Well, those best-laid plans were fun. This weekend was BRUTAL for injuries. I’m sad and horrified. Sad because guys like Paolo Banchero looked really good. Horrified because I accidentally looked at Jalen Williams’ ankle when it was pointing the wrong way. Please, if you’re squeamish do NOT watch that replay. If a trainer puts a towel over the ankle, typically that means small children (and some adults) will have nightmares.
Speaking of nightmares, here’s a list of players who put their fantasy managers in scary situations this weekend
Paolo Banchero/Jalen Suggs
Banchero left with a high ankle sprain and will miss 4-6 weeks. Suggs’s knee buckled on a layup. The MRI is scheduled for Monday.
Tristan Da Silva is an add if for nothing more than the 3PM volume he gives. Suggs’s is more nebulous, but in one league I did manage to scoop up Anthony Black. Black can produce and is an exciting option if you’re looking on the wire. In deep leagues, the lack of offense from missing these guys may lead the Magic to give some tick to Nikola Vucevic for the offensive upside, but most leagues can continue to ignore him.
Side Note: The Magic are officially cursed.
Jalen Williams/Cason Wallace
Williams is set to miss extended time after the aforementioned leg explosion. Cason Wallace also left with a shoulder issue and may miss some time.
Here are the pickups, in order of priority:
Ajay Mitchell is likely already gone in competitive leagues. If you have him, this is good news for you. Mitchell averaged 14/4/4 with 1.5 3PM as a starter last year so we’ve seen proof of concept. Jared McCain is now a must-roster, and Alex Caruso deserves a look as well.
I guess you have to wait on Williams to see what the diagnosis is, but my amateur eyes say that he’s done for the year. This has shades of Gordon Hayward and Paul George.
Ivica Zubac
Zubac will miss some time with a sprained ankle. Finally, a guy you can pick up.
Wait. What’s that music. Is it…………..
JAY HUFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, the master of the reverse dunks is back. Huff Daddy is good for a couple threes and blocks every game he plays and has good percentages to boot! The Pacers have four games this week; Huff is a tremendous stream for this week.
Jalen Duren
Out at least two weeks with a strained hammy, and I’m kicking myself for missing this obvious injury risk. A soft tissue injury after missing training camp? Of course that’s a risk! Duren will be reevaluated in two weeks, which of course doesn’t mean he’s coming back then. The guess from this amateur doctor is there will be a ramp up time, so could be around a month.
Paul Reed is the obvious play here if you can still get him.
Cooper Flagg
Actually going to try to play soon, luckily looks like just a bump/bruise situation. Fantasy managers can breathe, relax, and enjoy Flagg playing on Monday night. He’s good to go and earn that predicted first-round draft slot for the next decade.
Zach Edey
Nothing new here, I just put him in here to scare you. Edey did miss a game for “ankle injury management.” That’s short for “He’s a big big human and not meant to play 82 games of basketball, so we’ll make him play 50 and hope for the best.” It does look like Edey will miss a handful of games on purpose though, so keep an eye on those frisky Grizzlies for a while. They’ll protect their prized big big human.
Yves Missi
It’s a bone bruise in his knee and there’s no timetable for his return, sending him from most added to most dropped lists in a day. It shouldn’t be a ton of time but nobody really knows how long Missi will………miss. Ugh, I know. That was awful.
Everyone and their grandma thought Derek Queen would get the starting nod, but they dusted off DeAndre Jordan instead. Queen is still the guy for your points and boards and is worth an add.
Keegan Murray
We have an ankle issue for the youngster in Sacramento. I grabbed Precious Achiuwa in a couple of industry leagues just to get games in. Not a high end fill-in, and we want Murray, of course. What’s worrisome for Murray is that he had an ankle surgery in the offseason and now he’s dealing with stiffness in that same body part. He also reported a “setback” in training camp. I’m concerned and am floating trade offers.
Kawhi Leonard
Sat Sunday with knee swelling. Had to know this was coming, you guys. Collin Murray-Boyles should get more run when Kawhi sits. I know he didn’t on Sunday, but that was a blowout to Minnesota. You probably can’t get CMB but he is available in 1/3 of leagues still. I still believe in his top-100 upside. The Raptors have had two blowouts, capping everyone’s minutes, and in the close game CMB had foul trouble. It’s a long season; don’t panic.
Josh Giddey
He’s still playing but did report a wrist issue. Notably, there were no reports about the wrist until Giddey was benched at the end of a close game. His coach also downplayed it. Tre Jones has been a better real basketball player as Giddey’s 3PM have fallen off. Just something to monitor. I’d deal Giddey if you can though. Not elite players drafted in the early rounds are not safe bets, and not elite players with injury issues (don’t forget his repeated ankle stuff either) need to have their market explored.
