The Doctor’s Room will examine between four and six NBA injuries to prominent players on a weekly basis, detailing their specific ailments, prognosis, and expected return dates. Here’s last week’s edition.
In this week’s edition, Sacramento Kings’ big man Richaun Holmes is about to return to the court after a long layoff. He was returning early-round value at the moment of going down, so he will provide a huge boost to patient owners that waited for him.
Other stars such as LaMarcus Aldridge, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Josh Richardson are discussed in The Doctor’s Room.
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NBA Injuries Update: Richaun Holmes is about to return!
Richaun Holmes
Ailment: Right shoulder soreness
Diagnosed: January 6
Expected return: This weekend
Fantasy implications: Harry Giles and Alex Len’s value will fall off a cliff when Holmes returns
Center Richaun Holmes, who has been nursing right shoulder soreness since January 6, is finally set to return. Officially, he has been tagged as questionable for Saturday’s vs. the Portland Trailblazers, but coach Luke Walton implied that he was closer to probable and, at worst, he’ll play on Sunday. The big man was having a breakthrough season at the moment of going down, with averages of 13.1 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, and 1.4 BPG. If his return materializes this weekend as planned, Alex Len and Harry Giles would become droppable in fantasy hoops.
Josh Richardson
Ailment: Concussion
Diagnosed: March 1
Expected return: Next week
Fantasy benefactors: Furkan Korkmaz, Alec Burks, Glenn Robinson III and Raul Neto
The 76ers swingman went down on Sunday with a concussion in the game against the Los Angeles Clippers. So far, he hasn’t been able to get off the protocol. He was around his teammates in Thursday’s shootaround but has already been ruled out for tonight’s tilt. There is a possibility he returns for his team’s next game after tonight, which is on Wednesday, but it all depends on his passing the league’s protocol. Furkan Korkmaz, Alec Burks, Glenn Robinson III, and Raul Neto have split Richardson’s and other two starter’s minutes fairly evenly. For the season, Richardson is averaging 13.9 PPG, 1.5 3PM, 3.4 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, and 0.7 BPG.
Spurs are missing LMA
LaMarcus Aldridge
Ailment: Right shoulder strain
Diagnosed: February 21, last game on February 23
Expected return: day to day
Fantasy benefactors: Trey Lyles, Rudy Gay
LaMarcus Aldridge’s status for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Cavalier is, to this point, uncertain. The sweet-shooting big man is nursing a right shoulder strain. He suffered the injury, get this, when he “got his finger caught on the net while practicing with Matt Bonner.” He is inching closer to a return to action, but not quite Richaun Holmes close. While the Kings’ pivot is a sure thing for the weekend, LMA’s return will likely come down to pain tolerance. He is badly needed in San Antonio, as the Spurs fight for a playoff spot with – coincidentally – the Kings and also the Pelicans, Trail Blazers and Grizzlies. Aldrige was averaging 18.8 PPG, 1.2 3PM, 7.5 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.6 SPG, and 1.6 BPG, and his absence benefits Trey Lyles and Rudy Gay.
Will KAT return this season?
Karl-Anthony Towns
Ailment: Left wrist fracture
Diagnosed: February 10
Expected return: Several weeks, possibly out for the year
Fantasy benefactors: Naz Reid, James Johnson
Three out of four players mentioned in this week’s Doctor’s Room column are big men: Richaun Holmes, LaMarcus Aldridge, and one of the “regulars,” Karl-Anthony Towns. The Timberwolves’ star hasn’t played since February 10 with a left wrist injury that later turned out to be a fracture. He is reportedly desperate to return this season, for what it’s worth, but will be re-evaluated again in two more weeks. The team isn’t considering surgery as of now, but there is no guarantee that he will make it back in the 2019-2020 season. He is approaching cut status, but patience is warranted if possible. For the year, he is averaging a stellar 26.5 PPG, 3.3 3PM, 10.8 RPG, 4.4 APG, 0.9 SPG and 1.2 BPG. Naz Reid and James Johnson, especially the former, should be owned in standard leagues.
Like our coverage on the latest NBA injuries? Then you’ll definitely want to check out our Seven-Day Player Rankings and 2019-20 Fantasy Basketball Schedule Grid.
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