You are currently reading the Week 8 fantasy basketball injury report. In said report, we cover the latest in medium to long-term NBA injuries and their relevance to you – a fantasy basketball player.
Week 8 Fantasy Basketball Injury Report
Kyrie Irving, PG/SG – Dallas Mavericks
Injury: Right heel contusion
Projected Return Date: Week-to-week
Irving left the game against the Mavericks last Friday after an opposing player fell on his foot. While no specific return date has been provided, Jason Kidd said Kyrie is wearing a boot and walking with crutches so this may take a little while. I would guess at least a week more. Maybe he’ll be back by Christmas? Meanwhile, in the three games without Irving, Dante Exum has done the best job filling in. He averaged 18.7 points with 3.3 threes and 4.3 assists. Tim Hardaway Jr. averaged 21 points in those three games but shooting only 39% from the field. Hardaway Jr. does get twice the shots that Exum does up so projecting for the upcoming week, you might still want to prefer Hardaway.
Recommendation: Tim Hardaway Jr. Dante Exum.
Draymond Green, PF/C – Golden State Warriors
Suspension: Indefinite
Projected Return Date: January
In a surprise to absolutely no one, Draymond Green lashed out in violence against another player. This time the player was Jusuf Nurkic and the league suspended Green indefinitely. My understanding is he’ll need to attend some kind of counseling and say the right things to the NBA after which they’ll come out with the number of games suspended. 15 or 20 games starting from the first game he missed sounds about right. Maybe 25. As far as fantasy performance goes this season, Green is just outside the top 100 with 5.8 assists per game being his only above-average category. Depending on your situation/league rules, Draymond can totally be dropped for now. He’s not someone with high (or any) upside to be held on to. Dario Saric seems to be the most intriguing pick-up – he’s been the second-best Warriors player per minute this year and now his minutes will increase. Kevon Looney offers nothing offensively regardless of minutes played.
Recommendation: Drop Green if you need to. Pick up Saric.
Mitchell Robinson, C – New York Knicks
Injury: Left ankle surgery
Projected Return Date: March?
Robinson had surgery on his ankle and will be re-evaluated in 8-10 weeks. Re-evaluated only means that’s when we’ll get the next update not that that’s when he’s returning. And once he returns, he’ll need some time to get back up to speed. So, for me, that’s a drop in fantasy. Isaiah Hartenstein is the next man up on the Knicks. His stat profile is pretty close to Robinson’s only a bit worse. So in similar minutes, expect a worse version of Robinson, which will probably amount to an end-of-roster kind of player. Jericho Sims and Taj Gibson are unlikely to be relevant in standard leagues.
Recommendation: Drop Robinson. Take a look at at Hartenstein.
Paul George, SF/PF – Los Angeles Clippers
Injury: Left hip soreness
Projected Return Date: Day-to-day
This may be nothing but also may be something. Paul George just missed a single game with a sore hip and the Clippers are already being weird and secretive about it. If it turns out, indeed, to be something, Norman Powell is the pick-up.
Recommendation: Keep your third eye on it.