Happy New Year, folks! We're entering the 12th week of the fantasy basketball season already and we're just one month away from the NBA trade deadline. The NBA trade deadline always opens and closes opportunities for a lot of our favorite fantasy assets, so we're going to have to be mindful of who's dealt and where they end up a lot more moving forward. 

It looks as if Jimmy Butler could be the first domino piece moved, but we'll see how much uglier it can get in Miami before there's a resolution. Let's dive into our top fantasy basketball waiver wire adds as well as some of the players we're monitoring because of injuries.

 

 

Fantasy Basketball Week 12 Injury Report

Karl-Anthony Towns Injury Update - Hamstring

It looks as if anything serious was dodged here after leaving the game late due to a hamstring issue. According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, Towns was able to go through a lifting session after the game.

Kyrie Irving Injury Update - Back

With four games and a back-to-back set on Monday and Tuesday, Kyrie Irving will miss his second consecutive game with a back issue on Monday. We’ll see if this is something lingering and if it causes him to miss Tuesday as well, Irving’s someone you cannot roster in weekly roster lock formats.

Jaden Ivey Injury Update - Leg

In a game against the Magic earlier in the week, Jaden Ivey fractured his fibula according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. He’s actually not been deemed done for the year, which is kind of incredible, but his absence away from the floor is going to be a lengthy one.

Jalen Suggs Injury Update - Back

We have no idea the severity of the injury at this point, but Suggs collapsed to the ground in pain, holding his back, and had to be wheelchaired off the floor after the non-contact injury. If Suggs is slated to miss any extended time, Cole Anthony and Anthony Black are interesting options. 

D'Angelo Russell Injury Update - Leg

It’s a shin injury for D’Angelo Russell and we’ll find out in the upcoming days how bad it is. He was only able to play 14 minutes against the 76ers, however.

Cam Thomas Injury Update - Hamstring

It looks as if a re-aggravation took place here as Cam Thomas will be out at least the next two weeks due to a hamstring strain, the same type he already suffered.

Cameron Johnson Injury Update - Ankle

Cameron Johnson sprained his ankle for Brooklyn this past week and has been ruled out for at least three games.

Jonathan Kuminga Injury Update - Ankle

The Warriors suffered a tough blow over the weekend as Jonathan Kuminga suffered a “significant” ankle sprain and head coach Steve Kerr said this isn’t a day-to-day thing either. 

Jabari Smith. Injury Update - Hand

It was announced earlier in the week that Jabari Smith. would miss the next four-to-eight weeks with a broken hand. Shams Charania of ESPN said the injury occurred during shootaround.

Jordan Clarkson Injury Update - Foot

With how the Jazz are listing Jordan Clarkson’s injury on Sunday, it seems as if there’s nothing new about it. They’re continuing to list it as plantar fasciitis in his foot, which he’s dealt with for much of the year. We’ll see if that keeps him out past Sunday.

 


Fantasy Basketball Week 12 Waiver Wire

Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons - 46% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

With how much success came from Ausar Thompson’s start, it’s hard to imagine the Pistons moving away from that lineup without Jaden Ivey. He had his first double-double of the year while chipping in with six steals, the second time in three games he’s had at least five. He’s a menace defensively and on the glass and if the points come, he’s an elite fantasy add for the rest of the season.

Malik Beasley, Detroit Pistons - 35% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

In the two games since Jaden Ivey went down, Malik Beasley’s played 31 and 33 minutes off of the Pistons bench and should simply settle into that role. What gives me the utmost confidence is that in the first game he couldn’t make a shot and still got 31 and then was cooking with 23 and played 33. Four times over his last eight games he’s scored 20+ points and in all but one has he notched double-figures.

Tristan da Silva, Orlando Magic - 19% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

It’s been inconsistent production out of Tristan da Silva, but the Magic are so impacted by injuries that his ceiling has really shined through recently. Four times over the previous six games he’s scored at least 18 points including a career-high 25 points this past Friday. da Silva’s a solid rebounder and passer, too, so he’s a multi category contributor. The Magic will eventually get healthier as Paolo Banchero is seemingly on the mend and Jalen Suggs’ back injury shouldn’t cost him TOO much time, but Franz Wagner isn’t coming back any time soon and da Silva will likely start until he’s back.

Quentin Grimes, Dallas Mavericks - 17% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

I think Kyrie Irving already being out for Monday’s game changes some things for Quentin Grimes’ fantasy value. The Dallas Mavericks have a four-game week coming up including a back-to-back on Monday and Tuesday. We know Irving is confirmed out for one of them, and if his back injury is bad enough he’ll likely miss both. Yes Naji Marshall is back, but Dallas will be without Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic and with how well Grimes has played, it’ll be him continuing to step into a big role. He’s scored 11+ points in four straight games and has 29 FP in three of them.

Nikola Jovic, Miami Heat - 11% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

Saturday’s game was an absolute disaster for the Miami Heat, but one bright spot that came from it was Nikola Jovic’s start. In just 24 minutes, Jovic scored 17 points, had three assists and had two steals and two blocks. He’s really been showcased more and more lately playing 24 or more minutes in four straight and six of seven overall. We’ve seen very inconsistent playing time and play during Jovic’s time in the NBA, but with Jimmy Butler suspended for the next six games, we should see plenty of Jovic as he’ll likely continue to start. If/when Butler is traded, we’ll see what the return ends up being to see if Jovic still has fantasy value.