RADIO
Welcome back to another season, RotoBallers! It might be early days, but there are still impactful injuries all across the fantasy basketball landscape. I'm here to help you stay up to date on injury news, and how it impacts your teams.
I'm writing this on Monday for release Tuesday morning, so any news that drops late Monday night won't be covered. I'll just cover what has changed since last week.
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Short-Term Injuries for Fantasy Basketball
Kelly Oubre, SF, Philadelphia 76ers - Ribs
In one of the crazier injury stories you'll see; Oubre was struck by a car while walking as a pedestrian in Philly over the weekend. It initially seemed like Oubre was in danger of missing significant time, but the Sixers latest update is that he'll be reevaluated in a week.
Devin Booker, PG/SG, Phoenix Suns - Calf
Booker allegedly was targeting the Suns' ongoing homestand as a return to action, which means Wednesday night against the Timberwolves should be his return. However, that hasn't been confirmed yet, so keep an eye out. Regardless, I would expect Booker back in the lineup before the week is finished.
Jalen Duren, C, Detroit Pistons - Ankle
Duren has already been ruled out for Tuesday's game against Atlanta, which will be his second consecutive missed game. Expect the Pistons to be extra-careful with their budding young big man, so in his absence pick your poison between Marvin Bagley or James Wiseman as replacement streaming options.
Malcolm Brogdon, PG/SG, Portland Trailblazers - Hamstring
Brogdon will miss a second consecutive game on Tuesday due to a hamstring strain, and with the Blazers on a back-to-back, it feels like a safe bet he'll be out on Wednesday night as well. The Blazers backcourt is in shambles (injury-wse) to start the year, and the next man up is currently Skylar Mays.
Markelle Fultz, PG, Orlando Magic - Knee
Fultz has missed 5 of the Magic's last 6 games due to lingering knee tendinitis pain. That's never a good thing for any player, let alone a 25-year-old with a history of knee injuries. With Gary Harris also sidelined, Anthony Black has been in a starting role for Orlando, and he's a viable streaming option still available in most leagues.
Ben Simmons, PG/PF - Hip and Cam Thomas, SG - Ankle - Brooklyn Nets
Simmons has been sidelined since suffering a hip contusion 11/6 against the Bucks, and has been listed as day-to-day since. On the other hand, Thomas sprained his ankle 11/8 against the Clippers, and got a solid timeline to return of 2 weeks. I wrote these two up together, because it seems like they'll be returning around the same time. While they miss time, Lonnie Walker IV and Dennis Smith seem to have their starting roles on lock.
Walker Kessler, C, Utah Jazz - Elbow
Kessler is already halfway through his initial 2 week minimum of time missed due to a UCL sprain. While he's been out, Kelly Olynyk has seen the biggest increase in role and production.
Larry Nance Jr, PF/C, New Orleans Pelicans - Rib
Nance fractured a rib after only 9 minutes on the court during Sunday's game against the Mavs. The team announced he won't be reevaluated for 10-14 days, and during the remainder of that Mavericks game, they spread out Nance's minutes to a few guys. My favorite of the bunch for streaming purposes would be Matt Ryan, but I'd say the best course of action would be seeing how minutes are distributed on Tuesday night in a rematch against Dallas before making a choice.
Scoot Henderson, PG, Portland Trailblazers - Ankle
Henderson got injured last Wednesday against the Pistons. The Blazers haven't provided any further updates yet, but there doesn't seem to be a major concern coming from the team or media. The Blazers are currently very thin at guard and could be a prime spot to keep an eye on to see who emerges as a rotational piece with all the injuries.
Jarred Vanderbilt, SF/PF, Los Angeles Lakers - Ankle
Vanderbilt has been sidelined to start the year, and the Lakers announced his next medical update won't come for two more weeks. I'd lean towards him returning at that point, but until then, Taurean Prince has started every game for the Lakers so far.
Update 11/13: Vanderbilt has been cleared to return to basketball activities, and is expected back in the lineup once his conditioning improves. I'd assume this is the last full week of games he'll be sidelined for.
Long-Term Injuries for Fantasy Basketball
Tyler Herro, PG/SG, Miami Heat - Ankle
Herro suffered a Grade 2 ankle sprain last Wednesday night, and won't be reevaluated for "a few weeks". While that's not exactly a helpful timeline, I can't imagine we see Herro playing again for at least a month, given how the Heat typically handle injuries. With Caleb Martin continuing to miss time, Josh Richardson and Duncan Robinson are worthy candidates for a roster spot on your fantasy team.
Jamal Murray, PG/SG, Denver Nuggets - Hamstring
Murray left Saturday's game against the Bulls after only 10 minutes with a hamstring issue. There's a belief Murray could miss extended time (per Altitude Sports), but for now, coach Michael Malone said he's out for at least one week. Reggie Jackson figures to start at PG for the reigning champs for now.
Update 11/8: Murray will be out throughout the entirety of November at least.
CJ McCollum, PG/SG, New Orleans Pelicans - Lung
The Pelicans announced on November 5 that McCollum suffered a "small collapse" in his right lung. It was also announced he'd be re-evaluated on Tuesday and further updates would be provided. It's possible that he doesn't miss much time, but it's worth noting he suffered a collapsed lung in the 2021-22 season and missed six weeks. If I were a McCollum owner in fantasy I would prepare for the worst just in case. If you're looking to stay in-team to replace McCollum, Dyson Daniels seems to be the most likely candidate.
Nic Claxton, C, Brooklyn Nets - Ankle
If you guessed that Claxton would be the first player moved from the short-term to the long-term section this year, cash that ticket! Claxton sprained his ankle on October 25 in the Nets' season opener and has been sidelined since. It was officially diagnosed as a "high ankle sprain", with an estimated six-to-eight-week recovery period, which would slate him to return in mid-late December.
Robert Williams III, C, Portland Trailblazers - Knee
Williams has a history of knee problems, and the latest report is that he "needs surgery to repair bone and ligament damage in his right kneecap". Williams is facing either a two-t0-three-month recovery or missing the rest of the year, depending on which recovery path he wants to follow.
11/13 Update: Turns out Williams had no choice in the matter; he underwent season-ending surgery on his injured knee, and will miss the remainder of the year.
Amen Thompson, PG, Houston Rockets - Ankle
This year's fourth overall pick is scheduled to miss two to four weeks thanks to a Grade 2 ankle sprain he picked up on November 1 against the Hornets. This is a tough break for the rookie who already finds himself in a crowded backcourt.
Anfernee Simons, PG/SG, Portland Trailblazers - Knee
Simons tore his right UCL ligament only 27 minutes into the season. His diagnosis is a four-to-six-week recovery period, which means the Blazers' young backcourt will only get younger.
Steven Adams, C, Memphis Grizzlies - Knee
One of the league's best rebounders, and best personalities, Adams and the Grizzlies announced on October 22 that his knee injury from last season never properly healed on its own, and he'd be missing the season to get surgery and recover. This news came on the same day the team announced Brandon Clarke was still without a timetable for his return as well. The Grizzlies are getting thin fast in the frontcourt. This is a situation to monitor with no other proven bigs besides Jaren Jackson.
The Tank Corner
Closed until later in the season, we'll get here when teams start trotting out G-Leaguers none of us have ever heard of.
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