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 – Monday, January 8
| Team | Player | Status | If OUT |
| Hawks | None | ||
| Nets | DeMarre Carroll | Out | Joe Harris (minutes)* Allen Crabbe (minutes/usage)* Nik Stauskas (minutes) Caris LeVert (usage) |
| Nets | Caris LeVert | Probable | Joe Harris (minutes)* Allen Crabbe (minutes/usage)* Nik Stauskas (minutes) DeMarre Carroll (usage) Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (usage) |
| Bulls | Nilola Mirotic | Doubtful | Lauri Markkanen (minutes)* Bobby Portis (minutes)* |
| Cavaliers | None | ||
| Nuggets | None | ||
| Pistons | Andre Drummond | Probable | Boban Marjanovic (minutes)* Eric Moreland (minutes) Stanley Johnson (usage) Avery Bradley (usage) Tobias Harris (usage) Ish Smith (usage) Luke Kennard (usage) Reggie Bullock (usage) |
| Pistons | Stanley Johnson | Questionable | Reggie Bullock (minutes) Avery Bradley (usage) Tobias Harris (usage) Ish Smith (usage) |
| Warriors | Andre Iguodala | Probable | Omri Casspi (minutes/usage) Nick Young (minutes/usage) |
| Warriors | Omri Casspi | Probable | Andre Iguodala (minutes) |
| Warriors | Draymond Green | Probable | Jordan Bell (minutes)* Stephen Curry (usage)* Kevin Durant (usage)* Andre Iguodala (usage) |
| Warriors | Kevin Durant | Questionable | Andre Iguodala (minutes/usage)* Omri Casspi (minutes) Stephen Curry (usage)* Klay Thompson (usage) Nick Young (usage) |
| Rockets | Nene | Out | Clint Capela (minutes) Taik Black (minutes) |
| Rockets | James Harden | Out | Eric Gordon (minutes/usage)* Gerald Green (minutes)* Chris Paul (usage)* Ryan Anderson (usage)* Trevor Ariza (usage)* |
| Pacers | Bojan Bogdanovic | Probable | Lance Stephenson (minutes) Darren Collison (usage) Victor Oladipo (usage)* |
| Clippers | Blake Griffin | Doubtful | Montrezl Harrell(minutes)* Sam Dekker (minutes) Lou Williams (usage)* DeAndre Jordan (usage)* Wesley Johnson (usage) |
| Clippers | Milos Teodosic | Doubtful | Jawun Evans (minutes)* Tyrone Wallace (minutes)* |
| Clippers | Austin Rivers | Out | Jawun Evans (minutes)* Tyrone Wallace (minutes)* CJ Williams (minutes) Lou Williams (usage)* DeAndre Jordan (usage)* |
| Bucks | None | ||
| Timberwolves | None | ||
| Pelicans | None | ||
| Spurs | Kawhi Leonard | Questionable | Kyle Anderson (minutes)* Bryn Forbes (minutes) Tony Parker (usage) LaMarcus Aldridge (usage)* |
| Spurs | Danny Green | Doubtful | Kyle Anderson (minutes)* Bryn Forbes (minutes/usage) Patty Mills (minutes) Brandon Paul (minutes) Dejounte Murray (usage) LaMarcus Aldridge (usage) |
| Kings | Zach Randolph | Questionable | Willie Cauley-Stein (minutes/usage)* Skal Labissiere (minutes)* |
| Kings | George Hill | Questionable | De’Aaron Fox (minutes/usage)* Buddy Hield (minutes) Bogdan Bogdanovic (minutes) |
| Kings | Frank Mason | Questionable | De’Aaron Fox (minutes)* |
| Raptors | None |
