With the NBA season kicking off on Tuesday, it’s time to get your first fantasy basketball lineup in order. With plenty of injuries from last season still hampering players, and some new ones picked up in the preseason, let’s look at who’s in and who’s out for the first week of the season.
Atlanta:
Paul Millsap (Achilles): Millsap is dealing with a sore Achilles but is fully expected to be ready for the Hawks’ season opener on Wednesday against the Mavericks.
Charlotte:
Al Jefferson (ankle): Jefferson is dealing with an ankle injury but is fully expected to play on Wednesday when the Bobcats open the season against the Rockets.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (hamstring): MKG left last Tuesday’s preseason game with a strained hamstring and may not be ready to play this week so he should probably remain on your bench for the time being.
Chicago:
Joakim Noah (groin): Noah is nursing a sore groin but is expected to start on Tuesday in the Bulls’ opener against the Heat.
Kirk Hinrich (concussion): Hinrich is questionable for Tuesday’s game against Miami but has a chance to play if his concussion symptoms are gone.A
Cleveland:
Andrew Bynum (knee): Bynum has yet to be cleared to play and, although he’s practicing, remains some time away from being able to take the court again.
Dion Waiters (ankle): Waiters has been nursing a sore ankle but is expected to start on Wednesday when the Cavs open their season against the Nets.
Denver:
Ty Lawson (groin): Lawson isn’t practicing this week because of a groin injury and is highly questionable for Wednesday’s opener against the Kings though it’s not expected to keep him out for an extended period of time.
Kenneth Faried (hamstring): Faried’s hammy isn’t back at 100 percent but he is expected to play on Wednesday against Sacramento.
Detroit:
Rodney Stuckey (thumb): Stuckey hasn’t been cleared just yet after suffering a broken thumb less than a month ago but has a chance to return as early as this week.
Brandon Jennings (jaw): Jennings is still recovering from a hairline fracture in his jaw and is not expected back until November 5 at the earliest.
Golden State:
Harrison Barnes (foot): Barnes is not at 100 percent and is likely to miss at least Wednesday’s opener against the Lakers.
Indiana:
Danny Granger (calf): Granger is expected to miss the first three weeks of the season with a strained calf. Lance Stephenson will likely get a nice bump in minutes until he returns.
Los Angeles Clippers:
Darren Collison (knee): Collison is far from 100 percent as he recovers from a bruised knee cap and is questionable for Tuesday’s opener against the Lakers.
Los Angeles Lakers:
Kobe Bryant (ankle): Bryant remains without a timetable for his return and will continue to rehab his surgically repaired ankle until he is fully ready to come back.
Steve Nash (neck): Nash is dealing with a neck injury and while he’s expected to start on Tuesday against the Clippers, he may have to sit out Wednesday’s game against the Warriors depending on how he feels after a full game.
Milwaukee:
Ersan Ilyasova (ankle): Ilyasova continues to rehab his sprained ankle but is not expected to be ready by Wednesday’s opener against the Knicks.
Brandon Knight (hamstring): Knight missed the final two preseason games to rest his hammy but is expected to play on Wednesday against New York.
Caron Butler (ankle): Butler missed the final preseason game as well but is expected to be ready by Wednesday.
Minnesota:
Nikola Pekovic (thigh): Pekovic missed the preseason finale with a bruised thigh but is fully expected to play on Wednesday against the Magic.
New Orleans:
Tyreke Evans (ankle): Evans missed three weeks of the preseason but returned on Friday and is expected to play on Wednesday against the Pacers.
New York:
Raymond Felton (hamstring): Felton missed a couple of games with a hammy injury but returned to the lineup on Friday and is expected to start on Wednesday against the Bucks.
J.R. Smith (knee, suspension): Smith played his first preseason game of the year on Friday as he recovers from a minor knee surgery. Smith is suspended for the first five games of the season and is expected to be ready to play a full role by the time he returns.
Orlando:
Glen Davis (foot): Davis is still recovering from a foot surgery and is not expected to fully practice for at least two weeks. He isn’t expected back until late November.
Tobias Harris (ankle): Harris is dealing with a sprained ankle and is in jeopardy of missing this week’s games if his injury doesn’t improve by Wednesday.
Phoenix:
Emeka Okafor (neck): Okafor, who was just traded from the Wizards to the Suns, is still recovering from a herniated disc and may be out until January. Alex Len and Miles Plumlee are expected to split his minutes at center.
Alex Len (ankle): Len is dealing with an ankle injury and may miss Wednesday’s season opener against the Trail Blazers.
Toronto:
Kyle Lowry (finger): Lowry has been practicing with a splint to protect his finger but is expected to play on Wednesday against the Celts.
