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 put an asterisk next to 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 a 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 be on Twitter @Rotopilot.
NBA What If – Friday, January 5
| Team | Player | Status | If OUT |
| Hawks | Mike Muscala | Probable | No signifcant change |
| Celtics | Marcus Morris | Out | No significant change |
| Hornets | None | ||
| Bulls | None | ||
| Mavericks | None | ||
| Nuggets | Will Barton | Probable | Gary Harris (usage)* Torrey Craig (minutes) Juan Hernangomez (minutes) |
| Pistons | Andre Drummond | Questionable | Boban Marjanovic (minutes)* Avery Bradley (usage)* Luke Kennard (usage) Ish Smith (usage)* |
| Pistons | Stanley Johnson | Doubtful | Reggie Bullock (minutes)* Ish Smith (usage)* Avery Bradley (usage)* |
| Pistons | Reggie Jackson | Out | Ish Smith (minutes/usage)* Luke Kennard (minutes/usage) Tobias Harris (usage)* |
| Lakers | Lonzo Ball | Questionable | Tyler Ennis (minutes)* Jordan Clarkson (usage)* |
| Grizzlies | Andrew Harrison | Doubtful | Mario Chalmers (minutes) Kobi Simmons (minutes/usage) Tyreke Evans (usage)* |
| Grizzlies | Chandler Parsons | Out | Jarell Martin (minutes) JaMychal Green (minutes/usage)* James Ennis (usage) |
| Heat | None | ||
| Bucks | None | ||
| Wolves | Jeff Teague | Out | Tyus Jones (minutes) Jimmy Butler (usage)* Karl-Anthony Towns (usage)* Jamal Crawford (minutes/usage) Andrew Wiggins (usage) |
| Knicks | None | ||
| Sixers | None | ||
| Suns | TJ Warren | Questionable | Josh Jackson (minutes) Tyson Chandler (usage)* Alex Len (usage)* Tyler Ulis (usage) |
| Blazers | Damian Lillard | Probable | Shabazz Napier (minutes/usage)* CJ McCollum (usage)* Evan Turner (usage) |
| Spurs | Danny Green | Out | Kyle Anderson (minutes/usage)* Bryn Forbes (minutes) Brandon Paul (minutes) Dejounte Murray (usage) |
| Spurs | Rudy Gay | Out | Kawhi Leonard (minutes/usage)* Kyle Anderson (minutes)* LaMarcus Aldridge(usage)* |
| Raptors | None | ||
| Jazz | None | ||
| Wizards | None |
