pacers on the verge of blowing it up. The Pacers can't trade him, so he's stuck in Indiana for the time being. His return is likely to hurt guys like Chris Duarte, Justin Holiday, and Duane Washington Jr.

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