First things first, I hope everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving Thursday with family and friends. While there wasn’t NBA action on Thursday, we now get to look forward to a 15-game slate on Friday, including an early game between the Spurs and Celtics at 1:00 ET. I touched on the two major injury reports of the day regarding T.J. Warren and Dante Cunningham below, but I also recapped any injury news that hit over the last few days in case any of you were out of the loop during the holiday. Follow me on Twitter by clicking here!
T.J. Warren out indefinitely
T.J. Warren (head) has missed the last three games for the Suns and the team announced this week that the forward will be out indefinitely. It’s unclear what type of injury he’s dealing with, but the Suns did say that he is expected to resume basketball activities in the near future. Here are Suns’ GM Ryan McDonough’s comments on the injury courtesy of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM’s Burns and Gambo show:
“Anytime that there is a head injury, as an organization, we want to be very cautious with it,” McDonough said. “He was feeling a little off in the Indiana game on Friday. We took him out of the game and ran a bunch of tests. I’m not going to elaborate too much on it, but he’s going to be fine. He’s starting to get back in the flow. I think he’ll be out a matter of weeks; I don’t think it will be days but I don’t think it will be months. He’ll come back and play when he’s ready. Obviously, he’s off to a terrific start for us and is a strong candidate for most improved player. Hopefully, he’ll get back on the court soon and resume what has been a terrific start to the year.”
Warren was off to an incredible start to the season with averages of 17.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 0.6 treys on 45.8 percent shooting in 32.4 minutes per game. You obviously can’t cut him outside of shallow leagues if he’s only going to be out a “matter of weeks,” especially in leagues with IR spots. Also, Warren’s role will be safe when he returns to the court since the Suns are rebuilding.
The Suns will continue to roll with their three-guard lineup of Eric Bledsoe, Devin Booker and Brandon Knight, so there’s no real need to add P.J. Tucker or Jared Dudley in most leagues. Since we’re on the topic of the Suns, it’s also worth noting that Tyson Chandler (personal) will be back with the team on Friday, and while Alex Len’s role should be safe, I’m not sure If Alan Williams will be able to find enough minutes to help fantasy owners until the Suns start tanking.
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Dante Cunningham out 4-6 weeks
Dante Cunningham (knee) was diagnosed with a non-displaced right proximal fibula fracture and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Believe it or not, but this actually has a lot more fantasy implications than you would expect. Cunningham started 10 games this season and was averaging around 24 minutes per night, so that opens up a few more minutes for several players including Solomon Hill, Terrence Jones and Langston Galloway — I’m assuming Tim Frazier and Jrue Holiday are locked into significant roles no matter what.
Jones is still only owned in 57 percent of Yahoo Leagues as I write this, and he’s been outstanding for a couple weeks now. He’s averaging 16.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.7 blocks, 1.0 steal and 0.7 3-pointers over his last six games, and he’s flirting with 30 minutes on a nightly basis. He’s been a seventh-round value in standard leagues on the year, and he doubles as an elite handcuff for Anthony Davis’ owners. He should absolutely be owned in standard leagues despite coach Alvin Gentry’s unpredictable rotations.
Solomon Hill will likely move into the starting lineup in place of Cunningham, but his upside is very low. He’s averaging 4.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.6 triples in 25.0 minutes per game, and it’s important to remember that Tyreke Evans (knee) is on the verge of a return. I’m avoiding Hill in almost all leagues, and I can’t get behind a Langston Galloway add either because Tim Frazier’s minutes are safe and Jrue Holiday will have a larger workload in the very near future.
Quick Injury Notes:
Kyle Korver rested on Wednesday vs. the Pacers, but he’s expected to be back in the lineup on Friday vs. the Jazz. Thabo Sefolosha will move back to the bench after logging 33 minutes vs. the Pacers.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had X-rays on his right foot on Wednesday, but they came back negative and he was diagnosed with a sore right ankle. There is some concern here because he had surgery on his right foot last season, and even though the injury is minor, the Nets have nothing to play for and may err on the side of caution. The Nets will use a committee approach to absorb his minutes if he misses time, but if I had to pick a player who benefits the most, I’d go with Sean Kilpatrick.
Jeremy Lin hasn’t played since Nov. 2 and the Nets still haven’t announced when he will return. He’s been ramping up his workouts and head coach Kenny Atkinson said that he has been “progressing well,” so I would assume his return is near.
Cody Zeller (shoulder) has missed three games in a row and his status is up in the air for Friday. Roy Hibbert has been starting in Zeller’s place, but he’s only getting minutes in the teens right now. If you need short-term help in a deeper league, Spencer Hawes and Frank Kaminsky are both worth a look right now, unless of course Zeller returns.
Doug McDermott (concussion) is “still having symptoms” but is “getting better,” according to coach Fred Hoiberg. This was his second concussion of the month, so I wouldn’t count on seeing him return before December.
Michael Carter-Williams (left wrist) was sent back to Chicago on Wednesday to have an MRI and a CT scan. The Bulls should provide a timetable on Friday, but MCW is not worth stashing while Rajon Rondo is healthy.
Deron Williams (calf) has missed eight out of the last nine games for Dallas, but he’s still considered day-to-day. Devin Harris (toe) is still about a week away and J.J. Barea (calf) is at least five more weeks away from returning, so Seth Curry and Jonathan Gibson should continue to get plenty of burn. I won’t be stashing D-Will with the Mavs tanking already.
Danilo Gallinari (right thigh soreness) is questionable for Friday’s game against the Thunder, but I’m not expecting him to play. He’s still experiencing discomfort when he walks and he’s arguably one of the most injury-prone players in the NBA. Expect Wilson Chandler to see an enormous workload with rookie Juan Hernangomez (right ankle) already ruled out for Friday.
Gary Harris said he’s hopeful he’ll be able to shed the walking boot on his injured right foot soon, but there’s been no change to his timetable, meaning he’s out for at least three more weeks.
Reggie Jackson (thumb, knee) is expected to return to the court during the first week of December according to coach Stan Van Gundy. He was initially targeting a late-November return, but he was having some trouble cutting on his knee. He will be limited out of the gate, but should be picked up everywhere if he’s available (you’d be surprised). Ish Smith’s time as the starting PG is coming to an end.
Draymond Green was poked in the eye on Wednesday, but he’s fine for Friday’s game vs. the Lakers.
C.J. Miles (sore left knee) will not play against the Nets on Friday, and considering the Pacers ruled him out this early, he could be looking at additional time on the shelf. There are no real winners from a fantasy perspective with Miles out, but Rodney Stuckey will get a few more minutes and touches.
Nick Young (toe) and Julius Randle (hip) are both questionable for Friday’s game vs. the Warriors. Young is expected to play, but Randle’s injury is a bit more serious and he’s shaping up to be a game-time call. If Randle sits, Brandon Ingram may actually benefit more than Larry Nance after the rookie started and played 34 minutes on Wednesday, scoring 16 points with two triples. Nance played 18 minutes in the blowout.
D’Angelo Russell (sore left knee) will miss the next 2-3 weeks after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection. I’m not interested in picking up Jose Calderon, but both Jordan Clarkson and Lou Williams get a huge boost in value with this news. As for Russell, he’s obviously a hold in standard leagues and should have a strong finish to the season just like last year. The injury is minor.
James Ennis will likely miss the next two weeks of action with a Grade II right calf strain, a tough blow for a Memphis time that is already without Chandler Parsons for at least a couple weeks with a knee contusion. Andrew Harrison is going to get a ton of burn off the bench and is an interesting flier in deeper leagues — he played 42 minutes against Philly in double overtime Wednesday.
Justise Winslow (wrist) has missed five games in a row and still doesn’t have a timetable to return.
Tyreke Evans (knee) hasn’t been updated in the past week, but the last report had him targeting a return to the court within a week or two. He should be stashed everywhere.
Joakim Noah (illness) is expected to play on Friday after missing the past two games, meaning Kyle O’Quinn will head back to the bench.
Nerlens Noel believes he is just a “couple of weeks away” from returning to the Sixers lineup. Coach Brett Brown was less optimistic, hinting that he wants to ease the center back into action a few weeks from now. Brown also added that Noel will struggle to find minutes, so he really needs a trade to make an impact for fantasy owners this season. I think a trade is likely, so that makes him a fine stash.
Joel Embiid will be rested on Friday on vs. the Bulls, so Jahlil Okafor and Richaun Holmes (illness) will have to fill the void.
Derrick Favors (knee) and Alec Burks (ankle) remain out indefinitely.
Markieff Morris (foot) will play against the Magic on Friday. He was limited in practice earlier in the week, but the Wizards were likely giving him some rest.
Otto Porter (hip) is probable for Friday’s game vs. the Magic, but his hip is something to keep an eye on moving forward if the Wizards go into tank mode.
