NBA Injury Analysis: When to Expect McCollum, Other Fantasy Studs to Return

The NBA has reached the All-Star Break for the 2020-21 season, despite the ongoing pandemic. Protocols designed to minimize the spread of COVID-19 impacted the All-Star Game itself, as Philadelphia's Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons were unable to participate due to contact tracing.

Unsurprisingly, the total number of man games lost due to illness this season is over four times higher than the 2019-20 season, and that doesn't even include the more than 200 games lost to players sidelined by the NBA's Health and Safety Protocols. Non-COVID-related injuries have also persisted and impacted the fantasy landscape. However, prolonged absences by several notable stars could be coming to an end in the near future.

Kevin Durant, Nets

Durant's comeback season has been briefly derailed after he suffered a strained hamstring. The injury has sidelined superstar forward for nine straight games, and it forced him out of the All-Star Game. Brooklyn wisely continues to manage his recovery in a conservative manner, as it keeps a close eye on the progression of the injured muscle. The Nets recently revealed the former MVP underwent a follow-up MRI that "provided a clearer picture of the hamstring" and indicated additional rest and recovery would be necessary for a complete return to play. The well-respected Brooklyn medical team is well aware that muscle repair is an intricate and multi-phased process that must be given the appropriate amount of time to avoid reinjury or reaggravation.

Muscle repair begins with the inflammatory phase in which the initial swelling and clotting reactions occur. Prior to the end of the inflammatory phase, the next phase, the proliferative phase, begins. The proliferative phase includes the formation of scar tissue as the body begins to repair the damage sustained when the strain occurred. The gaps are repaired with protein fibers, including collagen and elastin. The proliferative phase usually takes four-to-six weeks to complete, depending on the severity of the injury. The final phase, the remodeling phase, begins when the body starts to build up the strength of the scar tissue. It does so by repeatedly breaking down and rebuilding the various fibers within the newly formed scar tissue until it displays the same biomechanical properties of healthy tissue.

Unfortunately, the remodeling phase occurs in a disorderly fashion and can take a significant amount of time to complete. The situation can become further complicated as the athlete often reports an improvement in their symptoms and may push to return to action. However, a player returning from a prior strain will remain susceptible to re-injury if they come back prematurely. If the prior injury site is aggravated or a new strain occurs, the entire healing process must begin again. 

Given these potential issues, it's not surprising to see the Nets taking their time with Durant's treatment and recovery. Fantasy investors frustrated by the progression have to keep in mind that Durant missing additional time now is much easier to manage than him yo-yoing in and out of the lineup or missing another substantial stretch of games with another injury.

Furthermore, the abundance of talent on the Nets' roster -- Brooklyn officially added Blake Griffin on Monday -- allows for the team to remain patient with its leader. Look for Durant's return to remain fluid despite the prolonged rest.

Kevin Love, Cavaliers

Marcus Smart, Celtics

Everything discussed regarding Durant's recovery holds true for both Love and Smart. Like the hamstring, the calf is a complex muscle group that plays a key role in sudden and explosive moments. Insuring a complete recovery is crucial for long-term health.

Love's calf strain has already been aggravated once after he attempted to return to the mix after initially injuring the muscle during the preseason. He has subsequently missed Cleveland's last 33 games and remains without a definitive timeline after a recent bout of soreness in the muscle. While Love will always be among the league's biggest injury risks, he remains too talented to let linger on the waiver wire.

Smart also has a strained calf, more specifically a Grade I strain of the medial gastrocnemius. The gastrocnemius is the primary muscle of the calf and involved in motion and the knee and ankle. The Celtics do not expect Smart immediately back upon their return but are optimistic he can return shortly thereafter. Look for him to target a mid-March return.

Lauri Markkanen, Bulls

The Bulls' forward has missed 13 consecutive games with a shoulder sprain. Markkanen's injury involves the acromioclavicular (AC) joint, one of multiple shoulder articulations. The AC joint sits where the clavicle, better known as the collarbone, meets the scapula (shoulder blade). The union occurs at a bony prominence known as the acromion, giving the joint its name.

An injury here is often referred to as a separated shoulder and occurs when the tip of the shoulder is forced downward. AC sprains occur in varying degrees depending on the ligaments involved but only require surgery if the injury is considered severe. Fortunately, Markkanen avoided a trip to the operating room and has spent the last month rehabbing the area. He was nearing a return prior to the break and should be back in the lineup with the extra allotted recovery time. A slight dip in his shooting percentages wouldn't be shocking, given the time off and the nature of the injury, but Markkanen should provide a nice boost for fantasy managers who were patient with the big man.

Fast Breaks

Jaren Jackson: The Grizzlies' big man has not played this season since undergoing a true meniscus repair to address a tear in the cartilage. The majority of meniscus surgeries are removals and not repairs, as the tear needs to be in a specific location to be outright fixed. While a repair does come with a prolonged recovery process, it does preserve the cartilage and has less long-term risks. Look for Jackson to make his season debut in the week ahead.

Jusuf Nurkic and CJ McCollum: Both Portland starters continue to recover from bone-related injuries. Nurkic is slated to have his fractured wrist re-evaluated this week and a firm timetable for a return could be established at that time. McCollum appears a bit of ahead of Nurkic, as the guard was recently cleared to return to practice. McCollum has not played since January 16 when he fractured one of the cuneiform bones in his mid-foot. He, too, will be re-evaluated later this week but a late-March return seems likely. 

Caris LeVert: LeVert's trade to the Pacers may have saved his life, as a mass on his kidney was located during the subsequent physical exam. LeVert later underwent surgery to address renal cell carcinoma. Fortunately, his long-term prognosis is good and Indiana is optimistic he will be back on the court by the end of the month. 

Christian Wood: One of the breakout stories of the season, Wood has begun doing light on-court work as he works back from an ankle sprain. The 6-10 center has dealt with the injury for a majority of the season and has not appeared in Houston's last 13 games. The Rockets have lost all 13 of those contests and would love to welcome him back to the mix. Wood appears likely to return in the next 7-to-10 days.