NBA News/Injuries/etc. (2/22/11)

[HacheMan]

Fantasy related but good info....



Fallout: Carmelo is a Knick
One of the biggest trades in NBA history is expected to become official Tuesday -- as long as all physicals are passed. Here is a quick-hitting look at the potential fallout for the key players:

KNICKS
Projected starters:
PG Chauncey Billups
SG Landry Fields
SF Carmelo Anthony
PF Amare Stoudemire
C Ronny Turiaf

Carmelo Anthony: Value holds
Anthony was attempting 19.3 field goals per game on the Nuggets. It's logical to think that number will drop now that he's playing with Amare Stoudemire, but don't forget coach Mike D'Antoni's rabid offensive style. The Knicks attempt the fifth-most shots in the league while the Nuggets rank 21st in that category.

Chauncey Billups: Value holds
Coach Mike D'Antoni's offense is built around point guards. Raymond Felton was having a career year as a top-30 fantasy player and Billups will be no different.

Ronny Turiaf: Upgrade slightly
The Knicks gave away starting center Timofey Mozgov and two small forwards (Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari) that could play some power forward for them. Turiaf projects as a starter on most nights, but note how inconsistent he has been in that role. In 13 starts this year, Turiaf has averaged just 5.9 points and 3.8 rebounds in 21.5 minutes. Always a good bet for an in-game injury, Turiaf is only worth the headache in deep leagues.
www.miamiheat.ws
Corey Brewer: Downgrade slightly
Brewer is a poor bet to unseat Landry Fields at any point this season, but will get minutes because he actually plays defense. The Knicks are going to need this with so many swiss-cheese defenders in their new lineup. Think 24-28 minutes of a high steal rate and poor shooting.

TIMBERWOLVES
Projected starters:
PG Luke Ridnour
SG Martell Webster
SF Michael Beasley
PF Kevin Love
C Darko Milicic

Anthony Randolph: Upgrade
Despite gobs of otherworldly talent, Randolph has been dumped by two teams in the last year. If that's not a red flag, he has questionable work ethic and hasn't sniffed the floor in 37 of the Knicks' games this year. Still, he projects to eventually get 20-25 minutes as a big off the Wolves bench. That's enough burn to take a flier on the upside, especially if you need blocks.

Martell Webster: Upgrade
Corey Brewer had started 19 straight games for the Wolves, averaging 25.2 minutes over that span. That slack will be picked up by Martell Webster, who started at shooting guard ahead of rookie Wes Johnson last time out. Webster's troublesome back is a major concern, but he makes 2.1 treys per 36 minutes in his career. Worth a deep-league add.

NUGGETS
Projected starters:
PG Ty Lawson
SG Arron Afflalo
SF J.R. Smith
PF Kenyon Martin
C Nene

Ty Lawson: Upgrade big
The Nuggets plan on moving Raymond Felton along to a team to be determined. That's because Lawson is ready to play right now. In 14 career starts, he has averaged 16.4 points, 5.9 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 treys and 1.1 steals. There is room to grow on those numbers as well. He's a must-own and must-start.

Aaron Afflalo: Value holds
Afflalo is the kind of player that benefits from playing with a superstar like Carmelo Anthony. He knocks down open 3-pointers while struggling to get his shot off. Yes, there are more attempts to go around now, but Afflalo's game isn't suited to capitalizing on that opportunity.

Danilo Gallinari: Downgrade
Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni has been in Gallinari's corner almost to a fault. It's unlikely that George Karl will stand for Gallo's atrocious defense and inconsistent focus. Karl also isn't a fan of jacking up treys early in the shot clock like D'Antoni is. Gallo is no lock to stay in Denver -- and if he does he will be fighting with Wilson Chandler and J.R. Smith for minutes. Gallinari would get a boost if a trade to New Jersey goes down.

Timofey Mozgov: Downgrade
For now, the Nuggets say they are not trading Nene. And they say Mozgov isn't headed to New Jersey. That could be a bluff as Thursday's deadline approaches. Either way, Mozgov is more of a project than an NBA starter right now. Leave him on waivers.

Wilson Chandler: Downgrade
There is simply too much clutter here for Chandler to get enough minutes/shots to be reliable. That could all change if Gallinari and J.R. Smith are traded, but we can only take a "wait-and-see" approach with Chandler for now. Hold through the deadline.

J.R. Smith: Upgrade
There are reports out there that the Nuggets will not be trading the hot-headed Smith. We are not really buying that, but we must upgrade just in case the reports are true. In five starts this year with Carmelo sidelined, Smith averaged 13.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.6 treys. If locked in as a starter, his confidence and those numbers will rise.

 

[HacheMan]

Fantasy related but good info..




Boosting Beaubois?
It's rare that a championship quality team tinkers with their starting five this late in the season. The Spurs, Lakers, Celtics and Heat all are locked and loaded for the most part. But credit has to be given to Dallas and coach Rick Carlisle for being willing to change at this juncture. In the last two weeks, he has changed 40 percent of his starting lineup and sent ripples through his rotation.

Coaches are constantly tinkering, toying and yanking around with rotations. Sometimes it has to do with injuries. In other instances, it's a result of ineffective play from a certain player. The effect this has on minutes played and thus statistical production is where we come in.

Each week in this space, I'll explore the rotations of half the league's teams while attempting to get inside coaches' heads. The idea is not to tell you what Kevin Durant and LeBron James are going to do -- it's to decipher how much production we can get out of fringe players. Last week, I hit the East. Let's start this week off with the Mavericks, where Roddy Beaubois and Peja Stojakovic find themselves starting.

* Note that lineups listed reflect the starters in the team's previous game. Stats are through Monday's games unless otherwise noted.

<BIG>DALLAS</BIG>
PG Jason Kidd
SG Roddy Beaubois
SF Peja Stojakovic
PF Dirk Nowitzki
C Tyson Chandler

Roddy Beaubois projects as the Mavs' starting shooting guard for the rest of the season. It's an easy decision -- Roddy B is a Ferrari and DeShawn Stevenson is a Pinto. However, we need to keep minute projections in check despite the starting status.

The Mavs prefer to bring Jason Terry off the bench -- but play him starter's minutes. Terry is playing 32.2 minutes per game this year and has played no less than 33 minutes per game in four of the previous five seasons. He's going to get his. J.J. Barea has also been playing at a high level of late. He is averaging 24.5 minutes per game over his last eight contests.

So what we have is about 26-29 minutes available for Beaubois. It's certainly enough for him to be worth an add in most formats thanks to his high shooting volume and 3-point/steal upside. But expecting much more than 12-14 points per game the rest of the way is a stretch for a 22-year-old kid that hasn't played since August.

Meanwhile, Peja Stojakovic has settled into his starting small forward role and produced about how we expected. He'll hover around 20 minutes nightly and jack up 4-5 treys per game. But without any defensive, assist or rebounding numbers, Peja is a just a weak specialist. His current 9.7 points and 1.5 treys a game should be the norm until his knees give out.

Editor's Note: Draft a hoops team just for tonight and win real cash in SnapDraft!

<BIG>DENVER</BIG>
PG Chauncey Billups
SG Arron Afflalo
SF Carmelo Anthony
PF Kenyon Martin
C Nene

The biggest thing we can take from the entire Carmelo Anthony mess is that the Nuggets will be turning the keys over to Ty Lawson. Even when they get Raymond Felton, they plan on moving him along immediately. It's a wise move as Felton is ready to play right now.

In 14 career starts, Lawson is averaging 16.4 points, 5.9 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.2 3-pointers per game. The scary part is that those numbers can get even better as he is still getting used to the NBA game. Lawson should be nowhere near any waiver wires at this point as he stares 32-34 minutes a night in the face.

Here is a projected Knicks rotation if/when the trade goes down: Chauncey Billups, Landry Fields, Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and Timofey Mozgov. Carmelo and Billups take small hits from playing with another superstar, but that will be canceled out by coach Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo offense.

As for projecting the Nuggets rotation A.C. (after Carmelo), it is an exercise in futility. Once the Melo bomb drops, Nene, J.R. Smith, Al Harrington, any Knicks they get and more are all likely to be moved. It's going to be one giant mess that we can only follow as it unfolds.

<BIG>GOLDEN STATE</BIG>
PG Stephen Curry
SG Monta Ellis
SF Dorell Wright
PF David Lee
C Andris Biedrins

Stephen Curry is not ready to guard the best point guards in the NBA and it is showing in foul trouble. Deron Williams, Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups have each saddled him with fouls over the last five games, leading to three sub-30 minute nights. It's a concern, but there is no reason to panic. Curry's game is just so unbelievably roto-friendly that it is worth riding out his youth for the top-5 upside.

There was some thought that Andris Biedrins had turned the corner. Nope. With averages of 3.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in his last eight games, it's clear he has not. The only reason he is still starting and getting 20-22 minutes nightly is that Ekpe Udoh is not ready to play yet. Biedrins is also still starting because the Warriors have also won seven of their last nine games despite his ineffectiveness. This is a situation to avoid.

<BIG>HOUSTON</BIG>
PG Kyle Lowry
SG Kevin Martin
SF Shane Battier
PF Luis Scola
C Chuck Hayes

The Rockets are expected to be one of the more active teams at the trading deadline, although Aaron Brooks rumors have been slim to none. At this point, a trade to somewhere he could get playing time would be a surprise. Names more likely to be dealt include Shane Battier, Jared Jeffries and the expiring contract of Yao Ming.

The goal would be to bring back some size. Chuck Hayes is doing his best, but at 6-foot-6 he is not a realistic long-term option. Hayes has played 25 minutes or fewer in each of his last three games, losing minutes to Jordan Hill, Patrick Patterson and Brad Miller. The odds of Hayes regaining those 30-plus minutes are low -- feel free to cut bait.

<BIG>LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS</BIG>
PG Baron Davis
SG Randy Foye
SF Ryan Gomes
PF Blake Griffin
C DeAndre Jordan

Chris Kaman was not expected back until the end of February or early March. Then, out of nowhere, he popped up for 9.5 minutes in the final game before the All-Star break. The line was impressive, even though it came against the Wolves: Four points, six rebounds, three blocks. So now the question is what will become of the Kaman/DeAndre Jordan situation?

Jordan appeared to hit a wall over the last two weeks. In nine February games, he averaged just 6.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks while seeing his minutes sink to 28.1 a night. That's not him, he's a better player than that. But the Clippers lost seven of those nine games and Jordan is taking some of the blame.

Look for Kaman to ramp up his minutes slowly. Jordan will likely continue to start and get his 26-28 minutes while Kaman makes sure his ankle soreness doesn't linger. If Jordan doesn't snap out of his funk, Kaman would take over at that point. There is enough room for both to play around 28 minutes, making both well worth owning in fantasy. Remember that just one year ago, Kaman averaged 18.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks.

Although Jordan took some of the blame for the recent losing streak, most of it is being blamed on Eric Gordon's (wrist) absence. Since Randy Foye took over as a starter, the Clips are 4-11. As soon as Gordon is ready, he'll get back in the starting lineup and relegate Foye to waiver wire fodder. But with Gordon likely out another week, owners may as well ride out Foye. He is averaging an obscene 36.3 minutes per game as a starter.

Editor's Note: For weekly projections, daily pickup advice, exclusive columns and much more, check out Rotoworld's Season Pass!

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<BIG>LOS ANGELES LAKERS</BIG>
PG Derek Fisher
SG Kobe Bryant
SF Ron Artest
PF Pau Gasol
C Andrew Bynum

The Lakers were playing terrible basketball heading into the break, but a significant change in the rotation is unlikely. Ron Artest won't draw any real interest on the trade market, the Carmelo Anthony for Andrew Bynum rumors were never valid and the Lakers insist on bringing Lamar Odom off the bench.

So what we have is the same old story. One change down the stretch could stem from the fact that the Lakers are 9.5 games up on the Suns in the Pacific Division. Rest for Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol is a concern. That could potentially help Lamar Odom, but damage here has been done. In Odom's last eight games, he is averaging 11.7 points and 6.6 boards in just 29.2 minutes a night. For the fourth straight time in this column, we are selling high.

<BIG>MEMPHIS</BIG>
PG Mike Conley
SG Sam Young
SF Rudy Gay
PF Zach Randolph
C Marc Gasol

As we all know by now, Rudy Gay partially dislocated his shoulder in the Grizzlies' final game before the break and will be out at least four weeks. Even if Gay does get back at that four week mark, the Grizzlies will only have 12 games left in the season. If the Grizz slip out of the playoff race, Gay may not even come back at all. Whether you can hang on solely depends on your format.

Coach Lionel Hollins has not said who will start in place of Gay, but I expect it to be Tony Allen. O.J. Mayo was coming off the bench for a reason and the Grizz went 8-2 during his 10-game suspension. Allen has proven to be a force -- and not just on the defensive end. In eight starts this season, he is averaging 13.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.1 steals, 1.1 blocks and 0.4 treys.

So look for about 33-36 minutes out of Allen and 27-29 for Mayo. Allen has room to improve on those previously stated numbers and is a must-own in all formats. Mayo gets a little boost as well.

Sam Young had locked himself into a starting role even before Gay went down. Over the last eight games, Young was averaging 14.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 36.7 minutes a night. There's not much room for more playing time, but there is room for more shot attempts. Over that stretch, Young was putting up 12.1 field goals a night. With Gay's 16.1 attempts per night now out of the lineup, look for Young to take as many as 15 shots. Consider him a must-start in most formats.

<BIG>MINNESOTA</BIG>
PG Luke Ridnour
SG Martell Webster
SF Corey Brewer
PF Kevin Love
C Darko Milicic

As predicted here, Jonny Flynn is nowhere close to stealing Luke Ridnour's job. Flynn was just average as a rookie and his hip labrum repair has proven to be a major setback. Ridnour is a better in both real life and fantasy, locking him into 32-34 minutes nightly even when Flynn gets back from his little rest.

Meanwhile, Martell Webster quietly appears to have passed Wes Johnson on the depth chart. He projects as a sixth man once Michael Beasley (ankle) gets healthy, but note that Corey Brewer is likely to be dealt. In that case, Webster would start as a fantasy asset in 3-pointers. He is averaging 2.1 3-pointers per 36 minutes in his career. Just keep an eye on Webster's back -- it has been bothering him all year.

If/when the proposed trade between the Knicks and the Nuggets goes down, the Wolves will acquire Anthony Randolph. Randolph's tantalizing talent is intriguing, but we have to realize he has essentially been cut by two separate teams already. Expecting more than 20-25 minutes in an already-crowded rotation is a stretch, but deep leaguers can take a speculative look.

<BIG>NEW ORLEANS</BIG>
PG Chris Paul
SG Willie Green
SF Trevor Ariza
PF David West
C Jason Smith

Marco Belinelli has officially been replaced by Willie Green. It's an embarrassing turn of events for Belinelli, whose long-term outlook in the league needs to be assessed. Given every opportunity to succeed next to Chris Paul, the Italian averaged just 10.0 points and shot 40.8 percent in 51 starts this year.

As for Green, here are his numbers in seven starts this year: 14.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 1.0 treys, 0.4 steals on 51.9 percent shooting. It's an empty statline and considering Green is a career 42.5 percent shooter, the points do not project to sustain. He's a weak option.

Note that Emeka Okafor (oblique) is questionable Wednesday, 3 1/2 weeks after his 1-3 week timetable. He should be at full strength soon and ready for his usual 31-33 minutes shortly.

<BIG>OKLAHOMA CITY</BIG>
PG Russell Westbrook
SG Thabo Sefolosha
SF Kevin Durant
PF Jeff Green
C Nenad Krstic

That brief crisis over Serge Ibaka's minutes is a distant memory. He has been hovering around 26 minutes per night all season and that's exactly where he will be the rest of the way. If you can't use his February numbers of 8.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks, you're in the wrong league. Forget that he's not starting, the roles here are as stable as it gets in the NBA.

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<BIG>PHOENIX</BIG>
PG Steve Nash
SG Vince Carter
SF Grant Hill
PF Channing Frye
C Robin Lopez

Vince Carter's usage over the last week has been alarming. Before logging 31.8 minutes on Thursday, Carter was averaging just 19.1 minutes per game over his previous four. It wasn't because he was injured -- it was simply because Mickael Pietrus and Jared Dudley were playing better. In other words, Carter has been put on notice and he has to step up.

I'm not convinced Carter is capable of raising his game at this point in his career. Since joining the Suns at age 34, his field-goal percentage is down to 42.4 percent while his 3-point attempts are up to 4.8 per game. It's a sign that he can no longer get to the rim. Look for his minutes to continue to fall.

We can only consider Robin Lopez's 13 point, 13 rebound performance on Thursday night a fluke. In the previous seven games, Marcin Gortat was averaging 30.2 minutes per game. That will be the norm as Gortat is clearly the better player.

<BIG>PORTLAND</BIG>
PG Andre Miller
SG Wesley Matthews
SF Nicolas Batum
PF LaMarcus Aldridge
C Dante Cunningham

This situation is extremely fluid. First of all, Brandon Roy is expected to test his knee in practice Tuesday in the hopes that the Blazers will let him play Wednesday. Once cleared, he will be eased in off the bench for somewhere around 20 minutes. Again, note that his dual scopes were designed for short-term relief -- he fully intends to contribute in a significant manner this season. His minutes will cut into Patty Mills and Rudy Fernandez -- not as much Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum. There is enough room here for Roy to get back around 28-30 minutes and be a fantasy asset.

Marcus Camby (knee) is also tentatively expected back this week, although he does not want to be traded. That could make him sit out through Thursday's deadline. Either way, look for Camby to stay -- the Blazers are just too thin up front. Camby should quickly get back up around 28-30 minutes as well.

Andre Miller is certainly on the trading block and seems likely to get moved. Without a clear-cut destination, however, we cannot make any preemptive moves.

<BIG>SACRAMENTO</BIG>
PG Beno Udrih
SG Jermaine Taylor
SF Omri Casspi
PF DeMarcus Cousins
C Samuel Dalembert

The latest setback with Tyreke Evans' plantar fasciitis has to be considered a major concern. With just 29 games left in the year and the Kings sporting a 13-40 record, there isn't much incentive for Evans to fight through the kind of pain this injury includes. Even if he does end up playing later this week, he is a poor bet to sustain health all the way to the end.

However, don't get sucked into Jermaine Taylor's outburst from last Wednesday. The 2009 second-round pick is a borderline NBA talent that caught he Mavs off guard. Beno Udrih is the real beneficiary if Evans shuts it down. And coach Paul Westphal is prone to sending Taylor back to the pine at the first hint of struggles.

DeMarcus Cousins' 33 point, 14 rebound in the Rookie Challenge showed the world what we already know -- this kid is special. Still only 20 years old and growing into his body, he has the upside to be a 20 and 10 player for a long, long time if he can keep his head on straight. While Samuel Dalembert, Carl Landry and Jason Thompson all cancel each other out, Cousins will be the constant. His 17.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks over his last seven games are sustainable.

<BIG>SAN ANTONIO</BIG>
PG Tony Parker
SG Manu Ginobili
SF Richard Jefferson
PF Tim Duncan
C DeJuan Blair

Coach Gregg Popovich sent owners into a tizzy when he brought Manu Ginobili off the bench against the Wizards on Feb. 12. It turns out it was just a one-game thing to get Manu some rest, but the intent is worth noting here. Ginobili is shooting 36.9 percent over his last nine games and appears to be wearing down after that scalding start. With more rest on the horizon, Ginobili is a sell-high candidate on name value.

Speaking of name value, Tim Duncan is averaging just 25.8 minutes a night over his last nine games. As I led with two weeks ago, Duncan is on cruise control. DeJuan Blair, who played just 19.6 minutes in the last game before the break, is a nice buy-low.

<BIG>UTAH</BIG>
PG Deron Williams
SG Gordon Hayward
SF C.J. Miles
PF Paul Millsap
C Al Jefferson

New coach Tyrone Corbin has been pretty clear about his intentions with the rotation. Like Jerry Sloan, he sees C.J. Miles as a bench player. That means Raja Bell (calf) will start right out of the break, sending Miles back to the bench. We don't need to dig too deep to realize how much of a hit this is to Miles' value.

C.J. Miles as a starter: 18.0 ppg, 2.0 3-pointers per game, 36.6 minutes.
C.J. Miles as a reserve: 11.9 ppg, 1.5 3-pointers per game, 23.1 minutes.

Andrei Kirilenko (ankle) will also get his starting job back when healthy. Note that in Corbin's first game, Kirilenko played the entire first quarter and ended up with eight points, five rebounds and two assists. Playing at a level reminiscent of a few years back, AK47 remains an extremely underrated fantasy asset with an up arrow.

 

[HacheMan]

Fantasy related but good info....



Dose: Afflalo Falling?
Well, it finally happened. Carmelo Anthony is going to the Knicks! In case you missed Adam Levitan's breakdown of the deal, check it out here. Matt Stroup will be live chatting today at 1, and you can check that out right here.

The Trade

For now, Denver is getting Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, the Knicks' 2014 first-round draft pick, the Warriors' 2012 second-round pick, the Warriors' 2013 second-round pick and $3 million. Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter, Renaldo Balkman and Corey Brewer (via Minnesota) are all going to New York, while the Knicks will ship Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry to the Wolves.
www.therx.ws
Knicks

I know many Knicks fans are bummed out about them shipping the whole team out of town, but Amare Stoudemire, Melo and Billups is a nice core. The biggest problem I see the Knicks having is at center, as Ronny Turiaf is the only one still on the roster. Turiaf hasn't been healthy enough to be relied upon this season and extra minutes probably means more injury woes for him and Mike D'Antoni. Shelden Williams and Renaldo Balkman might be forced into serious minutes when Turiaf is hurt, as they're really the only other big men D'Antoni has at his disposal. And if they're going to get run, Amare Stoudemire is going to be playing a lot of center. But just because Williams and Balkman are going to get minutes doesn't mean they have fantasy value.

As for fantasy implications for the rest of the Knicks, Melo, Amare and Billups shouldn't change too much, Landry Fields could take a hit with a few less shots per game, with Turiaf getting a boost. Corey Brewer didn't have much value in Minnesota, but could see a bit more of a role for the Knicks. Having said that, there's no reason to rush out and pick him up.

Nuggets

The Nuggets will now have to decide whether or not they're keeping or trading Felton. If they keep him, he's going to split minutes with Ty Lawson and both players take a fantasy hit. If they trade him (Hawks?), Lawson becomes a top fantasy point guard and Felton might not lose any value if he goes to the right team. Either way, Lawson knows the system and knows what Karl is looking for, which means he's going to be the starter, even if Felton is a better player right now.

Arron Afflalo is a guy I'm worried about, as he is going to now have to fight for minutes with Chandler and Gallinari, both of whom are more skilled basketball players than Afflalo. I would even consider dropping him at this point if you have your eye on another free agent. Maybe I'm wrong, but Afflalo nearly fell out of Round 1 in the 2007 draft and doesn't have the same pedigree as Gallinari and Chandler. But also keep in mind Gallinari might not be staying long in Denver, which would help Afflalo's cause.

J.R. Smith might end up starting initially, but I bet George Karl still likes the thought of him coming off the bench. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if both Chandler and Gallinari are starting over Afflalo and Smith in two weeks. But for now, Smith is probably worth a flier. Kenyon Martin and Nene should continue to start with Mozgov backing up Nene, and Chandler possibly playing some PF, along with Al Harrington and Chris Andersen, when K-Mart is injured or resting. Keep a close eye on the point guard situation. Yes, Lawson is the future, but Felton is basically having an all-star season and is going to get minutes regardless of whether he stays or goes.

For the Timberwolves, things don't change a whole lot. Martell Webster's job is more secure with Brewer out of the way, while it should also mean more minutes for Wesley Johnson. Anthony Randolph is going to finally see some minutes for Kurt Rambis, but he's got a little roadblock in his way named Kevin Love. I still think grabbing Randolph makes sense, but just don't set your expectations very high. And if Eddy Curry is somehow healthy enough to play, he might actually get into some games, but that doesn't mean he should be on any fantasy rosters.

Keep in mind more trades are coming and several of the players I just wrote about could be moving soon. The Clippers are said to be trying to get Gallinari, which would be a big deal and solid upgrade over Ryan Gomes, while Felton could also be on the move soon. And the Nets are still hoping to wheel and deal, with Devin Harris almost certainly heading out of town, and if they don't get a point guard to replace him, Jordan Farmar is going to be worth owning.

Injury News and Notes

Dwyane Wade practiced and should be good to go for tonight despite a sore ankle. Make sure he's in your lineup. Mike Miller didn't practice and despite not having a concussion, is being treated with kid gloves due to all the shots he's taken to the head this year. Bench him if you can.

Michael Beasley is probable for tonight at Milwaukee so get him back in your lineups. He's missed five straight games with a sprained ankle and the only risk of playing him now is the chance he aggravates the injury.

Nick Young's knee is feeling better and he should be back for tonight's game against the Pacers. Rashard Lewis is also expected to play tonight, but it sounds like he'll be limited. If you have options, I'd put Lewis on the bench. Kirk Hinrich is out tonight with a mysterious calf injury, meaning more minutes for both John Wall and Young.

For the Sixers, Spencer Hawes was a go in practice and sounds like a lock to start tomorrow. He had a nice double-double in his last game and has a good matchup with JaVale McGee tomorrow, but that still doesn't mean he should automatically be in starting lineups.

Andrei Kirilenko is back from his ankle injury and will be starting for the Jazz tomorrow. Weigh your options carefully, but if AK-47 can stay healthy for the whole week, he should put up solid numbers in his three games.

Ersan Ilyasova will start tonight despite his eye injury, while it remains to be seen if Carlos Delfino or Corey Maggette will get the starting call tonight. John Salmons appears to be locked in as the starting shooting guard, and because Maggette's back still isn't fully healthy, my guess is Delfino will start again tonight.

Eric Gordon is out for at least another week, meaning Randy Foye is still relevant. Maybe Gordon will be back on Monday, but he could easily take longer that that to return from his wrist injury.

Emeka Okafor practiced for the Hornets on Monday and remains questionable for Wednesday. My guess is he's playing since he practiced, but we'll have to wait and see if I'm right or not.

Mo Williams didn't practice much on Monday and Byron Scott wasn't pleased with how he looked. Williams is dealing with an ankle injury, but I think his state of mind is probably a bigger issue. If Ramon Sessions is still available in your league, he shouldn't be after you finish reading this sentence.

D.J. Augustin's wrist is healthy again and he looked good in Monday's practice. The run of Shaun Livingston might have been a short one, but I'd hang onto him for a few more days to see how Augustin looks after his time off. My guess is that Augustin retakes control of the job again now that he's rested and healthy.

Tyreke Evans is out on Tuesday and is seeing another foot specialist, as well as getting an MRI on his troublesome foot. The rumors we've heard are that he'll be shut down for an extended time, but that hasn't happened yet, and is not guaranteed to. Hopefully the doctors will tell him to suck it up and get back on the floor. Get him on your in all leagues for now.

Joakim Noah will be back and ready to roll on Wednesday, so get him in your lineup. I am expecting him to pick up right where he left off.

 

[HacheMan]

Josh Howard - G/F - Wizards

Josh Howard will start on Tuesday with Rashard Lewis limited by a sore knee.
Howard will eventually come off the bench, but only if Lewis ever gets healthy again. The fact that the oft-injured Howard is actually in better shape than Lewis should be a concern for Lewis' owners. Feb. 22 - 6:24 p.m. ET
Source: Samuel Chamberlain on Twitter

 

[HacheMan]

Mike Miller - G/F - Heat

Mike Miller will miss Tuesday's game due to his head injury.
The Heat are hoping he can practice on Wednesday, so he's day-to-day. Feb. 22 - 6:01 p.m. ET
Source: Shandel Richardson on Twitter

 

[HacheMan]

Al Thornton - F - Wizards

Al Thornton isn't expected to play Tuesday due to his finger injury.
He might be needed in an emergency with Rashard Lewis limited by a sore knee, but Flip Saunders would prefer not to use him. Feb. 22 - 5:59 p.m. ET
Source: Samuel Chamberlain on Twitter

 

[HacheMan]

Richard Hamilton - G/F - Pistons

Rip Hamilton will not play on Tuesday due to his lingering groin injury.
Hopefully the Pistons will trade him, but that still wouldn't make him a must-own player unless he ends up in an ideal situation. And at this point, we don't even know what that would be. Feb. 22 - 5:22 p.m. ET
Source: Chris Iott on Twitter

 

[HacheMan]

Erick Dampier - C - Heat

Erick Dampier will start on Tuesday against the Kings.
It's possible he takes the center job and does something with it, but we're not counting on it. It's more likely that he continues to platoon with Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Joel Anthony, with very little fantasy value to speak of. Feb. 22 - 7:55 p.m. ET
Source: Shandel Richardson on Twitter

 

[HacheMan]

Delonte West - G - Celtics

Delonte West (wrist) and Semih Erden (personal) will both play on Tuesday against the Warriors.
They will both have minimal roles, and owners in deep leagues should simply watch them at this time. Feb. 22 - 7:29 p.m. ET
Source: Celtics Life on Twitter

 

[HacheMan]

Devin Harris - G - Nets

The Nets are currently talking with both Portland and Dallas about a trade for Devin Harris, according to Ken Berger of CBS Sports.
The Nets would get Andre Miller if they trade with Portland, and Caron Butler's expiring contract, Dominique Jones, and a first round pick if they trade with Dallas, though pieces could be added or removed for sure. Owners should be rooting for a trade to Portland at this point, as a trade to Dallas would be a bad thing for all parties involved including Jason Kidd and the Mavs' backcourt. Feb. 22 - 9:17 p.m. ET
Source: Ken Berger on Twitter

 

[HacheMan]

Stephen Jackson - G/F - Bobcats

Stephen Jackson left Tuesday's game during the third quarter with a left hamstring injury and did not return, finishing with 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting (including a three) with two rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block in 26 minutes.
He is on the trade block and the Bobcats aren't about to risk him missing any additional time, so there is a chance this isn't very serious. We'll track it though, and Gerald Henderson would pick up minutes if Jackson misses any time. Feb. 22 - 8:57 p.m. ET
Source: Charlotte Bobcats on Twitter