This article is part of our NBA Injury Analysis series.
After missing the first 17 games of the season following surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot, Durant had hoped to quickly move past his injury woes. However, an ankle sprain and big toe sprain have cost him 10 additional games and now his surgically-repaired foot is once again a problem.
The most recent setback for the reigning MVP is a frustrating one for fantasy owners, but like all injuries the pros and cons have to be weighed. Durant's initial injury was a Jones fracture of the fifth metatarsal of the foot. In late October, I detailed how these types of fractures are complicated due to the limited amount of blood flow to the area. I also warned that the risk of re-injury loomed and cited multiple players, including Nets center Brook Lopez and Clippers forward Glen Davis, as examples of players who eventually needed hardware replacements following initial surgery. However, while Durant has indeed undergone a second procedure on the foot, his situation is not the same or quite as significant.
The good news is that Durant's surgical hardware has not failed. In fact, the Thunder stated the healing that has occurred at the fifth metatarsal looks good and the surgical screw is intact. However, another issue has developed. The current soreness stems from part of the hardware rubbing one of the neighboring bones of the foot. Proximal to the fifth metatarsal sits the cuboid, a square-shaped bone that is apart of the midfoot.
After missing the first 17 games of the season following surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot, Durant had hoped to quickly move past his injury woes. However, an ankle sprain and big toe sprain have cost him 10 additional games and now his surgically-repaired foot is once again a problem.
The most recent setback for the reigning MVP is a frustrating one for fantasy owners, but like all injuries the pros and cons have to be weighed. Durant's initial injury was a Jones fracture of the fifth metatarsal of the foot. In late October, I detailed how these types of fractures are complicated due to the limited amount of blood flow to the area. I also warned that the risk of re-injury loomed and cited multiple players, including Nets center Brook Lopez and Clippers forward Glen Davis, as examples of players who eventually needed hardware replacements following initial surgery. However, while Durant has indeed undergone a second procedure on the foot, his situation is not the same or quite as significant.
The good news is that Durant's surgical hardware has not failed. In fact, the Thunder stated the healing that has occurred at the fifth metatarsal looks good and the surgical screw is intact. However, another issue has developed. The current soreness stems from part of the hardware rubbing one of the neighboring bones of the foot. Proximal to the fifth metatarsal sits the cuboid, a square-shaped bone that is apart of the midfoot. This is the bone Durant's surgical screw is irritating. To alleviate the problem and Durant's pain, the portion of the screw causing the problem was addressed and should allow KD to return when the wound heals and any resulting swelling and inflammation subsides.
The Thunder will reevaluate the situation in one week, though I'm betting Durant doesn't return immediately. OKC could opt to hold him out for a longer stretch to ensure no other issues develop, especially if the team can string together a few wins during his absence. Russell Westbrook appears poised to single-handedly ensure this happens, putting up a ridiculous stat line of 21 points, 17 assists and eight rebounds in Durant's first missed game.
Fantasy owners with their spot in the standings solidified should simply wait this one out. However, those fighting for final playoff positioning may want to consider moving Durant.
The Knicks forward is done for the season following a patellar tendon debridement on his troublesome left knee. While he is no longer worth owning in one-year leagues, those in dynasty or keeper leagues face a tough problem. Debridement procedures are common in the NBA and are characterized as the removal of a foreign body or irritant from healthy tissue. The list of potential hazards that may require a debridement include dead tissue, bone spurs, loose cartilage or accumulated scar tissue. Anthony's debridement was performed on the patellar tendon, the conjoined tendon of the quadriceps muscle group that surrounds the kneecap, and was carried out to remove scar tissue, calcifications, and other debris.
The expected recovery is between four and six months, suggesting Melo's rehab could potentially spill over into next season's training camp. Furthermore, the chances of an additional procedure somewhere down the road are high. 45 percent of recent players to undergo a knee debridement needed a subsequent surgery later in their career. The odds are worse for patellar tendon debridements though the sample size is low. Dwyane Wade and Danny Granger are the two most recent examples of patellar tendon debridements and both players needed additional work following their initial surgery.
While every rehab is handled differently, history suggests Anthony's knee will likely be a problem moving forward. Regular maintenance may help minimize the affects, but fantasy owners should be leery about investing long-term in Melo.
The Heat forward will miss the remainder of the season after he developed blood clots that traveled to his lungs. The work by the Heat medical staff should be praised as the early detection may have saved Bosh's life. In the meantime, Bosh has been placed on anticoagulant medication designed to thin his blood and prevent additional clots from developing. However, the medicine makes him vulnerable to excessive bleeding or significant internal bleeding should he be cut or absorb a heavy blow. As a result, he will be unable to play until he is off the medication and all the existing clots have been absorbed. As long as the cause of the clot formation was not a genetic disorder, Bosh should be fine moving forward. NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon suffered a blood clot in his leg late in his career but was able to return to action. Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao and Miami forward Udonis Haslem both returned to the court following blood clots that developed following lower-extremity surgery.
Oddly enough, Haslem has replaced Bosh in the starting lineup, with Chris Andersen bound to see an increase in usage. Free agent Andray Blatche has been linked to Miami and could be worth a speculative add.
Fast Breaks
Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson
Both members of the Pelicans' frontcourt left Saturday's win over Miami after sustaining injuries. Davis aggravated his previously sprained right shoulder. The injury is to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint and is expected to sideline him for at least one week. Given his size and position, I'm betting this extends to 10 to 14 days. Anderson's injury is a bit more serious, as he sprained the medical collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee. He's expected to miss at least two weeks, suggesting the injury is a low-end Grade 2 sprain. With both players out, New Orleans will turn to Omer Asik, Alexis Ajinca, and potentially Dante Cunningham to fill the glaring gaps. Factor in Jrue Holiday's lingering stress injury and things are quickly going south by the bayou.
Curry missed Sunday's game against the Pacers after sustaining a right foot injury in the team's win over the Spurs. The injury does not appear related to his right ankle that was notoriously problematic early in his career. However, he's questionable for Monday and fantasy owners in weekly leagues should have a backup plan readily available.
Parsons has already missed one game and is expected to miss at least two more nursing a sprained left ankle. The Mavs' forward also suffered a bone bruise when he turned the ankle against Houston, complicating the issue. The team will reevaluate him before the weekend but don't be surprised if he misses an additional game or two. Richard Jefferson took Parsons' spot in the starting unit, with Al-Farouq Aminu remaining apart of the second unit.
The Celtics will be without Sullinger for the remainder of the season after he developed a stress fracture in the fourth metatarsal in his foot. Surgery has not been mentioned as a treatment option, and he should be fine entering next season. Tyler Zeller suddenly has potential and certainly more upside than Brandon Bass. Kelly Olynk could also see an uptick in minutes when he returns from his ankle sprain.
