Fantasy: Injury Update
In early October, HOOPSWORLD posted an article highlighting certain players’ injuries to consider before draft night in fantasy basketball. Now that we’re about to enter the eighth week of the NBA’s regular season, we thought it would be an excellent time to update the injury status of these players and check the status of others injured during the season.
This list by no means captures every injured player in the NBA; rather, it’s a breakdown of players who faced or who are facing extended leave and who may have relevance in fantasy play. Note – All information and stats reflected below represent games played through 12/16/10.
Andrew Bynum – Los Angeles Lakers
At long last, Bynum made his season debut off the bench on December 14th; surely nobody is happier about that than teammate Pau Gasol. Coach Phil Jackson says Gasol is "running out of gas" playing 39 minutes per game, so giving Bynum some of those minutes will definitely aid Gasol. Bynum admits he was rusty in his return, and estimates another four weeks before he reaches solid game shape. He scored seven points with four rebounds and two blocks in that first game back, and three points and five rebounds in his second game; over both games he shot .222 from and played around 17 minutes. Be patient and cross your fingers.
Greg Oden – Portland Trail Blazers
The news was made public on the evening of November 17th: Oden would have microfracture surgery on his left knee and miss the entire 2010-11 season. For those counting, this means he will have played in a total of 82 games over a four-year career.
Carlos Boozer – Chicago Bulls
Boozer missed the first 15 games of the season with his new team after breaking his hand in a home accident on October 10th. Chicago lost their first two games with Boozer in the lineup, but has seven consecutive wins since then. In 28.0 average minutes, Boozer is averaging 17.6 points and 8.4 rebounds. Last year with Utah, he posted 19.5 points and 11.2 rebounds in 34.3 average minutes.
Mehmet Okur – Utah Jazz
Good news – Okur returned to the floor last night. Okur hadn’t seen court time since suffering an Achilles tendon injury in Game 1 of the first-round playoff series last April. The injury has fully healed; the issue has been building strength in the calf muscle. Owners should prepare to see compromised minutes behind Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap.
Michael Redd – Milwaukee Bucks
Redd remains determined to return to action in February. He’s now on the court shooting, and predicts full-on individual workouts in January in preparation of joining his team in practices the following month. Whether or not the 31-year-old guard, now in his final contract year, ever dons a Bucks uniform again is unknown as trade rumors continue to swirl around him.
Josh Howard – Washington Wizards
Nearly eight months after Howard suffered a torn ACL, his return appears close. He seemed to be off to a nice start with the Wizards last season (14.5 ppg) when the injury occurred during his fourth game. Reports indicate he’s moving well and participating in full practices. Look for his return within the week.
Kenyon Martin – Denver Nuggets
Still no official timetable for Martin’s return, but he has increased his workout load after recently receiving a doctor’s clean bill of health and should begin practicing next week. Coach George Karl believes he may even play next week. This is great news for owners who have been biding their time.
Kendrick Perkins – Boston Celtics
There’s nothing new to add on the status of Perkins. No official return date has been released, just continued reports of "February." He’s been fitted with a knee brace while gradual court activities are introduced. Perkins indicates he’s used some of his down time to improve jump shooting and free-throw shooting. He’s just 26, and averaged 10.1 ppg/7.6 rpg last year; he really seemed to be coming into his own when disaster struck in the Finals.
Roddy Beaubois – Dallas Mavericks
Slow progress is being made, and the latest information indicates Beaubois may not return for a few more weeks.
Jonny Flynn – Minnesota Timberwolves
After a brief D-League rehab-like stint to test out his repaired hip (an event which may lead to significant changes in NBADL rules insofar as allowing rehabbing veterans the option of playing there before rejoining their team), Flynn made his season debut on December 14th. In his two games back, he averaged five points and four assists in just over 16 minutes off the bench. It will take some time to recapture his game, but we suspect he’ll be in the starting lineup eventually.
Joel Przybilla – Portland Trail Blazers
Sidelined nearly one year with a knee injury, Przybilla returned to the court on December 3rd. During the ensuing seven games, the 7’1" center has averaged 2.4 points, 3.6 boards and .3 blocks in just over 11 minutes of playing time. These stats mark quite a decrease from last year’s averages of 4.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg and 1.4 bpg. In fact, he’s played in 189 games over the past three seasons, logging an average 23.1 minutes, 4.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.3 bpg. Przybilla’s name is heavily mentioned in trade rumors, so keep your eyes peeled on developing news.
Tyler Hansbrough – Indiana Pacers
Thankfully the medical issues that plagued Hansbrough last season are over. However, his playing time has been all over the place since the season began (13.4 average minutes). This may change with recent news that he will receive the starting nod at the power forward position. To date, he’s averaged 5.6 points and 3.3 rebounds.
Jonas Jerebko – Detroit Pistons
Initial reports put Jerebko’s return (following the October Achilles injury) at March or April, but he’s progressing at a rapid rate and may return as early as February.
Shaun Livingston – Charlotte Bobcats
Livingston has appeared in every game so far this season, but his averages of 5.4 ppg, 1.6 apg and 1.9 rpg at 17.5 minutes aren’t enough to excite owners.
Troy Murphy – New Jersey Nets
It absolutely kills fantasy owners to see a now-healthy 6’11" player who averaged 14.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 three-pointers in nearly 33 minutes last season going to utter waste. Welcome to Troy Murphy’s Nightmare in New Jersey. Hopefully we’ll see him in a new jersey soon.
Jeff Pendergraph
As noted in our earlier story, Pendergraph was ruled out for the season after a preseason ACL injury. The Portland Trail Blazers waived him just prior to the season’s opening.
Now, a very brief rundown on certain rookies that we covered earlier who may or may not have fantasy relevance:
Ekpe Udoh – Golden State Warriors
Udoh made his NBA debut on December 10th; he’s averaging just a few minutes per game so far, but keep a watchful eye on the 2010 number six draft pick.
Darington Hobson
The 2010 second-round draft pick was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks following his season-ending hip surgery.
Terrico White – Detroit Pistons
White should be game-ready by the end of the month after breaking his foot in a preseason game. We don’t expect many minutes cast his way with Detroit’s present crowded backcourt.
Ed Davis – Toronto Raptors
{AUTHOR_BOX}The rookie’s knee injury has healed, and he has appeared in the last nine games averaging 19.1 minutes and logging 5.8 points/5.9 rebounds. It may bode well that Davis logged a double-double on December 15th in his first start for sidelined Andrea Bargnani.
Avery Bradley – Boston Celtics
Coach Doc Rivers proclaimed the 20-year-old, now recovered from an ankle injury, an "NBA-caliber defender", but until he plays way more than 5.5 average minutes per game, he’s no help in our game.
Daniel Orton – Orlando Magic
The good news is that a recent MRI revealed no structural damage to Orton’s long-troublesome left knee after an injury in his second D-League game. The less-than-hopeful news is that Orton may still need surgery.
NEW INJURY UPDATES:
Joakim Noah – Chicago Bulls
The news hit just a couple days ago: Noah’s torn thumb ligament would require surgery that will keep him sidelined eight to ten weeks. Bad news for owners who had enjoyed 14.0 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 1.6 and .514 shooting thus far. The surgery occurred on December 14th, and some reports indicate a six-to-eight week timetable. In any case, he’ll be in good shape for the playoffs which is of paramount importance to the Bulls.
Yao Ming – Houston Rockets
Another stress fracture (same ankle, different bone) spells the end of the season for Yao, maybe even his career. What can you do but shake your head in sympathy for him (and for all who drafted him – that would include your writer here). Drop him now and find another big quick.
James Anderson – San Antonio Spurs
No timetable for Anderson’s return, but it may be several more weeks before the stress fracture to his right foot is healed. He had averaged 17.7 minutes in six games with 7.0 ppg.
Aaron Brooks – Houston Rockets
The exact return date keeps pushing back, but the latest reports indicate December 27th as the date we’ll see the point guard on court. Continue exercising patience, fantasy owners. He’s worth it with these stat lines: 19.6 ppg, 5.3 apg, 2.5 threes per game in 2009-10 and 16.4 ppg, 5.4 apg, 2.2 threes per game in 2010-11.
Chris Kaman – Los Angeles Clippers
Ankle issues will likely keep Kaman out of action until early January. He has certainly disappointed owners by only appearing in ten games this season (10.5 ppg/7.1 rpg).
Mike Miller – Miami HEAT
It looks like Miller’s anticipated Christmas Day return will not materialize. However, he was just cleared for contact, and may finally join his team by the end of the year. His exact role is yet unknown, but consider grabbing him now.
Reggie Evans – Toronto Raptors
Evans should return in early February after surgery on his fractured foot. His 12.1 average rebounds in fifteen games this season will be missed.
Delonte West, Rajon Rondo, Jermaine O’Neal – Boston Celtics
Boston has been hit so hard with injuries that we just lumped them together. Rondo is dealing with ankle issues, a sore hamstring and plantar fasciitis, but we have a feeling he would still play if Rivers would just let him. Instead, he’ll be sidelined a couple weeks while owners figure out how to manage without 13.8 assists per game. Good luck with that. West optimistically believes he will return this season from the wrist injury, noting it’s his non-shooting hand. O’Neal’s reported two-to-three week recovery for his sore knee has now stretched to nearly six weeks. The Celtics are being ultra-careful with both O’Neals as they eye the playoffs.
Anthony Morrow – New Jersey Nets
Morrow strained, not tore, his right hamstring. Expect his return in two-to-three weeks.
Damion James – New Jersey Nets
Expect to see James, the 2010 24th overall draft pick, return in early February. He wasn’t seeing enough minutes or posting numbers worthy of a fantasy roster spot prior to being sidelined with surgery to repair his broken right foot.
Anthony Tolliver – Minnesota Timberwolves
Tolliver suffered a sprained right ACL and should return mid-to-late January. His average 6.4 ppg and 4.1 rpg in 18.7 minutes represent a steep decrease from his production with the Warriors last season (12.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg in 32.3 minutes).
Hopefully this information-overload on injuries proves useful to fantasy players going forward as they plan strategies to claim victory in their league.
************
Join Susan Bible later this morning for her NBA weekly chat. Get your questions in now as it’s set to begin at 11:00 am EST Saturday.
Loading ...
