The 2016-17 NBA regular season is right around the corner and with the countdown to tipoff underway there are already a handful of key injuries that could have an impact either from a fantasy perspective or from a team perspective early on. Here is a look at the biggest injuries that will impact the early NBA season.
PG: Reggie Jackson, Detroit Pistons
Jackson will miss at least the first six to eight weeks of the regular season after suffering injuries to his knee and thumb. The sixth-year pro received platelet-right plasma injections to help treat the pain in his left knee and right thumb and is very fortunate that he doesn’t need surgery for either of those issues. Ish Smith will be expected to start at the point guard position with Jackson sidelined and it will be very interesting to see how the Pistons respond early on in the season without one of their best players in the lineup.
SF: Gordon Hayward, Utah Jazz
Basketball fans in Utah have to be wondering what they did wrong since the Jazz just can’t catch a break when it comes to injuries. Utah reloaded in the offseason with some key pieces that should help put them over the top as a playoff contender in the Western Conference but already they will be without their starting small forward after Hayward suffered a broken finger during practice. The Jazz has not committed to a timeframe for his return but it’s expected to be six to eight weeks. Utah has some decent depth with Joe Johnson likely stepping in to a starting role but it will definitely hurt Utah’s potential out of the gate this season.
C: Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
Speaking of teams that can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to the injury bug, the Pelicans were hit again when it was announced that Davis will miss 10 to 14 days with a right ankle sprain. Davis suffered the injury in the second of two preseason games played by New Orleans in China and will not be available for the start of the season. The Pelicans took a major step back last season due in large part to injuries and a lack of depth so this is terrible news in the final days before the regular season tips off. Davis said he would like to play in the season opener but it won’t be a surprise if the team is very cautious with the injury to their star franchise center.
SF: Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
The first-overall pick from the 2016 NBA Draft underwent surgery to repair an acute Jones fracture in the fifth metatarsal in his right foot last week and there is no timetable for his return. There has been talk about Simmons missing at least the first couple of months of the season but the 76ers could be very careful about bringing him back too soon. Philadelphia is not ready to contend for a playoff spot right now so look for them to give Simmons plenty of time to rehab the injury and get back in to game shape before they think about letting him make his NBA debut this season. The injury won’t have a tremendous impact on the standings but it will have a significant impact in fantasy basketball and in terms of who gets to take over the playing minutes vacated by the top pick.
G/F: Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks recently announced that guard/forward Khris Middleton underwent successful hamstring surgery and will be out for about six months. Depending on how the Bucks are doing, they might keep him out for the entire regular season. That means there will be far more work for Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo. While the Bucks are fairly deep at this position, it will hurt them significantly to be without Middleton. While he’s not a household name, he’s averaged double-figures in scoring for three straight seasons, increasing each year. He scored 18.2 points per game last year while dishing out 4.2 assists and collecting 3.8 rebounds. He was also among the NBA’s steals leaders at 1.7 per game and he adds 1.8 threes per game. He’s very versatile for the Bucks and he’s a great asset in fantasy. He’ll be sorely missed.
