This article is part of our NBA Injury Analysis series.
LeBron James
It appears the Cavaliers will be without the King for an extended period of time after a complete evaluation late last week revealed he's dealing with a strained left knee and a lower back strain. Prior to these injuries, James has never missed more than five consecutive games due to injury. However, he's been far from injury free, collecting a multitude of ailments while playing an unprecedented amount of minutes before the age of 30.
Since joining the league in the 2003-04 season, James has suffered minor injuries to multiple areas of his body. His head and face have endured two fractures, each forcing James to don a protective facemask. He also underwent surgery immediately following the 2008-09 to remove a benign tumor from his parotid gland, the gland responsible for creating saliva. His shoulders have been bruised, and his right elbow has been strained and bruised. His left hand has been particularly problematic as the four-time league MVP has played with sprains to his index and pinkie fingers and dislocated his left ring finger.
However, these latest injuries are signs of wear and tear that have building for years. James first experienced back spasms in the 2007-08 season with tightness and spasms becoming a more prevalent issue over the last two years. His lower extremities have been an issue as well. He's endured multiple sprains to both ankles and contusions to his quads and knees. His right hamstring and groin have been strained, and his battle with cramping has been well documented, none more infamous than last year's incident during Game 1 of the Finals. Throughout it all, James has proven he is capable of playing with and through injury, and fantasy owners have to give him a bit of a pass. Remember, he's played over a season's worth of games during the last four postseasons and remained an elite fantasy option despite what many are calling a "down year."
The situation also appears to be a bit more fluid than the Cavaliers initially expressed, as James will be reevaluated Wednesday to determine if he can return ahead of the initial two-week timeline. Given the preparation and attention James gives his body and conditioning, an early return shouldn't surprise anyone. Maintain confidence in the ten-time All-Star and simply chalk this current situation up to age and mileage.
Kyrie Irving
If losing James wasn't bad enough, the Cavaliers will be without their All-Star point guard Monday. Irving made an early exit from the team's loss to the Mavericks with pain and tightness in his lower back and will not travel to Philadelphia. It doesn't sound like the team is overly concerned, but it's interesting to note that Irving, James, and teammate Kevin Love have all experienced back spasms or tightness within the last week. It may be purely coincidence, but it's worth monitoring to see if any other Cleveland players experience similar problems.
Fast Breaks
Carmelo Anthony: The developing story on whether or not the Knicks will shut down Anthony for the remainder of the season is maddening for fantasy owners heavily invested in the seven-time All-Star. His right knee has shown little signs of improvement, and the team continues to plummet in the standings. With no hope in sight, it remains very likely the team takes a proactive approach and ends his 2014-15 campaign prematurely, especially if additional surgery is warranted. The short-term situation is just as bleak with coach Derek Fisher revealing Anthony will not take part in the team's upcoming stretch of games that has them taking the floor five times in seven nights. It's time to cut your losses and utilize whatever remaining value Anthony has retained.
Andrea Bargnani: The Knicks' injury woes extend to Bargnani who is experiencing soreness in his right calf, the same area that kept him out of the lineup for 20 straight games. Hamstring and calf problems have been an issue for Bargnani for the entire year, and any limitation in one of the two muscle groups leaves the other vulnerable to reinjury or aggravation. He's done little to warrant fantasy attention and has been incapable of staying healthy. I'm avoiding the former No. 1 overall pick in all formats.
Michael Carter-Williams: The reigning Rookie of the Year missed Saturday's loss to the Clippers after experiencing soreness in his surgically repaired right shoulder. However, it appears the Sixers were simply being overly cautious with the situation, and he plans on returning to action Monday against the Cavaliers.
Enes Kanter: The Utah big man is recovering from a sprained right ankle and will not play Monday against the Pacers. The Jazz have a four-game schedule this week, making Rudy Gobert an interesting addition in all formats.
Kawhi Leonard: Leonard's return to the court remains "weeks" away according to coach Gregg Popovich. A torn ligament and the associated symptoms continue to limit the functional use of Leonard's right hand. It's an unfortunate revelation from the Spurs coach and an obvious setback for Leonard. Marco Belinelli will continue to see an increase in usage for the immediate future.
Tony Parker: While Leonard's situation has failed to improve, the Spurs are hoping Parker will be able to return Tuesday against the Pistons. However, fantasy owners may want to take a wait-and-see approach with the French point guard. Hamstring injuries are easily aggravated, and Parker has already been forced to restart the process twice with this injury. Give him some time to prove he's capable of staying on the court before plugging him back into weekly lineups.
DeMar DeRozan: Fantasy owners should take a similar approach with the Raptors forward. Toronto hopes to have DeRozan back in the lineup Thursday after he's missed the last 18 games recovering from a torn adductor longus tendon. The team will likely ease him back into the rotation, and the Raptors have just two games on the schedule for this week. Fantasy owners in head-to-head formats may still be able to use him given Thursday's light slate of games but should scale back their expectations. Those participating in weekly formats should keep DeRozan on the bench for at least one more week.
