The statuses of Luka Doncic, Trae Young, and Jimmy Butler will significantly impact Week 9 in fantasy basketball.
Christmas Week means fantasy managers have some interesting schedule dynamics to navigate in Week 9, beginning with a 14-game Monday and no games on Tuesday. There are also some key injuries to be mindful of, with that unfortunate list being headlined by Luka Doncic and Trae Young. Let’s look at some critical injury situations impacting Week 9 (Yahoo leagues) in fantasy basketball.
PG/SG Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Doncic missed Dallas’ last two games with a heel injury, but he did some on-court work during Friday’s practice. Spencer Dinwiddie (8% rostered, Yahoo) started both, accounting for 34 points, six rebounds, 13 assists, six steals, one blocked shot, and one 3-pointer in two games against the Clippers. He hasn’t shot the ball well, going 10-of-29 from the field (1-of-12 3-pointers), but the opportunity makes Dinwiddie worth a look in deeper leagues if Doncic is not ready for the start of Week 9. Dallas plays four games next week, including a Friday/Saturday road back-to-back against Phoenix and Portland.
PG Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
While Young has consistently shown up on injury reports with Achilles tendinitis, a heel injury sidelined him for Saturday’s loss to the Grizzlies. Vit Krejci (< 1%) filled the void in the starting lineup, but Keaton Wallace (< 1%) played more minutes despite coming off the bench. De’Andre Hunter (40%) doesn’t bring the same attributes to the table, but if Young remains sidelined for the start of Week 9, he would be a better streaming option than Krejci or Wallace. Also worth keeping an eye on is the assist production of Dyson Daniels (83%) and Jalen Johnson (99%), who combined for 14 helpers on Saturday. An extended absence for Young makes those two more valuable to those who have them rostered due to their playmaking ability.
PG/SG Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Injured during Thursday’s loss to the Pacers, Booker did not play in Saturday’s loss to the Pistons. Royce O’Neale (23%) filled the void in the starting lineup and is the player fantasy managers seeking streaming value should target. Making that process even simpler was the Suns losing Grayson Allen (14%) to a head injury during Saturday’s game. Whether or not he’ll have to enter the league’s concussion protocol hadn’t been determined at the time of publishing, but there aren’t any other worthwhile streamers on the Suns’ roster. Booker will miss Monday’s game in Denver, the first of four games Phoenix plays in Week 9.
SF/PF Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat
Butler exited Friday’s loss to the Thunder with an illness that kept him out of Saturday’s loss to Orlando. However, he also sprained his left ankle just before exiting Friday’s game. That injury was not listed on the report provided by the Heat, so there shouldn’t be any lower body issues for Butler heading into Week 9. The problem for fantasy managers is figuring out which low-rostered player is worth the risk as a streamer.
Could it be Dru Smith (6%)? He started Saturday’s game and played 26 minutes, finishing with 14 points, four rebounds, four steals, and two 3-pointers. Nikola Jovic (3%) also started but wasn’t as effective, and that can also be said for Jaime Jaquez Jr. (12%) and Haywood Highsmith (3%). Terry Rozier is already rostered in 65% of Yahoo leagues, but an extended absence for Butler could provide a sorely needed spark. Miami plays four games in Week 9, beginning with Brooklyn on Monday.
PG Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
Staying healthy remains an issue for Morant, who was held out of Saturday’s win over the Hawks due to a sore lower back. The good news is that he’s available for Monday’s game against the Grizzlies, eliminating a significant amount of Scotty Pippen Jr.’s (17%) streaming value. Fantasy managers also need to be mindful of the status of Marcus Smart (18%), who returned from a shoulder injury on Saturday but suffered a right index finger injury during the second half. Smart will not play on Monday and does not have a timeline for return. His absence should mean a few more minutes for fellow reserve Luke Kennard (1%), and starter Jaylen Wells (4%) may be worth a more extensive look in deep leagues. The Grizzlies play four games in Week 9.
C Jakob Poeltl, Toronto Raptors
Reportedly moving well during Friday’s practice, Poeltl has missed Toronto’s last two games with a groin injury. Jonathan Mogbo (9%) has been his replacement in the starting lineup, but Kelly Olynyk (12%) is the better fantasy option despite his restricted minutes. And while Poeltl’s availability doesn’t impact this player’s minutes, Ochai Agbaji (24%) is the first player fantasy managers should seek on their waiver wires. It’s still unknown when Immanuel Quickley will return from his elbow injury, and Agbaji should remain a starter until that changes.
SG/SF Cam Thomas, Brooklyn Nets
Sidelined since November 25 with a hamstring injury, Thomas is closing in on a return to game action. With the Nets trading Dennis Schroder to the Warriors, there’s room for Thomas to show what he can do as a playmaker, which is essential with the former first-round pick set to be a free agent this summer. Schroder’s exit has also boosted Ben Simmons’ (28%) fantasy value, especially among managers needing rebounds and assists. Simmons isn’t going to provide much value as a scorer, but the circumstances make him well worth the risk in points-punt builds and on rosters where managers are receiving ample points production from other players.
C Moritz Wagner, Orlando Magic
Already playing without Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, the Magic suffered another blow on Saturday as Moritz Wagner sustained a season-ending knee injury. With Goga Bitadze (40%) already in the starting lineup and providing 4th-round value in 9-cat formats over the past two weeks, he’s the clear answer to who should be added to fantasy rosters. Tristan da Silva (2%) has been starting recently, and Wagner’s injury should give him more room to prove himself. However, the rookie hasn’t offered much fantasy value in that role, and the same can be said for reserve Jonathan Isaac (9%). His ceiling is limited due to the injury history, but he’s worth tracking during a three-game Week 9 for the Magic.
PF/C Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons
When some began questioning whether or not Stewart would be more valuable than incumbent Jalen Duren, he hyperextended his left knee during a December 16 win over the Heat. Beef Stew has missed Detroit’s last two games, including a win over the Suns on Saturday, during which Duren produced one of his best performances. While the season-long value has disappointed, Duren has been a top-100 player over the past two weeks. Stewart’s absence has resulted in rotation minutes for Paul Reed (1%), but fantasy managers should wait a bit before considering taking that plunge.
PF/C Onyeka Okongwu, Atlanta Hawks
Due to a case of left knee inflammation, Okongwu was ruled out for four games, with the Hawks expected to re-evaluate him just before Christmas. Clint Capela (84%) has maintained his hold on the starting center job, but Okongwu’s absence has resulted in rotation minutes for Larry Nance Jr. (10%). In two games, Nance has averaged 14.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 2.0 blocks, and 3.0 3-pointers, with the pick-and-pop ability providing an element to the Hawks offense Capela lacks. Nance is worth streaming as long as Okongwu sits, beginning with Monday’s game against the Timberwolves.
SF/PF Isaac Okoro, Cleveland Cavaliers
Okoro suffered a right AC joint sprain last week, with it being reported at the time that he will miss at least two weeks. Dean Wade (1%) has replaced him in the starting lineup. However, while he’s had a productive week, providing 6th-round value, the fantasy upside is limited. The player to watch here is Max Strus (6%), who is returning from an ankle injury. He was a fixture in the starting lineup last season and provided solid value. It may not be during Week 9, but there’s likely to be a point when Strus is physically able to play starters’ minutes. Another reason why fantasy managers can afford to be patient is the schedule, as Cleveland only plays twice during Week 9.
