Welcome to the Week 12 fantasy basketball injury report where we cover the latest in medium to long-term NBA injuries and their relevance to you – a fantasy basketball manager.
Week 12 Fantasy Basketball Injury Report
Ja Morant, PG – Memphis Grizzlies
Injury: Right shoulder labral repair
Projected Return Date: 2024-25 season
Morant underwent a surgery on his right shoulder and will miss the rest of the 2023-24 NBA season. This will be a season to forget for Morant after missing the first 25 games of the season and ending up with only 9 total games played. Obviously, there is no reason to keep Morant on your rosters in redraft leagues. Looking at the Grizzlies games during the Morant suspension earlier in the season, unfortunately, no one really elevated themselves from a fantasy stat perspective. Desmond Bane is a top 30 player with or without Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. plays significantly better with Morant. Marcus Smart is now out with a long-term injury of his own. The fourth-best Grizzlies fantasy player in games without Morant was Luke Kennard, who only plays 20 minutes a game and only shoots open threes.
Recommendation: The only Grizzlies players worth rostering right now are Bane and Jackson Jr.
Marcus Smart, PG – Memphis Grizzlies
Injury: Right ring finger injury
Projected Return Date: Late February
Smart injured his finger in the game against Dallas on Tuesday and is expected to miss around six weeks of action. Though he didn’t exactly shine bright like a diamond in Morantless games earlier in the season, Smart could have been a hot fantasy commodity going forward but alas it isn’t to be. Six weeks is a long wait for, essentially, a one-category player (steals) so my recommendation would be to find a better use for the roster spot. Since the Grizzlies season is down the toilet anyway, sooner or later they might start giving big minutes to their younger players who might end up having a significant part to play in fantasy playoffs. Keep your eyes open for guys such as Vince Williams and Jacob Gilyard.
Recommendation: The only Grizzlies players worth rostering right now are Bane and Jackson Jr.
Tyrese Haliburton, PG/SG – Indiana Pacers
Injury: Left hamstring strain
Projected Return Date: Late Jan-Early Feb
Haliburton left the game against the Celtics on Monday with what looked like a very painful hamstring injury. The MRI showed a grade 1 hamstring strain and Haliburton will be re-evaluated in two weeks. As all keen fantasy players know, the re-evaluation date is not the same as the return date. I would tentatively mark his return in the 3-4 week range. In the meantime, fantasy basketball legend T.J. McConnell becomes a must-own in all fantasy leagues. He has a very well-proven track record of providing big assists and steals if given enough minutes. After Haliburton went down, though, it was Andrew Nembhard who got the starting spot, not McConnell. While Nembhard is worth a look, I’d take McConnell over him.
Recommendation: McConnell, then Nembhard (maybe).
Joel Embiid, C – Philadelphia 76ers
Injury: Left knee inflammation
Projected Return Date: Day-to-day
Embiid played through a twisted knee injury last Friday but has since missed two games and is expected to miss at least one more. It doesn’t seem really bad but it wouldn’t been surprising if he misses, say, another week of basketball. And, of course, Embiid has been a ticking injury time-bomb his whole NBA career. Perhaps surprisingly, De’Anthony Melton has been the 76ers best fantasy player in games when Embiid is out. As a more realistic waiver wire target, I’d look towards Paul Reed. Reed averages 1.3 blocks, 1.1 steals, 5.9 rebounds, and 10.5 points with Embiid out of the lineup.
Recommendation: Paul Reed.
Luka Doncic, PG – Dallas Mavericks
Injury: Right ankle sprain
Projected Return Date: Day-to-day
Another MVP candidate struggling with injuries, Doncic has missed 4 of the last 12 games with various ailments. Perhaps the wear and tear of the grind is getting to him a little. If he misses more games, Kyrie Irving and Tim Hardaway Jr. will get the lion’s share of the available stats. I wouldn’t think anyone else on the Mavericks is worth of a roster spot in standardish leagues. As for Luka, there is a sell-high case but try to name a star player who isn’t injury prone. Shai and Jokic are out of reach. Maybe players like Maxey, Barnes, and Giannis are in the right range if you can make it work for your fantasy team.
Recommendation: Wait it out with Luka.
Franz Wagner, SG/SF – Orlando Magic
Injury: Right ankle sprain
Projected Return Date: Day-to-day
Wagner has missed three games with an ankle injury and will miss at least one more. Presumably, Jalen Suggs is already rostered in all leagues as he should be even with Wagner back. Perhaps this injury is an opportunity to trade for Wagner. Depending on your team’s makeup, I’d offer someone like Jaren Jackson Jr. or Zach LaVine for him.
Recommendation: Buy low.
Cade Cunningham, PG/SG – Detroit Pistons
Injury: Left knee strain
Projected Return Date: Late-Jan
After playing in every game this season, Cunningham left last Sunday’s game with a knee injury and has missed two more since. He’ll be re-evaluated in about a week. No one really pops off the page as a good fantasy replacement while Cade is out. Killian Hayes has the starting spot and averaged 8.3 with nothing else in the 3 games sans Cunningham. Not great for standard sized leagues but anything deeper and I’d add him.
Recommendation: Hayes. Maybe.
Jakob Poeltl, C – Toronto Raptors
Injury: Left ankle sprain
Projected Return Date: Late-Jan
Another player with an ankle injury. I guess it makes sense to break one once in a while with everyone given two of them. Poeltl will be re-evaluated in about two weeks. Old man Thad Young is now the Raptors starting center. I don’t think he has it in him to get through the whole of Poeltl injury with serviceable fantasy stats. Chris Boucher is also still there so if you want to be let down one last time, go for him. Realistically, the only rosterable Raptors players going forward in standard leagues will be Barrett, Quickley, Siakam, Barnes, Poeltl, and Schroder.
Recommendation: None.
Chris Paul, PG – Golden State Warriors
Injury: Left hand fracture
Projected Return Date: Feb
I think this is the end of the line for Paul unless you have an open IR spot. Paul had hand surgery and will be re-evaluated in three weeks. With his production already being only so-and-so and Draymond’s return, it would make sense to make room for more of a sure thing on your fantasy roster.
Recommendation: Drop Paul.