DFS Alerts
Bam Adebayo (knee) questionable Saturday, didn't participate in shootaround.
Bam Adebayo (knee) questionable Saturday, didn’t participate in shootaround. In Adebayo’s absence, Dewayne Dedmon has stepped into the starting lineup. Although projecting well, Dedmon hasn’t exactly smashed given his opportunity this year. Dedmon will have another opportunity here if Bam is out, while also leaving the door for increased opportunity for Jimmy Butler to fill more of the offensive void.
As reported by: Ira Winderman
Nikola Jokic ruled out Friday
Jokic will not play Friday, leaving a huge hole for the Nuggets which will be filled by a variety of different players. Will Barton becomes the most appealing target on the Denver side, but Monte Morris, JaMychal Green, Aaron Gordon and Jeff Green all become more intriguing. Both the Green’s figure to start with Jokic out, making JaMychal a viable value target and likely leading to more distributing for Morris and Barton especially. Bones Hyland and PJ Dozier also figure to play bigger roles, but outside of Will Barton, Aaron Gordon, JaMychal Green and Monte Morris, it gets a little cloudy. We’ll update again when we get official starters.
LeBron James will play Friday
LeBron will make his return Friday night and at this point doesn’t appear as though he’ll have any hard minutes restrictions, although it’s certainly possible they ease him in a little. His return could slow Talen Horton-Tucker’s role and makes him a more volatile target, but THT will likely hold onto a starting role and should continue to play minutes in the low to mid-thirties. Russell Westbrook also figures to take a usage hit along with Anthony Davis, although both are still on the radar for large-field tournaments. Targeting any of the ancillary pieces on LAL becomes far riskier with all three of LBJ, Westbrook and AD healthy.
Other tagged players: Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook Devonte' Graham ruled out Friday
Devonte’ Graham won’t play Friday, opening the door for more distributing opportunities for Brandon Ingram and NAW, with Tomas Satoransky and Kira Lewis. Jr (who has been a DNP in recent games) likely to take on a bigger workload. NAW becomes a more intriguing mid-range target that still figures to be unpopular, and with Ingram now without any sort of minutes limit, his ceiling is up there as well. Jonas Valanciunas is coming off of one of his poorest performances in a few weeks, but will have an opportunity to bounce back. It’s not totally clear yet who will replace Graham in the starting lineup, but we’ll update when that news hits.
Robert Williams ruled out Friday; Dennis Schroder will play
The Celtics won’t have Robert Williams tonight, but will have Dennis Schroeder’s services, a nice boost with Jaylen Brown still out. With no Williams, we could see the other one (Grant) draw a start, but he’ll play more regardless. He’s not enough of a per-minute producer to become a strong DFS option, but Al Horford’s ceiling does come up without Time Lord in the lineup. Schroder should likely maintain the role he’s had with Brown out of the lineup, but could potentially be mildly limited.
Other tagged players: Dennis Schroder Jalen Suggs will play Friday
Suggs had missed a few games earlier in November, but played on Wednesday and saw his typical 26 minutes of court time. He came into tonight questionable, but will play and should be expected to take on a normal workload. Cole Anthony is still dominating in terms of statistical production – especially outside of points – between the Orlando guards, so Suggs’ ceiling has been limited with Anthony in the lineup.
Nicolas Batum will play Friday
Nicolas Batum will play Friday after missing Thursday’s game, a welcome addition to a Clippers team that has been especially shorthanded of late. His return likely pushes Amir Coffey back to a bench role, and it’s possible he’s out of the rotation entirely. Brandon Boston could also see a little less run and it’s possible the C duo (Zubac and Hartenstein) see a little less run, but a matchup with the Pelicans and Jonas Valanciunas will likely lead to some bigger lineups. Zubac is still very much in play for tournaments. Batum isn’t expected to be limited as of this writing, but it’s possible he plays in slightly shorter rotations in his first game back.
Other tagged players: Amir Coffey Chris Duarte will play Friday
Chris Duarte is good to go Friday night, and shouldn’t be limited in terms of minutes. He’s likely to see somewhere in the 26-30 range in a competitive game, but his early-season usage has taken a hit with Caris LeVert integrated back into the rotation and both Brogdon and Sabonis healthy. While he’s not a terribly appealing DFS option on Friday, his presence does take ancillary wing options on the Indiana side (Kelan Martin and Justin Holiday) completely out of question.
Derrick Favors (rest) listed out for Friday
Favors will sit out Friday in order to rest. His absence doesn’t have a big impact, but Mike Muscala and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl are probably the two biggest winners – neither are DFS viable even at this point. OKC will have a tough task in a road matchup with a Bucks team favored by double-digits.
Nicolas Batum listed questionable Friday; Justise Winslow, Serge Ibaka listed out
Nicolas Batum is questionable for Friday after sitting out last night, and while it did seems like he’d have an uphill battle to play, it looks like he’s at least 50-50 at this point. With Batum out on Thursday, Amir Coffey drew a start and played almost 30 minutes, so he could be in for a similar allotment of playing time if Batum can’t go. Both Justise Winslow and Serge Ibaka are listed out, and neither had played on Thursday.
Other tagged players: Justise Winslow, Serge Ibaka Devonte’ Graham (foot) questionable Friday
Graham has been added to the Pelicans’ injury report and is currently listed as questionable for Friday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers due to a foot injury. A mid-day addition to the injury report is usually not a positive sign for any player’s availability, and if Graham is unable to suit up, there’s a couple different directions head coach Willie Green could go with his rotation. If he opts to keep Nickeil Alexander-Walker in a primarily off-ball role, then Kira Lewis Jr. would likely move into the starting lineup whereas Garrett Temple and Herb Jones would step into larger roles of Alexander-Walker assumes a majority if the point guard responsibilities this evening.
As reported by: Pelicans PR via Twitter
Rudy Gay to have his minutes limited on Thursday
This isn’t even really news – he’s not going to play all that much off the bench anyway with the starting wings/forwards healthy. His presence likely impacts Eric Paschall more than anyone else.
Naz Reid active Thursday
Reid is active and should see minutes in the mid-teens behind Karl-Anthony Towns. He’s not a DFS option with KAT healthy.
Josh Okogie ruled out Thursday
Okogie won’t play Thursday, but that his next to no DFS impact. Malik Beasley, Jordan McLaughlin and Jaylen Nowell are all potential beneficiaries, but there isn’t much to go around. None of the aforementioned names are recommended DFS options on Thursday.
Will Barton trending towards probable; Bones Hyland to be a game-time decision Thursday
It sounds like Barton will play, but if Bones can’t go, we’ll figure to see more Facundo Campazzo as a bench guard and potentially a little extra Austin Rivers and/or Monte Morris. We’ll continue to update this situation.
Other tagged players: Bones Hyland