Welcome to a new article I’m trying out called “NBA What If”. This article will attempt to list all of the relevant injury situations to monitor for the day’s NBA slate and provide guidance on which players will benefit with either an increase in minutes or usage or both if that player is ruled out. I will also place an asterisk (*) by players that I think are worth DFS consideration if that player is ruled out. Players that have been out for at least five consecutive games I will not list as general playing time and usage patterns should be established.
This will NOT be an interactive article that is continually updated throughout the day as I hope to capture all of the potential relevant injury situations that could impact DFS lineups for the night and pre-determine what players benefit. Ideally, you monitor late-breaking news leading up to tip off, find out a player is ruled out and come check the matrix below to see who the players are you should consider for your DFS lineups based on that news.
This article series will be a work in progress and I welcome any and all feedback on its usefulness and format either in the Comments below or directly to me on Twitter @Rotopilot.
NBA What If – Wednesday, January 10
| Team | Player | Status | If OUT |
| Hawks | None | ||
| Nets | Nik Stauskas | Questionable | Joe Harris (minutes)* Caris LeVert (minutes)* |
| Nets | Allen Crabbe | Doubtful | Joe Harris (minutes)* Caris LeVert (minutes/usage)* Nik Stuaskas (minutes) |
| Nets | DeMarre Carroll | Out | Joe Harris (minutes)* Caris LeVert (minutes/usage)* Nik Stuaskas (minutes) |
| Hornets | None | ||
| Bulls | Nikola Mirotic | Doubtful | Lauri Markkanen (minutes) Bobby Portis (minutes)* |
| Mavericks | None | ||
| Nuggets | None | ||
| Pistons | None | ||
| Warriors | Kevin Durant | Probable | Andre Iguodala (minutes) Omri Casspi (minutes) Stephen Curry (usage)* Klay Thompson (usage) |
| Rockets | James Harden | Out | Eric Gordon (minutes/usage)* Gerald Green (minutes) Chris Paul (usage)* Ryan Anderson (usage) |
| Rockets | Nene | Questionable | Clint Capela (minutes) Tarik Black (minutes) |
| Pacers | Myles Turner | Doubtful | Domantas Sabonis (minutes/usage)* Al Jefferson (minutes) Lance Stephenson (usage) Bojan Bogdanovic (usage) |
| Pacers | Domantas Sabonis | Probable | Thaddeus Young (minutes) |
| Clippers | Blake Griffin | Out | Wesley Johnson (minutes) Sam Dekker (minutes) Montrezl Harrell (minutes/usage) Lou Williams (usage)* DeAndre Jordan (usage)* |
| Clippers | Milos Teodosic | Questionable | Jawun Evans (minutes/usage)* Tyrone Williams (minutes) Lou Williams (usage)* |
| Grizzlies | Andrew Harrison | Probable | Wayne Selden (minutes) Mario Chalmers (minutes) |
| Grizzlies | Chandler Parsons | Out | Jarell Martin (minutes) JaMychal Green (minutes) Brandan Wright (usage) |
| Heat | James Johnson | Suspension? | Bam Adebayo (minutes)* Kelly Olynyk (minutes/usage)* Goran Dragic (usage)* Josh Richardson (usage)* |
| Heat | Tyler Johnson | Questionable | Wayne Ellington (minutes)* Derrick Jones (minutes)* Goran Dragic (usage)* Kelly Olynyk (usage)* Josh Richardson (usage)* |
| Bucks | None | ||
| Timberwolves | Jeff Teague | Questionable | Tyus Jones (minutes) Jimmy Butler (usage)* Andrew Wiggins (usage)* Karl-Anthony Towns (usage)* Jamal Crawford (usage) |
| Pelicans | Anthony Davis | Doubtful | Dante Cunningham (minutes/usage) Cheick Diallo (minutes/usage) DeMarcus Cousins (usage)* Jrue Holiday (usage)* E’Twaun Moore (usage)* Rajon Rondo (usage)* |
| Knicks | Michael Beasley | Questionable | Doug McDermott (minutes) Lance Thomas (minutes) Willy Hernangomez (minutes/usage) |
| Thunder | Andre Roberson | Out | Terrance Ferguson (minutes) |
| Magic | None | ||
| Blazers | Damian Lillard | Questionable | Shabazz Napier (minutes/usage)* CJ McCollum (usage)* Evan Turner (usage) Pat Connaughton (usage) |
| Jazz | Derrick Favors | Probable | Jonas Jerebko (minutes) Thabo Sefolosha (minutes) Rodney Hood (usage) |
| Wizards | Otto Porter | Probable | Kelly Oubre (minutes/usage) Bradley Beal (usage) |
