The NBA season, and more importantly, the fantasy basketball season is finally here. Now that every team has played at least a game, let’s take a look at the fantasy-relevant players who have returned from the preseason injured.
Fantasy Basketball Injury Round-Up
LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets
Projected Return Date: October 31
LaMelo suffered a grade 2 ankle sprain late in the preseason for which the average healing time seems to be around 20 days. If that holds, he should be ready to play for Week 3. Until then, Terry Rozier will carry a more extensive role offensively, and Dennis Smith will likely see extended minutes off the bench. Smith could be a worthy pickup for point guard stats until Ball returns.
Recommendation: Maybe there is a move to be made if the injury drags on and the owner in your league gets impatient.
Lonzo Ball, Chicago Bulls
Projected Return Date: Second half of the season?
After having his third knee surgery on his knee this year, Lonzo Ball is still ways away from returning to basketball. There is no guarantee that it will happen this season in any case. Meanwhile, Ayo Dosunmu has taken over the point guard duties for the Bulls with a solid debut in 36 minutes.
Recommendation: Pick up Ayo Dosunmu if still possible. Ball is only worth being rostered if the opportunity cost is low to non-existent.
Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls
Projected Return Date: Day to day
After a so-so preseason, LaVine missed his season opener with knee soreness. Clearly, the knee that was operated on in May isn’t at 100% yet. Reportedly, he will start the season missing at least one game in back-to-back sets. Alex Caruso got the start in the season opener, however, the main beneficiary of the injury seemed to be DeMar DeRozan who carried the load as the #1 option on offense.
Recommendation: If you drafted LaVine, there doesn’t seem to be a reason to change course just yet. If you didn’t – why not prod the owner to see the panic level?
Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks
Projected Return Date: Early November
Middleton will miss the first few weeks of the season after wrist surgery in the off-season. This was to be expected so there shouldn’t be any long-term worries. Meanwhile, there doesn’t seem to be an obvious pick-up. Grayson Allen, Jordan Nwora, and even Wesley Matthews will each get a slight boost.
Recommendation: Wait.
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Projected Return Date: Day to day
Jokic hasn’t yet missed a game but as an owner, if you want to panic, there is an opportunity. Jokic had his right wrist taped during the preseason and, now, seems to have sprained a finger on the same hand. Now, ultimately, he’s likely to play through these small injuries and return to being the best fantasy player in the league.
Recommendation: Pat yourself on the back for having the best fantasy player on your team.
Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers
Projected Return Date: Later than October 27
Turner sprained his ankle by stepping on a ball boy’s foot while warming up before the season opener. He is expected to miss at least a week of basketball. Terry Taylor started in Turner’s stead with no one really stepping up to take the bulk of Turner’s minutes.
Also – what happened to the ball boy?
Recommendation: Wait.
Robert Williams III, Boston Celtics
Projected Return Date: December? January? Later on?
Williams had his second knee surgery of the year in September. At best, he’ll return in December with a more likely scenario being in the second half of the season. While he’s absent, Al Horford and Grant Williams will be expected to hold down the fort. Horford in particular seems to be worth a roster spot in most leagues.
Recommendation: Williams was excellent on a per-game basis last season so having that potential on the roster is quite juicy. However, we’re still months from the return and the return will almost certainly come with a minutes and games restriction.
Jaren Jackson Jr, Memphis Grizzlies
Projected Return Date: December-January?
Jackson is still a couple of months away from returning from a foot injury. On media day, he said he hopes to return to 5-on-5 practice within a few weeks. Like Robert Williams, Jackson is also an elite player when healthy. Out of the two, Jackson seems perhaps with slightly better fantasy prospects for the season. Santi Aldana has taken his starting role for now with a nice stat line in the season opener.
Recommendation: Get Aldana if you can. Keep an eye on Jackson and consider stashing at some point if you can afford to.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, Atlanta Hawks
Projected Return Date: Soon
Bogdanovic had knee surgery in May, which would mean his return is not far off. There hasn’t been an official timeline announced so the exact date is still unclear. Could be days or, still, weeks. When back, Bogdanovic is expected to take his spot as the first man off the bench when back and hopefully produce top-75 fantasy stats. Until then, there doesn’t look to be anyone filling his role on the Hawks worth picking up.
Recommendation: If you have the space, pick up Bogdanovic.