Week 15 Fantasy Basketball Injury Report: Draymond Remains Sidelined
This week, injuries to guards Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball have cemented Coby White’s role in the Bulls’ rotation for at least the next month. Elsewhere, Kevon Looney has taken over as Golden State’s go-to big man while Draymond Green’s timetable continues to be extended due to a frustrating back injury.
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Week 15 Fantasy Basketball Injuries
SG Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls (Wrist)
This one’s a huge bummer for Alex Caruso who just returned to the floor Jan. 12 after being sidelined extensively this season due a bone bruise in his knee. Now, Caruso has undergone wrist surgery and will be sidelined indefinitely. With Lonzo Ball also out of the rotation indefinitely due to his knee surgery, Coby White will continue to see an increased role in the rotation. White has been incredibly efficient in the absence of these crucial players, and he’s also been exciting to watch. In January, he averaged 15.6 PPG on 46.3% shooting from the field. He’s also drawing fouls and getting to the line, converting 89.3% from the free-throw line this month. Along with approximately three rebounds and three assists per game, I expect him to at least continue producing these numbers into February and early March.
?s=21SF Tim Hardaway Jr. Dallas Mavericks (Foot)
Tim Hardway Jr. will likely be out until at least early April due to a metatarsal fracture he sustained against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. With Hardaway sidelined indefinitely, expect Maxi Kleber and especially Dorian Finney-Smith to see increased roles on the Mavs. Finney-Smith is likely to benefit the most from Hardaway’s absence.
Many NBA players consider Dorian to be one of the most underrated players in the league, particularly due to his efficient defense. This season, he is averaging 10.2 PPG and is converting a respectable 44.5% of his attempts from the field. He is also providing 1.2 steals and 4.8 rebounds per game. Finney-Smith has produced these numbers with Hardway Jr. by his side. I think we’ll see a significant uptick in offensive production from Dallas’ best available small forward with Timmy H. out of the way. Hardaway Jr. was scoring 14.2 PPG, converting 39.5% of his shots taken from the field. That’s a lot of field-goal attempts per game that need to be taken in his place. Expect Dorian Finney-Smith to take on a larger role on offense as he continues to shine on defense.
SF/PF Lauri Markkanen, Cleveland Cavaliers (Ankle)
Lauri Markkanen tweaked his ankle and will likely be out for the next couple of weeks. As a result, Kevin Love will see an uptick in minutes and offensive production. In fact, he already has. Love had a big night in Cleveland’s victory over the Bucks last night. He dropped 25 points (9-16 FG) in only 27 minutes. With Markkanen out of the rotation, Love should continue to produce above-average offense. It will be interesting to see how many more minutes he will see per night, as the Cavaliers have been conservative about his minutes per game throughout the season.
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PF/C Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors (Lower-Back)
Draymond Green has been out of Golden State’s rotation for the last eight games. The three-time NBA champion has a frustrating disc injury in his lower-back with no clear timetable for a return. In that time, KeVon Looney has been playing excellent defensive basketball. Over the last 10 games, Looney has averaged 6.4 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. While Green is sidelined, Looney will continue to see an uptick in minutes and play textbook center basketball.
SF Gordon Hayward, Charlotte Hornets (COVID-19)
Hayward was questionable for last night’s game. He has just tested positive and will be out for at least the next 10 days.
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