Week 6 Injury Watch a.k.a The LA Clippers

TEAM INJURIES

Atlanta Hawks Markelle Fultz (Shoulder), Alexis Ajinca (Knee), Justin Patton (Toe), Justin Jackson (G-League)

Prized number one pick Fultz still remains on the sidelines and it is likely he may still miss months as opposed to weeks. Ajinca will miss a lot of time and the rookies are still pretty green. Luckily for Hawks fans, Holiday has improved and the team is performing really well, coming off arguably their best week of the season in week five.

Brooklyn Nets Cameron Payne (Foot), A.J. Hammons (G-League)

The Nets have never been as healthy as they are now after welcoming Gallinari back and shipping off the rehabbing Jabari Parker for the electric rookie in Fox. The lineup looks strong, and If the Nets are to overcome their slow start, it has to start this week... or more changes might be on the way.

Boston Celtics Dorian Finney-Smith (Knee), Lucas Nogueira (Calf)

Jeff Withey returns to add big man depth to the squad but luckily for Celtics fans, all the major players will be available for week six (a.k.a DURANT IS HEALTHY!!!!!!!!!).

Charlotte Hornets Frank Jackson (Foot), Harry Giles (Knees), Trevor Booker (Not with team)

Status Quo for the Hornets, as it seems like the same duo in Jackson and Giles will be unavailable for week six. This means business as usual for the Hornets, who rely on the Unicorn and a bevy of young up and coming players. Booker makes his way to the unavailable list but was a bit player in the rotation, anyway.

Chicago Bulls Damian Jones (CD), Nicolas Brussino (CD), Dewayne Dedmon (Leg), Stephen Curry (Ankle)

We all thought Dedmon was a big out, and it was true. Then Steph went bigger and bent his ankle 90 degrees further than it should really bend. Ouch. He avoided serious injury but could not avoid damage, with the severe sprain extremely swollen and tender. He may miss weeks, and with Chicago's non existent depth, they might be going backwards until he get back.

Cleveland Cavaliers Milos Teodosic (Foot), Terrence Ross (Knee)

The Cavs core has been healthy for the season but the Ross injury does hurt, Robert Covington will need to step up and add more fire off the bench. Milos is close to returning and Cavs fans have to be thrilled with who will likely be their starting point guard for the rest of the season. Until then, expect LBJ to keep flirting with 10 dimes a game.

Dallas Mavericks Jonathan Isaac (Ankle), Paul Millsap (Wrist), Nerlens Noel (Thumb)

Three big outs for the Mavericks, with enigmatic rookie Isaac still overcoming an ankle ailment. Millsap and Noel are out for months and they are big outs. This means more Zubac, who is almost as good as Alex Len, and that's really, really good. Dallas are on a bit of a slide lately, and these current injuries won't help the recovery.

Denver Nuggets John Wall (Knee), Troy Williams (Knee)

John Wall continues to rehab his knee and this will likely be his last week on the sidelines with this injury. Clearly their best player, the bi-polar Nuggets continue to reach great highs and lows from game to game and are yet to find a consistent rotation of game style. One more week without Wall and then their leader will be back.

Detroit Pistons Jabari Parker (Knee), Jon Leuer (Ankle), Tyler Lydon (G-League), Bruno Caboclo (G-League), Derrick Jones Jr. (Waived in NBA), Kay Felder (G-League)

The Pistons took on some risk this week in acquiring Jabari Parker. There's not question he can play, but after blowing out two knees in his first few seasons, there has to be some red flags there. Or is this a great buy low opportunity? We will have to judge this one in seasons to come. The rest of the team is in the G-League or was waived (Derrick Jones Jr) to make room for incoming players.

Golden State Warriors Jason Smith (Knee), Frank Kaminsky (Ankle), Dario Saric (Rest)

The Warriors had arguably their best week of the season this week with huge wins over reigning champions the Spurs and the Wolves. However, they unfortunately followed those two games with poor losses to the Nuggets and the Pacers. This next week could be brutal with starters Saric and Kaminsky out. Luckily for them newcomers in Theis and Iguodala will slot in to big minutes to help carry the load.

Houston Rockets Isaiah Thomas (Hip), Mindaugas Kuzminskas (Waived in NBA), Hassan Whiteside (Knee), Timothy Hardaway (Leg)

Rockets have some huge outs with Thomas remaining out post-hip surgery, but he is getting close to a return. Whiteside has taken some time away from basketball activities to try and heal his ailing knee and is 1-2 weeks away, or so it would seem. Hardaway Jr, who was having a terrific run, has stress fractures in his leg and is out indefinitely. Brutal blow with arguably the three best players on the entire team out. Houston, we may have a problem.

Indiana Pacers Sheldon Mac (Achilles), Matthew Dellavedova (Knee), Blake Griffin (Leg), Brandan Wright (Groin), Jerami Grant (Hip)

A third of the Pacers roster will be unavailable for week six and one of those players is Blake Griffin, who is out for the foreseeable future. Blake is effectively the Pacers team on offense but like the Pacers, has stuttered out of the gate. This week sees Marcus Morris and Troy Daniels in the starting lineup. At least Tony Parker is back, who along with Tobias Harris, will have to do most of the scoring.

LA Clippers Tristan Thompson (Calf), DAngelo Russell (Knee), Rodney Hood (Ankle), Cody Zeller (Knee), Dennis Smith (Hip), Devin Booker (Groin), John Collins (Shoulder)

Yep, you counted right... seven injuries. Almost half the Clippers roster will be unavailable for the next week and boy is there some talent on the sidelines. The Clips 'All Injured Team' would read better than a lot of team's starting lineups - Russell, Booker, Hood, Collins, Thompson with Smith and Zeller off the bench. That is a lot of talent, so Clippers may have the worst performance in the league during week six. Good luck.

LA Lakers Rodney McGruder (Leg)

Greenmig traded for McGruder with the knowledge that he would be out for most of the season, so it is business as usual for greenmig. Expect a healthy dose of pick and rolls and Nikola Vucevic fouling off at least two big men a game. Lakers have a tough week with Charlotte, New York and Milwaukee on the cards during their Eastern Conference road trip.

Memphis Grizzlies Dante Exum (Shoulder)

Exum remains out for a long period of time after destroying his shoulder, but Tyus Jones has been terrific as a back up point guard this season. The rest of the Memphis team is available and will continue to rally behind new team leader and rookie Jayson Tatum and fellow youngsters Marquis Chriss and Frankie Smokes. Has Taj Gibson been traded yet?

Miami Heat Isaiah Canaan (Waived in NBA)

Miami continue to hold Canaan after he has been waived in the NBA weeks ago, but business as usual here. This is their only injury and this is great news for Miami fans, that this rag-tag team can continue to show the incredible chemistry and shooting that this team possesses. With only a few household names, this team continues to hold down a playoff position.

Milwaukee Bucks Zach LaVine (Knee), Iman Shumpert (Knee), Skal Labissiere (G-League)

LaVine creeps closer to a return but he is also joined by Shumpert, another wing who will miss weeks with another knee injury. Skal is cutting his teeth in the G-League and Donovan Mitchell is holding down the fort on the wing for the Bucks. Giannis, Russell and Karl will continue to do the lion's share of everything for the Bucks, and they will be their usual dominant self.

Minnesota Timberwolves Glenn Robinson III (Ankle), Wayne Selden Jr. (Quadriceps), Zaza Pachulia (Shoulder), Evan Fournier (Ankle)

The rudderless Wolves have improved as the season has progressed, but have still very much underperformed, which is in-salt-ing when you consider the talent they have on this team. Robinson III is still out and Zaza and Fournier will join him on the sidelines - two important pieces to the Timberwolves' rotation. Rumour has it they may be hiring a new gm during the week.

New Orleans Pelicans Chinanu Onuaku (G-League), Caleb Swanigan (CD), Khem Birch (G-League)

The Pelicans positive start is getting further and further away in the rear view mirror as Alex Len begins to tire from carrying an entire state on his unproven shoulders. They made a good trade during the week, bringing in McLemore and Swanigan, who the coach has decided isn't ready to play minutes yet over guys like Dakari Johnson and Jake Layman. Tough love!

New York Knicks Jason Terry (Calf), Kyle Anderson (Knee), Nene Hilario (Eye)

Anderson is a big out for the Knicks, whom during the week touted him as arguably their most effective player on the whole team due to his +/- rating. Luckily for New York they have a heap of talented depth and will throw Lance Stephenson into a bigger role for the week. Hilaro is a big out, too, but it just means more Zach Randolph. They will continue being really talented and win most games.

Oklahoma City Thunder Zhou Qi (Calf), Patrick McCaw (Concussion), Nikola Jokic (Ankle), Paul George (Calf), Nik Stauskas (Not with team)

Jokic and PG13 are massive outs for the Thunder, who are already pretty thin at these two positions. Luckily for them, Green decided to tough it out on Friday and play in the NBA, otherwise they would be in a lot worse of a position. Newly acquired love child Korver will get to chuck a lot of threes and we will see lots of Jimmy Butler and Schroeder off the bench. Week five was rough for OKC, and week six might not get much better.

Orlando Magic Malachi Richardson (G-League), Tony Snell (Knee), Tony Bradley (CD)

The league keeps waiting for the Magic to trip and slip up but thus far, they have continued to be consistently very good. Healthy players each week helps the momentum keep rolling. All the key members of the rotation are in tact and if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Look for Dragic and Val to continue to eat and eat well.

Philadelphia 76ers Julyan Stone (Hamstring), Kawhi Leonard (Quadriceps)

It's becoming Sunny in Philadelphia? Gobert returned well ahead of his projected return date and sources are indicating the Kawhi Leonard is almost ready to debut for the season. The perennial powerhouse 76ers will then have to figure their chemistry out and climb back into playoff contention. Kawhi should help this a lot, and Sixers just have to hold down the fort for one more week.

Phoenix Suns Davon Reed (Knee), Gordon Hayward (Ankle), Nemanja Bjelica (Foot)

The Suns get their best player in Kemba Walker back which has to be a massive relief. Ironically, the team had their second most winningest week without Walker this week, but hopefully adding him to the team's newfound positive chemistry will only improve the team's outcomes. Bjelica is a rotation guy, but this could be the best Suns team we have seen this season for week six. Hayward broke his leg and continues to heal.

Portland Trail Blazers Brandon Knight (Knee), Delon Wright (Shoulder), Justin Anderson (Shin), Thomas Bryant (G-League), Brice Johnson (CD)

The injury list is fairly long in Portland with Wright a big out and Knight expected to miss the entire season. The Blazers have been one of the bigger surprises of this season to date, and as long as Rudy and Ian keep dominating and staying healthy, they will stay competitive.

San Antonio Spurs Alan Williams (Knee), Patrick Beverley (Knee), Mike Conley (Achilles)

San Antonio avoided disaster this week when it looked like the team may be without Davis and Embiid, or at least one of them missing time. Davis hurt himself earlier in the week and Embiid systematically is rested. With Conley out still and Beverley out for the season, they can't avoid to have their stars miss any more time. Spurs fans breathe a sigh of relief, with the two star bigs free to play Milwaukee, Sacramento and Philadelphia in week six.

Sacramento Kings Mike Muscala (Ankle), Okaro White (Foot), Jahlil Okafor (Personal - traded)

Are we about to see Jahill 'As Good As Brook Lopez' Okafor unleashed on an unsuspecting NLL? He has been freed from the 76ers in the NBA and is on a team where he will see some burn, so it is only a matter of time before Klemm can show off his boy. Muscala remains out and I have never heard of Okaro White, so we should get the same strong Kings team next week. Although, they have only won three out of their last eight games.

Toronto Raptors Solomon Hill (Hamstring), Rajon Rondo (Rest), Tyson Chandler (Personal)

Rondo and Chandler are huge outs, and that's two starters down for the Raptors, who have had a dominant week five with four big wins, including victories against the Kings, Hornets and Spurs. They won as many games in week five as they did weeks one through four. Hopefully for Raptors fans, the team has turned a corner. Dunn and Hernangomez will step up.

Utah Jazz Derrick Rose (Ankle), Sean Kilpatrick (Waived in NBA), Willie Cauley-Stein (Back)

Rose is still away from the team, but Jazz pulled some real nice trade strings over the last few weeks and added Ariza and Mills for not much, which alleviates the teams reliance on Rose. Cauley-Stein is a big out and has been playing well for the Jazz, allowing Gasol to thrive off of the bench. Kilpatrick was waived, bye bye bye! Jazz look better than they did a month go.

Washington Wizards Seth Curry (Leg), Joe Johnson (Wrist), Jeremy Lin (Knee)

Lin continues to be out for the year and will continue to do so for the year. Seth Curry continues to be out indefinitely and will continue to be out indefinitely for an indefinite amount of time. Joe Johnson continues to be at risk with his wrist and it's just a bit wristy to bring him back with an injured risky.

TEAM	INJURIES
	Markelle Fultz (Shoulder), Alexis Ajinca (Knee), Justin Patton (Toe), Justin Jackson (G-League) Prized number one pick Fultz still remains on the sidelines and it is likely he may still miss months as opposed to weeks. Ajinca will miss a lot of time and the rookies are still pretty green. Luckily for Hawks fans, Holiday has improved and the team is performing really well, coming off arguably their best week of the season in week five.
	Cameron Payne (Foot), A.J. Hammons (G-League) The Nets have never been as healthy as they are now after welcoming Gallinari back and shipping off the rehabbing Jabari Parker for the electric rookie in Fox. The lineup looks strong, and If the Nets are to overcome their slow start, it has to start this week... or more changes might be on the way.
	Dorian Finney-Smith (Knee), Lucas Nogueira (Calf) Jeff Withey returns to add big man depth to the squad but luckily for Celtics fans, all the major players will be available for week six (a.k.a DURANT IS HEALTHY!!!!!!!!!).
	Frank Jackson (Foot), Harry Giles (Knees), Trevor Booker (Not with team) Status Quo for the Hornets, as it seems like the same duo in Jackson and Giles will be unavailable for week six. This means business as usual for the Hornets, who rely on the Unicorn and a bevy of young up and coming players. Booker makes his way to the unavailable list but was a bit player in the rotation, anyway.
	Damian Jones (CD), Nicolas Brussino (CD), Dewayne Dedmon (Leg), Stephen Curry (Ankle) We all thought Dedmon was a big out, and it was true. Then Steph went bigger and bent his ankle 90 degrees further than it should really bend. Ouch. He avoided serious injury but could not avoid damage, with the severe sprain extremely swollen and tender. He may miss weeks, and with Chicago's non existent depth, they might be going backwards until he get back.
	Milos Teodosic (Foot), Terrence Ross (Knee) The Cavs core has been healthy for the season but the Ross injury does hurt, Robert Covington will need to step up and add more fire off the bench. Milos is close to returning and Cavs fans have to be thrilled with who will likely be their starting point guard for the rest of the season. Until then, expect LBJ to keep flirting with 10 dimes a game.
	Jonathan Isaac (Ankle), Paul Millsap (Wrist), Nerlens Noel (Thumb) Three big outs for the Mavericks, with enigmatic rookie Isaac still overcoming an ankle ailment. Millsap and Noel are out for months and they are big outs. This means more Zubac, who is almost as good as Alex Len, and that's really, really good. Dallas are on a bit of a slide lately, and these current injuries won't help the recovery.
	John Wall (Knee), Troy Williams (Knee) John Wall continues to rehab his knee and this will likely be his last week on the sidelines with this injury. Clearly their best player, the bi-polar Nuggets continue to reach great highs and lows from game to game and are yet to find a consistent rotation of game style. One more week without Wall and then their leader will be back.
	Jabari Parker (Knee), Jon Leuer (Ankle), Tyler Lydon (G-League), Bruno Caboclo (G-League), Derrick Jones Jr. (Waived in NBA), Kay Felder (G-League) The Pistons took on some risk this week in acquiring Jabari Parker. There's not question he can play, but after blowing out two knees in his first few seasons, there has to be some red flags there. Or is this a great buy low opportunity? We will have to judge this one in seasons to come. The rest of the team is in the G-League or was waived (Derrick Jones Jr) to make room for incoming players.
	Jason Smith (Knee), Frank Kaminsky (Ankle), Dario Saric (Rest) The Warriors had arguably their best week of the season this week with huge wins over reigning champions the Spurs and the Wolves. However, they unfortunately followed those two games with poor losses to the Nuggets and the Pacers. This next week could be brutal with starters Saric and Kaminsky out. Luckily for them newcomers in Theis and Iguodala will slot in to big minutes to help carry the load.
	Isaiah Thomas (Hip), Mindaugas Kuzminskas (Waived in NBA), Hassan Whiteside (Knee), Timothy Hardaway (Leg) Rockets have some huge outs with Thomas remaining out post-hip surgery, but he is getting close to a return. Whiteside has taken some time away from basketball activities to try and heal his ailing knee and is 1-2 weeks away, or so it would seem. Hardaway Jr, who was having a terrific run, has stress fractures in his leg and is out indefinitely. Brutal blow with arguably the three best players on the entire team out. Houston, we may have a problem.
	Sheldon Mac (Achilles), Matthew Dellavedova (Knee), Blake Griffin (Leg), Brandan Wright (Groin), Jerami Grant (Hip) A third of the Pacers roster will be unavailable for week six and one of those players is Blake Griffin, who is out for the foreseeable future. Blake is effectively the Pacers team on offense but like the Pacers, has stuttered out of the gate. This week sees Marcus Morris and Troy Daniels in the starting lineup. At least Tony Parker is back, who along with Tobias Harris, will have to do most of the scoring.
	Tristan Thompson (Calf), DAngelo Russell (Knee), Rodney Hood (Ankle), Cody Zeller (Knee), Dennis Smith (Hip), Devin Booker (Groin), John Collins (Shoulder) Yep, you counted right... seven injuries. Almost half the Clippers roster will be unavailable for the next week and boy is there some talent on the sidelines. The Clips 'All Injured Team' would read better than a lot of team's starting lineups - Russell, Booker, Hood, Collins, Thompson with Smith and Zeller off the bench. That is a lot of talent, so Clippers may have the worst performance in the league during week six. Good luck.
	Rodney McGruder (Leg) Greenmig traded for McGruder with the knowledge that he would be out for most of the season, so it is business as usual for greenmig. Expect a healthy dose of pick and rolls and Nikola Vucevic fouling off at least two big men a game. Lakers have a tough week with Charlotte, New York and Milwaukee on the cards during their Eastern Conference road trip.
	Dante Exum (Shoulder) Exum remains out for a long period of time after destroying his shoulder, but Tyus Jones has been terrific as a back up point guard this season. The rest of the Memphis team is available and will continue to rally behind new team leader and rookie Jayson Tatum and fellow youngsters Marquis Chriss and Frankie Smokes. Has Taj Gibson been traded yet?
	Isaiah Canaan (Waived in NBA) Miami continue to hold Canaan after he has been waived in the NBA weeks ago, but business as usual here. This is their only injury and this is great news for Miami fans, that this rag-tag team can continue to show the incredible chemistry and shooting that this team possesses. With only a few household names, this team continues to hold down a playoff position.
	Zach LaVine (Knee), Iman Shumpert (Knee), Skal Labissiere (G-League) LaVine creeps closer to a return but he is also joined by Shumpert, another wing who will miss weeks with another knee injury. Skal is cutting his teeth in the G-League and Donovan Mitchell is holding down the fort on the wing for the Bucks. Giannis, Russell and Karl will continue to do the lion's share of everything for the Bucks, and they will be their usual dominant self.
	Glenn Robinson III (Ankle), Wayne Selden Jr. (Quadriceps), Zaza Pachulia (Shoulder), Evan Fournier (Ankle) The rudderless Wolves have improved as the season has progressed, but have still very much underperformed, which is in-salt-ing when you consider the talent they have on this team. Robinson III is still out and Zaza and Fournier will join him on the sidelines - two important pieces to the Timberwolves' rotation. Rumour has it they may be hiring a new gm during the week.
	Chinanu Onuaku (G-League), Caleb Swanigan (CD), Khem Birch (G-League) The Pelicans positive start is getting further and further away in the rear view mirror as Alex Len begins to tire from carrying an entire state on his unproven shoulders. They made a good trade during the week, bringing in McLemore and Swanigan, who the coach has decided isn't ready to play minutes yet over guys like Dakari Johnson and Jake Layman. Tough love!
	Jason Terry (Calf), Kyle Anderson (Knee), Nene Hilario (Eye) Anderson is a big out for the Knicks, whom during the week touted him as arguably their most effective player on the whole team due to his +/- rating. Luckily for New York they have a heap of talented depth and will throw Lance Stephenson into a bigger role for the week. Hilaro is a big out, too, but it just means more Zach Randolph. They will continue being really talented and win most games.
	Zhou Qi (Calf), Patrick McCaw (Concussion), Nikola Jokic (Ankle), Paul George (Calf), Nik Stauskas (Not with team) Jokic and PG13 are massive outs for the Thunder, who are already pretty thin at these two positions. Luckily for them, Green decided to tough it out on Friday and play in the NBA, otherwise they would be in a lot worse of a position. Newly acquired love child Korver will get to chuck a lot of threes and we will see lots of Jimmy Butler and Schroeder off the bench. Week five was rough for OKC, and week six might not get much better.
	Malachi Richardson (G-League), Tony Snell (Knee), Tony Bradley (CD) The league keeps waiting for the Magic to trip and slip up but thus far, they have continued to be consistently very good. Healthy players each week helps the momentum keep rolling. All the key members of the rotation are in tact and if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Look for Dragic and Val to continue to eat and eat well.
	Julyan Stone (Hamstring), Kawhi Leonard (Quadriceps) It's becoming Sunny in Philadelphia? Gobert returned well ahead of his projected return date and sources are indicating the Kawhi Leonard is almost ready to debut for the season. The perennial powerhouse 76ers will then have to figure their chemistry out and climb back into playoff contention. Kawhi should help this a lot, and Sixers just have to hold down the fort for one more week.
	Davon Reed (Knee), Gordon Hayward (Ankle), Nemanja Bjelica (Foot) The Suns get their best player in Kemba Walker back which has to be a massive relief. Ironically, the team had their second most winningest week without Walker this week, but hopefully adding him to the team's newfound positive chemistry will only improve the team's outcomes. Bjelica is a rotation guy, but this could be the best Suns team we have seen this season for week six. Hayward broke his leg and continues to heal.
	Brandon Knight (Knee), Delon Wright (Shoulder), Justin Anderson (Shin), Thomas Bryant (G-League), Brice Johnson (CD) The injury list is fairly long in Portland with Wright a big out and Knight expected to miss the entire season. The Blazers have been one of the bigger surprises of this season to date, and as long as Rudy and Ian keep dominating and staying healthy, they will stay competitive.
	Alan Williams (Knee), Patrick Beverley (Knee), Mike Conley (Achilles) San Antonio avoided disaster this week when it looked like the team may be without Davis and Embiid, or at least one of them missing time. Davis hurt himself earlier in the week and Embiid systematically is rested. With Conley out still and Beverley out for the season, they can't avoid to have their stars miss any more time. Spurs fans breathe a sigh of relief, with the two star bigs free to play Milwaukee, Sacramento and Philadelphia in week six.
	Mike Muscala (Ankle), Okaro White (Foot), Jahlil Okafor (Personal - traded) Are we about to see Jahill 'As Good As Brook Lopez' Okafor unleashed on an unsuspecting NLL? He has been freed from the 76ers in the NBA and is on a team where he will see some burn, so it is only a matter of time before Klemm can show off his boy. Muscala remains out and I have never heard of Okaro White, so we should get the same strong Kings team next week. Although, they have only won three out of their last eight games.
	Solomon Hill (Hamstring), Rajon Rondo (Rest), Tyson Chandler (Personal) Rondo and Chandler are huge outs, and that's two starters down for the Raptors, who have had a dominant week five with four big wins, including victories against the Kings, Hornets and Spurs. They won as many games in week five as they did weeks one through four. Hopefully for Raptors fans, the team has turned a corner. Dunn and Hernangomez will step up.
	Derrick Rose (Ankle), Sean Kilpatrick (Waived in NBA), Willie Cauley-Stein (Back) Rose is still away from the team, but Jazz pulled some real nice trade strings over the last few weeks and added Ariza and Mills for not much, which alleviates the teams reliance on Rose. Cauley-Stein is a big out and has been playing well for the Jazz, allowing Gasol to thrive off of the bench. Kilpatrick was waived, bye bye bye! Jazz look better than they did a month go.
	Seth Curry (Leg), Joe Johnson (Wrist), Jeremy Lin (Knee) Lin continues to be out for the year and will continue to do so for the year. Seth Curry continues to be out indefinitely and will continue to be out indefinitely for an indefinite amount of time. Joe Johnson continues to be at risk with his wrist and it's just a bit wristy to bring him back with an injured risky.