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We're now entering fantasy playoffs time for NBA basketball, so you should be double-checking things regardless. There's no room for mistakes when you're up for a 'ship.
I've lost matchups by a few steals or a few rebounds in the last few seasons, for example. That's the margin. No errors!
Since the stakes are high, I'll cover EVERYTHING OF NOTE, including stuff I've already covered in the last few weeks. We'll put all our cards on the table so we can make the best, most informed decisions. These players are listed in the alphabetical order of the teams for which they play.
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Short-Term Injuries for Fantasy Basketball
John Collins, PF/C, Atlanta Hawks - Foot
There have been few if any updates about the foot strain that has sidelined John Collins for five games now. The Hawks would sure like to have him back, but as of the writing of this article, he has yet to even earn a "doubtful" tag, let alone a "questionable" one. If I had to guess, he's probably going to be out for a few more games at least. His absence opens the door for rostering Danilo Gallinari for the time being. Onyeka Okongwu is also an interesting guy to snag if you need rebounds, blocks, and a great field goal percentage.
Ben Simmons, PG, Brooklyn Nets - Back
You've probably already heard this Ben Simmons update, but we'll cover it anyway. Ben is suffering from a sore back which he appears to have aggravated while trying to get back up to game condition. It's been stated that he needs to strengthen his back "over a period of time" which is very annoying for fantasy basketball purposes, but it's not good. It sounds like he's worse than day-to-day, but probably weeks rather than months away. We should get another update soon and hopefully, it will give us more clarity. If you've been stashing him all year, you might as well hang on now as long as you have the IL space to do it. His entry into the lineup will easily kill all Bruce Brown value and might take away some assist value from Kyrie Irving.
Gordon Hayward, SG/SF, Charlotte Hornets - Ankle
He's missed seven games with sprained ligaments in his left ankle, and he's currently listed as "out indefinitely." If you're entering your fantasy playoffs, you probably need to move on at this point. Kelly Oubre Jr. and P.J. Washington should be added in his absence, with Washington being the priority.
Rajon Rondo, PG, Cleveland Cavaliers - Toe
Rajon Rondo will be out through at least March 11th, and while Darius Garland is on the sidelines this matters because it makes Brandon Goodwin a solid stream until Garland is back in the lineup. Garland is likely to miss another game at the very least, so if you need assists, Goodwin is the guy to go get.
Darius Garland, PG, Cleveland Cavaliers - Back
Darius Garland is day-to-day with a back injury that has kept him out for three games so far. Hopefully he can get back sooner rather than later, but being ruled out a full day in advance is usually a bad sign. He might miss another game or two, but I wouldn't assume he's out for an extended period of time. Still, it's bad timing for fantasy playoffs. For now, you just need to hang on tight and hope for the best. While Garland was out, Rajon Rondo and Brandon Goodwin were splitting minutes, making them both "meh" adds. Now that Rondo is out, Goodwin is a must-stream for teams in need of assists.
Caris LeVert, SG/SF, Cleveland Cavaliers - Foot
Caris LeVert is dealing with a sore foot and the Cavaliers are going to sideline him for the next week or two to let him get right in time for the playoffs. That makes him a tough stash for teams that are entering the playoffs right now. You can probably move on if you're in that situation, but most leagues won't start playoffs for a week or two. He's worth a stash if that's the case in your league. His absence opens up opportunities for Isaac Okoro, Cedi Osman, and Brandon Goodwin. Goodwin is worth a roster spot with Rondo and Garland also out, but the other two aren't the strongest adds at the moment.
Hamidou Diallo, SG/SF, Detroit Pistons - Ankle
Hamidou Diallo is dealing with an ankle sprain and has already been ruled out for Tuesday a full day ahead of time. He's probably going to miss another game or two beyond that, and Frank Jackson is out with a back injury, so you can stream guys like Kelly Olynyk, Rodney McGruder, and Saben Lee. I would prioritize them in that order with McGruder and Lee being more of a desperation add than anything else. Marvin Bagley is also dealing with an ankle sprain. If Marvin Bagley returns to the lineup, even Olynyk is a shaky add at best.
Kevin Porter Jr., PG/SG/SF, Houston Rockets - Ankle
Kevin Porter Jr. is day-to-day with an ankle sprain. Dennis Schroder is the obvious guy to get a boost with KPJ on the sidelines. K.J. Martin and Josh Christopher will also get some additional run while he's on the sidelines. Martin is worth a stream, but Josh Christopher is hard to trust. KPJ is rostered in 78% of leagues at the moment, and he puts up some raw stats, but the turnovers and percentages are really tough to stomach. If you're continually losing those categories, then you might want to consider dropping him...
Chris Duarte, SG/SF, Indiana Pacers - Toe
Chris Duarte reaggravated his toe injury on Monday and had to leave the game after just 15 minutes. With the Pacers comfortably on the outside of the playoffs, they'll probably treat Duarte with kid gloves on this one since he already had the injury. He's obviously not a drop candidate just yet, but this is frustrating. We'll probably see more Duane Washington Jr. in the meantime, but there's not really a great grab here for fantasy.
Avery Bradley, SG/SF, Los Angeles Lakers - Knee
Avery Bradley is day-to-day with a knee injury, which probably shouldn't be that big of a deal. However, he was getting a ton of minutes when he was healthy so I'm going to mark it down. Talen Horton-Tucker will lose all theoretical fantasy value once Bradley returns, but THT probably shouldn't be on your roster outside of the occasional stream.
Kyle Lowry, PG, Miami Heat - Personal
Kyle Lowry had to sit out last night's game against the Bulls for personal reasons, and while I'd normally breeze past this kind of absence, he did miss several games earlier in the year due to personal reasons. Not sure what is going on with him, but should he have to miss more games, Gabe Vincent can be streamed for threes and some assists. Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro will get some additional touches as well. We hope everything is all right with Lowry.
Quentin Grimes, SG, New York Knicks - Knee
Quentin Grimes had to leave Friday's game and we haven't gotten an update on him since. That's not necessarily a good or bad thing, but we'll have to keep our eyes peeled to see what's going on. If Young Grimey misses some time, Alec Burks and Immanuel Quickley should hold down the point guard position. Burks should absolutely be rostered right now, and Quickley is worth a look as a streamer.
Derrick Rose, PG/SG, New York Knicks - Ankle
Derrick Rose was set to return from his latest surgery but a skin infection has formed at the site of the injury and has delayed his return by one or two weeks. He's definitely a watchlist candidate and as soon as we know he's for sure going to come back, you can snag him a few days before he plays his first game. The Knicks have a huge hole at the point guard position right now and will be desperate to give D Rose some run to see if he can help save their flailing season. Alec Burks and Immanuel Quickley should get plenty of run in the meantime.
Josh Giddey, PG/SG/SF, Oklahoma City Thunder - Hip
We got some troubling news on Monday as Thunder coach Mark Daigneault seemed to imply that Giddey was going to miss extended time with this hip injury. That's really bad timing as most leagues are starting their fantasy playoffs, but until we get some solid news about what exactly is wrong, he's a clear hold. Tre Mann should put up a ton of points in the meantime and is worth an add in most leagues. We'll have to keep our fingers crossed that Giddey won't be on the shelf for too long.
Luguentz Dort, SG/SF, Oklahoma City Thunder - Shoulder
He's officially listed as day-to-day, but it's concerning that he's missed five games now and is being ruled out a full day in advance still. He's a clear hold as he should make his way back into the lineup sometime soon. Tre Mann is the grab off the waiver wire, especially with Josh Giddey out too. Aaron Wiggins also hurt himself, so Aleksej Pokusevski might actually be worth a stream too.
Cameron Payne, PG/SG, Phoenix Suns - Wrist
Cameron Payne has said in a recent interview that he's day-to-day because he's experienced some "complications" in his wrist. That's not super promising, but if you dashed out to snag him when Chris Paul went down, I'd hold on tight. He should be the starting point guard once he gets healthy.
Justise Winslow, PF, Portland Trail Blazers - Achilles
Justise Winslow has a weirdly spelled name, but he's likely being held out to support the tank in Portland. He's been playing too well. If you have him, hold on and hope he plays enough games to help, I suppose. If you want to cut him and pick up someone else, that's fine too. It all depends on your situation. Trendon Watford or Greg Brown might play more in his absence, but neither guy is easy to trust.
Jusuf Nurkic, C, Portland Trail Blazers - Foot
The soonest Jusuf Nurkic could return would be around March 23rd, which is probably not helpful for most fantasy teams. Sadly, he's a cut at the moment. Drew Eubanks is going to get plenty of run, and while he can put up stinkers here and there, he's probably worth a speculative add for those in need of big man stats. If the Blazers give him a contract through the rest of the season, you could squeeze out some late round value from him.
Richaun Holmes, PF/C, Sacramento Kings - Back
Richaun Holmes had to sit out Monday's contest, though it's not clear if he has to miss additional time. If he does, Trey Lyles will be the direct recipient of the backup big minutes. He probably won't do enough to warrant a grab in most leagues though.
Fred VanVleet, PG/SG, Toronto Raptors - Knee
It seems like Fred VanVleet banged up his knee a bit and is getting some rest. He'll probably be back for their next game. If he misses more time, Malachi Flynn makes for a great short-term add.
OG Anunoby, SF/PF, Toronto Raptors - Finger
OG Anunoby's finger injury has kept him on the sidelines since before the All-Star break, and there hasn't been a lot of clarity on whether or not he'll return soon. He's going to see a specialist on Monday, so keep your eyes peeled to see if we get a clear timetable at that point. The Raptors have employed some combination of Chris Boucher, Thaddeus Young, Precious Achiuwa, and Khem Birch in his absence. If you want to roll the dice, I'd add them in that order, but the timeshare situation has meant that none of those guys have been good enough to roster since OG has been out.
Kristaps Porzingis, PF/C, Washington Wizards - Knee
Kristaps Porzingis hasn't played since the end of January, but it's possible he's nearing a return. He has yet to do 5-on-5 work though, so rostering him is a headache at the moment. There's too much upside to drop him, but as the playoffs get closer, you really have to consider it. Coach Wes Unseld Jr. has said they have not considered shutting KP down yet, but that may just be posturing. While KP is out, Daniel Gafford should be rostered everywhere and Thomas Bryant will be worth a stream here and there.
Long Term Injuries for Fantasy Basketball
Kevin Durant, SF/PF, Brooklyn Nets - Knee
It looks like Kevin Durant is on the verge of returning to the lineup. He's going to beat his original timetable by a few weeks, which is great news for fantasy owners and is probably because this is a necessity to keep the Nets competitive in a deep Eastern Conference. His return is going to make Cam Thomas an easy drop and will likely lead to fewer touches for Seth Curry, Bruce Brown, and Patty Mills. Brown and Curry are still worth a hold if you have them to see how it all plays out, but Brown might be a drop eventually.
Joe Harris, SG/SF, Brooklyn Nets - Ankle
Joe Harris has recovered from his first ankle surgery but is still experiencing some pain. The team is going to see if he can play through that pain as he ramps up this week, but he is very likely looking at a second surgery. Whether or not that surgery happens this season or during the offseason remains to be seen. He's not worth a roster spot, but if he can return it will make Patty Mills an easy drop for everyone. Seth Curry would also likely take a significant hit.
Alex Caruso, PG/SG, Chicago Bulls - Wrist
Alex Caruso took a shot from Grayson Allen back on January 21st and fell directly on his wrist. The good news is that he's resumed dribbling and shooting and looks like he's probably a few weeks out from returning. His original timeline had him returning in late March, which is probably too late if you're entering your playoffs now. If you're entering your playoffs in a few weeks, he's worth a hold as a steals specialist and you just have to hope that he returns sooner rather than later. I wouldn't hang onto him though if there's a hot free agent out there. His return is going to hurt Ayo Dosunmu and Javonte Green, as he has played some power forward for the Bulls.
Lonzo Ball, PG/SG, Chicago Bulls - Knee
Lonzo Ball's original timeline after having surgery on his torn meniscus in his left knee had him back in the middle of March. He's running and getting his conditioning back up now, and the Bulls are right in the mix for the playoffs with a clear need for his skill set. He'll probably meet that timeline and be back in 2-3 weeks. If that timeline runs a significant way into your playoffs, you should have cut bait a while ago. Otherwise, he's a hold. Ayo Dosunmu will be an easy drop when Lonzo returns.
Patrick Williams, SF/PF, Chicago Bulls - Wrist
Patrick Williams separated his wrist in the Bulls' fifth game of the season and had to have surgery. His original timeline had him missing the rest of the season, but there's optimism he can return for the last handful of games for the Bulls. He doesn't do nearly enough to warrant a stash in case your league plays until the end of the season. His return will shift Javonte Green back to the bench, or at least cut into his minutes.
Collin Sexton, PG/SG, Cleveland Cavaliers - Knee
Collin Sexton is set to miss the rest of the season with his knee injury and the Cavaliers have been granted a disabled player exception. He will not appear again this season, so there's no reason at all to roster him in standard formats.
Tim Hardaway Jr., SG/SF, Dallas Mavericks - Foot
Tim Hardaway Jr. broke his toe and had surgery on February 1st. He technically is "out indefinitely" but there is little to no chance he returns for the regular season. We have not gotten an update since that point. You do not need to stash him.
Michael Porter Jr., SF/PF, Denver Nuggets - Back
Here's an interesting one as most people wrote off Michael Porter Jr. earlier in the season. He's trending towards returning "sometime in March," though exactly when that will happen is anyone's guess at this point. He'll be cleared for contact within the next few weeks, so those that have a spot in roto formats can scoop him up and hope for the best. In standard H2H formats, he just won't play enough for it to matter. You can safely leave him on the wire in those formats.
Jamal Murray, PG/SG, Denver Nuggets - Knee
Jamal Murray is the second Nugget trending towards playing, though he may not be healthy until the playoffs. This means he's safe to leave on the wire in most leagues, but that's good news for Nuggets fans in real life. Monte Morris remains a safe player to roster for the rest of the fantasy season.
Draymond Green, PF/C, Golden State Warriors - Back
Hopefully, you dropped Draymond Green months ago, but if you've been hanging on this long, he is nearing a return and might be able to help you in the playoffs. He returned to practice on February 27th and is targeting a return sometime during the middle to end of March. He's not worth an add until we get a more definitive timeline, but he's someone you should absolutely add to your watchlist as the Warriors will want to get him some run to get him re-acclimated before the real-life playoffs. He can help you in assists at the very least, assuming he gets 25+ minutes per game as he ramps back up. His return will kill all Jonathan Kuminga value and will likely end any Kevon Looney or Otto Porter Jr. value that ever existed.
James Wiseman, C, Golden State Warriors - Knee
James Wiseman is likely going to return to the lineup here very soon. There isn't a ton of reason to add him as he wasn't putting up fantastic fantasy value last season when he was given ample opportunity. You should add him to your watchlist though in case he does end up starting for this Warriors squad. Someone to keep an eye on for sure. His return is going to crush Kevon Looney's minutes, most likely, but it's a wait-and-see situation. You probably shouldn't be rostering Looney anyways unless you're desperate for rebounds.
Myles Turner, PF/C, Indiana Pacers - Foot
Myles Turner has been out since January 14th with a foot injury. The Pacers have almost no interest in winning basketball games at the moment, so it's unclear if Turner will ever return to the lineup. If I were to speculate though, I would guess he does return so they can see what he looks like next to Isaiah Jackson, Oshae Brissett, or Jalen Smith as they gear up to take a step forward next season. His return is going to cut into those guys and Goga Bitadze a bit. It's really tough to say who is going to hang onto value once he returns, but for now, all three of those guys are worth a roster spot. I would rank them as they are listed with I-Jax having the best upside by far.
Ricky Rubio, PG, Indiana Pacers - Knee
In case you forgot, Ricky Rubio exists and was traded at the deadline. He won't play again this season, so there's little to no fantasy impact here.
T.J. McConnell, PG/SG, Indiana Pacers - Hand
T.J. McConnell had surgery on his hand in December and we haven't heard a peep about his status since. The Pacers have no incentive to bring him back, and with Buddy Hield and Tyrese Haliburton in the backcourt now alongside Malcolm Brogdon, there's probably no role left for him on the team. You can safely ignore him.
T.J. Warren, SF/PF, Indiana Pacers - Foot
T.J. Warren is progressing towards a return, but it's doubtful it happens this season. If I were to guess, he probably won't play for the Pacers again. Do not stash him.
Norman Powell, SG/SF, Los Angeles Clippers- Foot
Norman Powell broke a bone in his left foot, which is super unfortunate for the Los Angeles Clippers after they just traded for the guy. It's not clear when he'll be able to return, but he's likely to miss the rest of the fantasy season. His absence has led to value for Terance Mann, who should be rostered everywhere for the time being.
Paul George, SF/PF, Los Angeles Clippers - Elbow
Paul George has been out since December with this elbow injury and Coach Tyronn Lue wouldn't commit to PG returning this season. That has to be concerning for anyone stashing him in the hopes that he'll return during the fantasy playoffs. If you have an IR spot, holding onto him a little longer makes a lot of sense. Otherwise, you need to win your playoff matchups so go ahead and move on now. If he returns, Marcus Morris Sr., Terrance Mann, and Amir Coffey will be easy drops.
Kawhi Leonard, SG/SF, Los Angeles Clippers - Knee
It was reported that there was a "strong possibility" that Kawhi Leonard would return this season, but Coach Lue recently said "we know Kawhi [Leonard] is probably not going to come back" in an interview recently. If Kawhi does return, it will likely be after the fantasy playoffs in a majority of leagues. If you have an IR spot and no one else to snag, you can hold for now. In a majority of cases, it's best to move on. If he does return, Marcus Morris Sr., Terance Mann, and Amir Coffey will be easy drops.
Anthony Davis, PF/C, Los Angeles Lakers - Ankle
Anthony Davis will be reevaluated around March 17th, but with his track record with injuries, I'm just not super optimistic that he'll be able to return at that point. Dropping him is a drastic move, but if you're in the playoffs now, it really isn't something I would question. He's a potential number 1 overall value, but if he's not playing he's the worst fantasy player to have, obviously. If he does return, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, and Malik Monk will be pretty easy drops.
Dillon Brooks, SG/SF, Memphis Grizzlies - Ankle
Dillon Brooks has been out since January with an ankle injury. He was supposed to come back in February, but then that was updated to early March. You can probably snag him now and hope he provides some decent value in points and a few steals, if that appeals to you. The return of Brooks will demolish the value of De'Anthony Melton, Tyus Jones, and Ziaire Williams.
Brook Lopez, C, Milwaukee Bucks - Back
Brook Lopez has been able to participate in practices in a limited capacity, which is good news but doesn't really mean he'll be back in time to help fantasy managers this season. If he does suit up, Bobby Portis will take a hit. I'd still hang onto Bobby P if BroLo plays though, just to see what their minutes distribution looks like. Brook Lopez is not worth a stash right now.
Larry Nance Jr., PF/C, New Orleans Pelicans - Knee
Larry Nance Jr. was traded to the Pelicans then had to have surgery on his knee shortly afterwards. He might make it back in the final games for the Pels if they can make a push for the playoffs, but it won't be enough to help a vast majority of teams. Leave him on the wire.
Zion Williamson, PF, New Orleans Pelicans - Foot
Zion Williamson may need a second surgery on his foot now and I'm absolutely sure that Zion's owners have just about had it with all the bad news. There's very little chance that Zion suits up this year, and if he does it probably will be too late for you at this point. If you want to stash him, I'd understand, but I'd personally want to move on to greener pastures. His absence has allowed Jaxson Hayes to shine.
Jonathan Isaac, SF/PF, Orlando Magic - Knee
If you forgot Jonathan Isaac existed, you probably aren't alone. He suffered the torn ACL in August of 2020 and we have gotten almost no update since then. The last thing we heard was that he was not ready to play in "live action" and that's from November... Needless to say, he's not worth a roster spot.
Chris Paul, PG, Phoenix Suns - Thumb
Chris Paul fractured his thumb and is going to miss the rest of the regular season. That's a huge blow for owners as he was putting up an MVP-type season until now. He should be back in time for the playoffs, but in all redraft and standard leagues you can safely cut him for someone that is going to contribute. Cam Payne is going to be a nice add if he's ever healthy, but until then the Suns will use some combination of the unholy trinity that is Aaron Holiday, Landry Shamet, and Elfrid Payton. None of these guys are super appealing, but Cameron Johnson gets a nice enough usage bump to make him must-roster. Devin Booker is going to get some additional assists down the stretch too which could make a real difference for his fantasy owners.
Nassir Little, SF, Portland Trail Blazers - Shoulder
Nassir Little was really playing well and is probably going to be a solid player for the Blazers next season and beyond, but he had surgery on his shoulder and will miss the rest of this season. You should not be stashing him. Justise Winslow is going to get run for the Blazers and attempt to keep their wins low.
Damian Lillard, PG, Portland Trail Blazers - Abdomen
Damian Lillard will be re-evaluated in mid-March, and he may still play for the Trail Blazers this season if they are in the mix for the play-in tournament. If you're rostering him, just hang on for a bit longer if you can. If you don't have the IL spot, you can probably drop him and move on. Keep an eye on the wins and losses for the Blazers as that may indicate which direction they'll go. Anfernee Simons would take the biggest hit with Dame Dolla returning, but obviously you still hold Simons even after Dame returns since there is no more CJ McCollum in Portland.
Bradley Beal, SG/SF, Washington Wizards - Wrist
Bradley Beal was ruled out for the season in January. He shouldn't be on on your roster. Kyle Kuzma has taken off in his absence.
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