Who should fantasy owners count on in Chris Paul’s absence?
A bevy of NBA stars went down with long-term injuries this week, affecting both playoff pictures and fantasy lineups. This week’s NBA Fantasy Injury update will break down who got hurt and for how long, as well as some advice on how their replacements may factor into fantasy relevance.
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Toronto Raptors shooting guard DeMar DeRozan left Sunday’s game late in the fourth quarter due to an ankle injury, per TheScore.com. As of writing, there’s no indication the injury is serious, but any games missed by the recently named All-Star starter could hurt the Raptors’ jostling for a high seed come playoff time.
If DeRozan were forced to sit out, Terrence Ross (SF – TOR) and Norman Powell (SG – TOR) would be the primary beneficiaries. Ross, whose 37 percent three-point shooting falls almost exactly in line with his career percentage, has a relatively high floor that butts right up against his low ceiling. Powell has surprised when given minutes and could be a sneaky one or two game pickup.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Paul’s thumb surgery this past Wednesday was a success. The injured point guard is expected to miss six to eight weeks as the Clippers also wait for All-Star Blake Griffin (PF – LAC) to return. Paul is averaging a career-low 30.9 minutes per game while maintaining his typical, high-level of play. The injury was to Paul’s non-shooting hand, which may bode well for sustaining his 39.5 percent shooting from downtown upon his return.
Head coach Doc Rivers appears to be leaning on Raymond Felton (PG – LAC) and Austin Rivers (PG/SG – LAC) as replacements. Neither is very exciting, although Rivers has averaged over 17 points per game while shooting 40.5 percent from deep in January. It’s hard to imagine him keeping that up, if only because the coach’s son has shot under 35 percent from three for his career.
Veteran big man Pau Gasol also underwent successful surgery on his left hand, although the Spurs forward remains without a definite timeline for a return, per The Vertical. Gasol, the nominal Tim Duncan replacement, has effectively worked his way into the Spurs’ system this season, averaging 11.7 points and 7.9 rebounds in 26.4 minutes a game.
If you’re looking for rebounds, David Lee (PF – SAS) is a definite pick up here. The former All-Star and All-NBA forward nabbed double-doubles in each of the first two games of Gasol’s absence. Lee is also a capable passer and can fill a box score when given the minutes.
Per their Sacramento affiliate, CBS reports that Rudy Gay will undergo surgery on Monday to repair the ruptured ACL he suffered on Wednesday. The surgery and recovery will keep Gay out for the rest of the season and possibly up to a year.
While the Kings weren’t exactly going anywhere with Gay, his injury reduces them to DeMarcus Cousins (C – SAC) and a slow, cross-country drive to the offseason. One figures this could be an opportunity for the organization to check in on Ben McLemore’s (SG – SAC) development, but the 23-year-old, fourth-year veteran has both struggled this season and seen only 10 minutes of action in two games in January. By necessity, Arron Afflalo (SG – SAC) will be relied on for scoring, despite having some reported issues with the coach and organization earlier in the season. Afflalo is shooting 54.2 percent from three since the new year and, while that is completely unsustainable, it doesn’t seem that long ago that his name was listed among the top two-guards in the league. With consistent minutes, Afflalo is worth a pickup.
Long-term injuries to major players dominated this week’s NBA news, as we’re pushing towards the All-Star break. Make sure to keep an eye on starting lineups for any teams trying to maximize players’ rest, and, above all, don’t forget to stretch.
Jake Stern is a correspondent with FantasyPros. For more from Jake, check out his profile or follow him @TVsJakeStern.
