NBA Injury Analysis: All the Kings' Men

Rudy Gay, DeMarcus Cousins, and the Kings
The Sacramento Kings have been one of the most unstable teams of the first half with their early-season success and the stellar play of Cousins overshadowed by a surprise change in coaches and Cousins' peculiar bout with viral meningitis. Through it all, Gay and Cousins have managed to remain fantasy friendly options with Darren Collison also providing a steady source of assists and steals. However, a sudden bevy of injuries has the team scrambling for productivity.

It starts at the top with Cousins, who missed Saturday's loss to the Clippers with a sprained right ankle. The injury does not appear to be serious, and the majority of his previous ankle problems have occurred on the opposite ankle. However, he remains questionable for the team's matchup against the Trail Blazers on Monday. The severity of the injury appears low, and Cousins remains a viable option in daily leagues. However, the Kings play just three games between now and Sunday, making him a risky play in weekly formats.

Gay's injury is bit more serious, though a surprise appearance on Saturday clouds the situation. Gay's injury has been diagnosed as a lateral joint capsule sprain of the left knee. The joint capsule of the knee surrounds the joint, encompassing the kneecap, menisci, bursa, and the multiple stabilizing ligaments of the knee. The joint capsule aids in both active and passive stabilization and is a key component of fluid motion.

The lateral portion of the joint capsule of the knee sits on the outside portion of the leg. It is very complex and includes the iliotibial tract (IT band), lateral meniscus, as well as multiple tendons and ligaments. One of these tendons belongs to the popliteus, a muscle active in unlocking the knee and rotating the lower leg. Unfortunately, by allowing the popliteus tendon to run through this area, the lateral capsule sacrifices a bit of its integrity and can be susceptible to injury.

Isolated injuries to the lateral aspect of the knee are much more infrequent than medial injuries. A majority of the lateral joint capsule injuries that have been reported occur in conjunction with a more serious problem. Way back in the 1996-97 season, Shaquille O'Neal hyperextended his left knee. In the process, he suffered partial tears of his lateral collateral ligament (LCL) and joint capsule and an avulsion fracture. However, Gay appears to have avoided an injury of this magnitude. The extent of the damage or the involved ligament was never revealed, but Gay did manage to play 34 minutes off the bench Saturday after it was believed he would not play.

The Kings medical staff is well aware than any laxity in the area would dramatically alter the stability of the entire joint and make Gay susceptible to a more severe injury should he return prematurely. As a result, Sacramento continues to list him as questionable for Monday's contest despite his surprise appearance over the weekend. Treat him like you would Cousins and consider other options in weekly formats.

Other Kings players have joined the team's top stars in the athletic training room as Carl Landry (sprained wrist), Ramon Sessions (lower back strain), and Omri Casspi (knee contusion and eye abrasion) are nursing an assortment of injuries. Landry and Casspi's ailments are minor though their fantasy value remains low. Sessions has missed 12 straight games with no apparent improvement. These issues open short-term opportunities for players like Jason Thompson, Derrick Williams, and Reggie Evans. Ben McLemore and Collison could also see an increase in usage.

Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday
Like the Kings, the Pelicans are playing without their top two scoring options. Davis has missed back-to-back outings with a sprained toe on his left foot. The injury is reportedly minor, though New Orleans has vowed to play it safe with the face of their franchise. The team squares off against the unimposing Knicks on Monday, and don't be surprised to see Davis get one more day off. However, he's too valuable to bench, even in weekly formats, and remains a must start.

Holiday's situation provides less optimism. The All-Star point guard has missed three consecutive outings with inflammation in his right ankle. The affected area appears to be his right tibia, the same bone that required surgery last season to address a stress fracture. Unfortunately, we've seen this scenario before as Denver's JaVale McGee has missed a majority of this year with inflammation and soreness around his surgically-repaired tibia. Holiday owners find themselves facing a tough decision. History suggests Holiday's long-term status could be in question. However, any suitable replacement or trade target will likely be a step backward in terms of potential value. The best option might be to wait this one out despite the obvious risk.

Kemba Walker
The Hornets guard remains day-to-day with inflammation in his left knee. The root of the problem is a cyst in the joint that is causing him pain and discomfort and functionally limiting the joint. The type of cyst remains unknown. A simple synovial cyst could develop in the area, but Walker is at risk for a more serious type of cyst known as a Baker's cyst. Baker's cysts often develop around a tear in the cartilage. While there have been no reports of Walker suffering a recent knee injury, a look through his history reveals he was diagnosed with a meniscus tear in his left knee during his time at UConn. It appears the tear was small and never addressed surgically. This would create the perfect environment for a cyst to develop. The biggest concern surrounding the cyst would be a potential rupture. If that occurred, surgery would almost be guaranteed. For now, Charlotte will address the associated symptoms and hope they can get the cyst to dissipate. Unfortunately, cysts are often reoccurring especially if the root of the problem remains untreated. I'm betting this isn't the last we have heard of the problem, and Walker owners may need to reevaluate their long-term plans.

Fast Breaks

Kevin Love: The Cavaliers have plenty of issues without having to worry about Love's status. However, a lingering back issue continues to limit his availability. The injury is listed as back spasms, though spasms are simply the symptoms of an underlying problem. Hearing Love describe his back as tight suggests the problem is muscular in nature. Closely monitor the situation throughout the week to determine his playing status.

Joakim Noah: The Bulls center remains limited by a sprained right ankle. He missed four games earlier in the season with a similar problem and has now missed two more. He's already been ruled out for Monday's game and isn't a viable option this week.

Dwyane Wade: Wade is also dealing with a reoccurring issue and is currently out for the second time this season as a result of his problematic left hamstring. The issue appears less severe than earlier in the season when he missed seven straight games, but this scenario has become commonplace for Wade over the past few years. If you drafted Wade, you knew this was part of the deal, and you simply have to exhibit patience.