What a week it’s been for injuries around the league. By now everyone has heard the terrible news that Derrick Rose, who in 2011 became the youngest MVP in the history of the NBA, will require another surgery on his right knee, putting the rest of this season and his career in jeopardy. The comparisons to Penny Hardaway and Brandon Roy came flooding in just moments after the news broke, as well as several jokes at Rose’s expense, but it is something that he has come to expect. His surgery has been set for Friday, his third in as many years, and although no one has officially ruled him out for the playoffs, Bulls fans aren’t optimistic for a return. Does their star point guard’s injury mean that their season is all but over? Not necessarily.
The Bulls have been in this situation before, and they know how to handle it. Aaron Brooks is playing decent basketball, and rumors are already swirling around the league that Nate Robinson would love to come back to Chi-Town and finish the season with the Bulls. Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah form one of the most dominating frontcourts in the NBA, one that will certainly give teams fits in the playoffs. Taj Gibson is the perfect sixth-man for this team, and Nikola Mirotic has looked impressive in his first season in America. But the guy that needs to step up more than anyone else is their budding young star Jimmy Butler.
Butler, who will be a restricted free agent at season’s end, made “the leap” this season, as he has become a superstar right in front of our eyes. Chicago would be wise to sign him to a max contract this offseason, especially with the concerns over Rose’s health. Butler is averaging 18.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists during the month of February, and those numbers should only increase. Without Rose launching 10-15 shots a game, Butler should expect to carry more of an offensive burden and he will need to carry this team if they expect to make a deep run in the playoffs. The window for a championship is closing on Chicago, and they definitely have some big decisions to make during the offseason, but with Noah, Gasol, Gibson and especially Butler, this team still has a chance to make some noise in the East.
Let’s look closer at some of the other injuries around the league, and see how it changes the fantasy landscape for the rest of the season.
Out
Chris Bosh – PF, C, Heat – Out for season (Lungs)
Before the NBA was saddened by the Derrick Rose news, they first had to deal with a season-ending illness to another All-Star. Chris Bosh will miss the remainder of the season while dealing with blood clots in his lungs. Bosh remains stable and in good spirits, but the Heat are certainly going to miss his inside-out game, and his positive attitude while they battle for a playoff spot. It appears that Miami will attempt to play Hassan Whiteside at the center position, and do their best to surround him with shooters. Luol Deng, Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic should all average 35-plus minutes-per game when healthy, and expect to see plenty of Mario Chalmers and Shabazz Napier fumbling around in the backcourt. Udonis Haslem and Chris Andersen are still looking like guys that will play under 20 minutes a game, and neither should be looked at as a fantasy option moving forward. Miami is praying for a speedy recovery from Bosh since without him they look like a lottery team. Get well soon Chris, the NBA isn’t quite the same without you.
Anthony Davis – PF, C, Pelicans – Will miss 1-2 weeks (Shoulder)
Davis reinjured his shoulder in a game against Miami last week, and an MRI revealed a strain which will keep Davis out of the next few games. The injury doesn’t appear to be serious, but it has limited him recently. Davis should expect to miss two or three more games while waiting on the soreness to subside, and fantasy owners should turn to Alexis Ajinca and Dante Cunningham to fill some of the minutes left by AD’s void. Davis is averaging 23.9 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks this season, and would be the frontrunner for the MVP award if his Pelicans had a better record. Fantasy owners are hoping that this injury doesn’t linger any longer than it has to, especially with playoffs right around the corner.
Ryan Anderson – PF, Pelicans – Out 2-4 weeks (MCL Sprain)
A few weeks ago it seemed as though New Orleans and Phoenix would again be on the outside looking in at another fierce Western Conference playoff race, and with injuries to Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday and now Ryan Anderson it seems likely to be the case. New Orleans is just two games behind Oklahoma City for the eighth seed, who is dealing with some major injuries of their own, but unless a miracle happens it looks like the Pelicans will be watching the playoffs from home again this year. Again, Alexis Ajinca and Dante Cunningham should see a lot of both Anderson and Davis’ minutes, but Quincy Pondexter might be the guy to benefit from all of these guys going down. He is averaging over 27 minutes during his last five, and has put up 10.8 points per game in those contests, including a 25-point performance on Wednesday.
Kevin Durant – SF, Thunder – Will be reevaluated in another week (Foot)
Durant was forced to have another surgery on his ailing foot, and doctors say that they will reevaluate the All-Star forward in a week or so. Durant will miss the Thunder’s game against Phoenix tonight, a team they lead by two-and-a-half games for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West, making it his fourth straight missed start. Durant’s injury has created minutes for several OKC reserves, but none are seeing enough extra minutes for fantasy owners to need to snatch them up. Recently acquired Kyle Singler started in Durant’s place against Indiana on Tuesday, but he played less than 20 minutes and did not contribute much. Mitch McGary, Nick Collison and Perry Jones also received minutes, but none of those guys are consistent enough right now to warrant an add. Durant owners should be slightly worried that this injury could linger for a few weeks, but KD is tough and he will do what it takes to get his team into the playoffs.
Darren Collison – PG, Kings – Out indefinitely (Hip)
Collison left a game against Dallas back on Feb. 5 with a hip flexor injury, and has not returned to action since. Doctors say that they will reevaluate Collison in three to six weeks, but sources are saying that he might be done for the rest of the season. This comes as a huge blow to Collison owners as he was coming off a January where he shot nearly 50 percent from the field and nearly 40 percent from beyond the arc while averaging 16.5 points and 5.1 assists. The Kings shipped Ramon Sessions to Washington at the deadline for Andre Miller, who has a very long history with new coach George Karl. Miller has led the second unit for the Kings since arriving in town, and he has fared well averaging 5.3 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.7 rebounds in nearly 24 minutes a game. Second-year player Ray McCallum has started in Collison’s absence, and he has played well too averaging 9.8 points, 4.0 assists and 3.4 boards in his last five games. With Collison out for at least the near future I would try and grab McCollum in free agency as he seems to be the go-to guy for the remainder of the season, but don’t count out George Karl turning the reigns over to Miller if the season gets out of hand.
Jared Sullinger – PF, Celtics – Out for season (Foot)
Sullinger is set to miss the rest of the season after a stress reaction in his foot was revealed. It seems like just as one Celtics power forward gets healthy, another one goes down. Kelly Olynyk, who has missed over a month with an ankle injury, could return in a week or so according to head coach Brad Stevens. With Sullinger done for the year, fantasy owners should look to Brandon Bass and Jae Crowder to fill much of the void left by the big man from Ohio State. Crowder is averaging 12.0 points and 6.0 rebounds over his last five games, but his minutes are slowly rising and he should see steady time for the rest of the year.
Shabazz Muhammad – SF, Timberwolves – Out for season
The Timberwolves received a blow when it was discovered that second-year player Shabazz Muhammad will miss the rest of the season with a ligament injury in his middle finger. Muhammad had just made his way back from an oblique injury that had sidelined him for 16 games. He was averaging 10.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in his three games back from injury. Muhammad’s new ailment allows for more minutes to guys like Andrew Wiggins, Kevin Martin, Zach LaVine and even Adreian Payne, who was acquired from Atlanta near the trade deadline. Minnesota had recently completed a trade that sent Thaddeus Young to Brooklyn in exchange for long-time Timberwolves player Kevin Garnett, a move which would have almost guaranteed more minutes for Muhammad for the rest of the season.
Returning From Injury
Bradley Beal – SG, Wizards – Could return Friday (Leg)
Beal is hopeful that he can return to the court Friday against Philadelphia after missing Washington’s last seven games with a stress injury to his leg. The Wizards won their first two games without their young shooting guard, but have since dropped five in a row. Garrett Temple, who has filled in at the two-spot for Beal, is averaging 7.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists during those five contests. It is clear that in order for this team to advance in the playoffs both Beal and Wall need to be healthy. When they share the court this duo is just as dangerous as any backcourt combination in the league.
Wilson Chandler – SF, Nuggets – Could return Friday (Thigh)
Chandler has missed Denver’s previous two games with some soreness in his thigh, but he says that the injury isn’t serious and he should return to the court Friday night against Utah. Chandler has averaged 13.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 threes made during the month of February, and should see around 30 minutes per game on his return. Joffrey Lauvergne filled in the last two games in Chander’s place and averaged 6.5 points and 9.0 rebounds in his absence, though those numbers should drop off.
Andrew Chambers is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Andrew, check out his archive and follow him @beardedsports8.