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Portland Trail Blazers


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Sunday, January 15
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (ankle) is available for Saturday's game against the Dallas Mavericks. The superstar guard has been cleared to play despite dealing with a sprained left ankle. It sounds like the injury isn't going to hinder his performance. He is coming off a 50-point performance, so fantasy managers should make sure he's in their lineups for Saturday. Anfernee Simons, Josh Hart, Jerami Grant, and Jusuf Nurkic will join Lillard in the starting five for Saturday's slate.
Friday, January 13
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers guard Gary Payton II (ankle) is available for Thursday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. As expected, Payton will be on the court for this game despite dealing with a lingering ankle issue. He played 15 minutes in their last game, but didn't bring much to the table. Shaedon Sharpe and Keon Johnson should be mixed in as well, which doesn't make Payton a great streaming option for Thursday's slate.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (ankle) is available for Thursday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The superstar guard has been cleared to play despite dealing with a minor ankle issue. Anfernee Simons will go back to playing his normal role, but has played extremely well when Lillard has been out this season. Shaedon Sharpe and Keon Johnson should continue to play minor roles off the bench, but aren't worth streaming in most formats. Fantasy managers should double check that Lillard is in their lineups for Thursday's slate.
Thursday, January 12
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (ankle) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The superstar guard has been playing big minutes lately, so he could use a day off. That being said, his absence would leave a big hole in the rotation. Anfernee Simons would likely be asked to move into the starting five, while Gary Payton II, Shaedon Sharpe and Keon Johnson would see more minutes as well. Simons would be a popular DFS option, so fantasy managers should check back on Thursday to see if Lillard is able to play.
Wednesday, January 11
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers guard Gary Payton II (ankle) is available for Tuesday's game against the Orlando Magic. He has been cleared to play after sitting out of Sunday's contest due to a sprained right ankle. Shaedon Sharpe and Keon Johnson will see less playing time with Payton back in the rotation. Neither of them are worth rostering with Payton back healthy. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on Payton, assuming he can stay healthy. His defense alone could make him worth rostering, but he's more of a wait-and-see type of option right now.
Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (illness) is available for Tuesday's game against the Orlando Magic. As expected, Nurkic will suit up despite him dealing with a non-COVID related illness. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect his production to take a hit as he has been playing well lately. He should play his normal role, which means Drew Eubanks will come off the bench. Eubanks won't have as great of streaming value playing with the second unit.
Sunday, January 08
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (illness) is probable for Sunday's meeting in Toronto. The big man has been under the weather of late. However, it didn't stop him from amassing a 19-rebound, 14-point double-double in Friday's game against the Indiana Pacers. Of course, fantasy managers should check Nurkic's official status before opening tip because if he can't suit up, Drew Eubanks will likely replace him in the starting lineup. Eubanks has averaged 7.8 points, 7.6 boards, and 1.2 blocks in five starts on the year, so he's worth considering for anyone playing in deeper fantasy setups.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Gary Payton II (ankle) is expected to play on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors. The former Warrior finally made his 2022-23 debut on Monday versus the Detroit Pistons after undergoing core muscle surgery in the offseason. Unfortunately, he sprained his right ankle in that one, ending his night after only 13 minutes of action, keeping him off the floor in Portland's previous two games. While it's certainly good for the Blazers to get Payton out there, he will likely work his way back to a full workload, so he's a risky fantasy option until he demonstrates he's 100% healthy.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Gary Payton II (ankle) has been downgraded to out for Sunday's game against the Toronto Raptors. He was originally listed as probable, but it appears he's not feeling ready to play. His absence should mean significant playing time for Anfernee Simons. He'll be a stronger fantasy option with an extended role. Keon Johnson and Shaedon Sharpe should see more minutes as well, but aren't worth looking at as streaming options.
Friday, January 06
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (quad) is listed as questionable for Friday's game against the Indiana Pacers. He exited briefly during Wednesday's contest, but did end up returning to the game. Despite his return, it sounds like Grant is still dealing with a left quad contusion. Jabari Walker or Shaedon Sharpe would likely be called up to fill the void if Grant is unable to play. Between the two players, Sharpe is the better streaming choice for Friday's slate. Fantasy managers will have to check back on Friday for another update on Grant.
Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (illness) shouldn't have to miss any time due to a non-COVID illness as the team has tagged him as probable to play on Friday against the Indiana Pacers. The 28-year-old was able to play 25 minutes in the last contest and put up 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists, one steal, and three blocks before fouling out. Whenever he's on the court, Drew Eubanks' fantasy value plummets. So fantasy managers can wait until Nurkic misses another game to deploy Eubanks as a streaming option.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Gary Payton II (ankle) made his season debut back on Monday after undergoing core surgery in the off-season, but he picked up an ankle injury that has kept him out of one game so far. He's still listed as questionable for the team's next game on Friday against the Indiana Pacers. His fantasy value is still to be determined since he's only played 13 minutes of one game, but in deeper leagues, he would be worth hanging on to as we all wait and see what kind of minutes he receives when healthy.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (quad) and center Jusuf Nurkic (illness) are both available for Friday's game against the Indiana Pacers. This is good news for the Blazers who briefly lost Grant mid-game during their last contest due to a quad issue. Nurkic has been dealing with a non-COVID related illness, but it appears he's feeling better now. The expectation is that both players will handle their normal workloads on Friday. Fantasy managers should make sure both players are in their lineups. Drew Eubanks stands to lose the most fantasy value with Nurkic and Grant healthy.
Wednesday, January 04
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard Gary Payton II (ankle) has been deemed questionable to suit up for Wednesday's game vs. Minnesota due to a sprained right ankle. Payton made his season debut Monday after missing the first two and a half months due to core surgery, with his ankle ailment cropping up after 13 minutes of action. With Portland slowly working its offseason signing into the rotation, Payton can remain on the season-long waiver wire for now, but he would garner attention for his defensive production should his minutes consistently reach the 22-24 mark. An absence Wednesday could funnel a handful of minutes back toward Shaedon Sharpe.
Monday, January 02
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (illness) is listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Detroit Pistons. He sat out of Friday's game due to a non-COVID related illness. It appears Nurkic is still under the weather, so fantasy managers will have to check back for another update closer to game time. Drew Eubanks started in his place on Friday and finished with eight points and seven rebounds in 31 minutes. He'd have some low-end streaming appeal if asked to make another start on Monday.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Gary Payton II (conditioning) is set to make his season debut against the Detroit Pistons on Monday. Payton has been sidelined all season while he recovered from offseason core muscle surgery. The expectation is that the Blazers are going to ease Payton into action. That being said, fantasy managers don't need to rush and grab Payton off the waiver wire. He was a key contributor off the bench for the Golden State Warriors last season. It's uncertain what kind of role he's going to have with the Blazers. Possibly, Payton holds deep league value, but it's hard to imagine him being able to produce 12-team league value.
Friday, December 30
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (calf) was originally listed as probable for Friday's game against the Golden State Warriors but has since been downgraded to questionable. He was listed as probable in their last game and had one of his best games of the season. With him trending in the wrong direction, however, the Trail Blazers may go the safe route and rest Nurkic. If that happens, Drew Eubanks would replace him in the lineup and could be a solid streaming option.
Wednesday, December 21
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (calf) has been deemed questionable to play in Wednesday's contest vs. Oklahoma City due to a sore right calf. Nurkic was unavailable Monday, paving the way for Drew Eubanks to draw a start and post a solid nine-point, seven-rebound performance. If Nurkic is ultimately cleared, he will have a favorable matchup against a Thunder frontcourt that is yielding the fourth-most DFS points per outing to opposing centers this year per DraftKings scoring. On the season, Nurkic is just shy of averaging a double-double with 14.5 points and 9.9 boards to his credit through 27 outings.
Monday, December 19
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (calf) is listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 28-year-old went from listed as probable to questionable, so there's a decent chance he sits this game out. His absence would mean more playing time for both Trendon Watford and Drew Eubanks. Between the two, Watford has looked like the better streaming option lately. However, both of them are more of deep league options than anything else.
Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (calf) has been downgraded to out for Monday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was listed as questionable coming into this game as he continues to deal with left calf soreness. Drew Eubanks and Trendon Watford should split up the minutes with Nurkic sidelined. Eubanks should be a fine streaming option or DFS filler for Monday's slate. Watford is also worth a look, but is more of a deep league option.
Sunday, December 18
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (back) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Houston Rockets. He is dealing with back spasms, so the Blazers have decided to take the cautious approach and rest Grant. Both Justise Winslow and Trendon Watford should have increased value with Grant on the sideline. Watford is the slightly better streaming option between the two, but both of them should have decent value with Grant unavailable on Saturday.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Josh Hart (ankle) is available for Saturday's game against the Houston Rockets. Hart is dealing with a left ankle sprain, but feels good enough to play in this game. He should see increased chances with the ball because Jerami Grant (back) is sitting this game out. Hart is expected to be in the starting five and should be a strong streaming option for Saturday's game. Hart is rostered in most fantasy formats already, but fantasy managers should snag him if he is available.
Thursday, December 15
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers forward Josh Hart will end up playing on Wednesday night against the San Antonio Spurs. Hart was previously listed as probable so this doesn't come as too much of a surprise. The 27-year-old has appeared on the injury report numerous times with smaller ailments and it looks like that's going to be more of the same. He's only missed two games so far this season. In deeper leagues, he's a good play on any given night.
Friday, December 09
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers guard Keon Johnson (hip) is available for Thursday's game against the Denver Nuggets. This will be the first time that Johnson has played since November 5th. The expectation is that the Blazers are going to limit him during his first game back. Johnson could see more minutes going forward with Nassir Little (hip) sidelined, but it's not enough to warrant rostering Johnson in most fantasy formats.
Saturday, December 03
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers forward/center Drew Eubanks (hip) is questionable for Saturday's game against Utah. He missed a game last week with a back issue and now Eubaks is bothered by his right hip. The 25-year-old has been a solid bench contributor for the Blazers this season, averaging 5.7 points per game with 4.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks. One of his best games of the season came against the Jazz last month, and it indeed looks like a good matchup for him, with Utah lacking size. Trendon Watford should be logging the center minutes behind Jusuf Nurkic if Eubanks isn't available on Saturday. He has just marked his first start of the season with a double-double and Watford could be a very intriguing option for fantasy managers Saturday. The 22-year-old would also benefit from the potential absence of Josh Hart (ankle).
Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward Josh Hart (ankle) is in danger of missing a second consecutive game, with the team listing him as doubtful for Saturday's clash with the Jazz. He sprained his left ankle in a game against the Clippers earlier in the week and you really never know when these types of injuries clear up. Portland has another game on Sunday versus Indiana, so it could be a smart move for the team to keep Hart out of another game. His absence allowed Trendon Watford to make his first start of the season Wednesday versus the Lakers. The 22-year-old did well by logging a double-double in 31 minutes with 10 points and 10 rebounds. He has averaged 14.8 points per game with 6.6 rebounds as a starter across his whole young career. These are some solid numbers, but Watford has been having a very quiet sophomore season and he's not a consistent performer, so fantasy managers definitely shouldn't rush to grab him.
Thursday, December 01
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers forward Josh Hart (ankle) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. He continues to deal with a left ankle injury that he likely re-aggravated during Tuesday's contest. Shaedon Sharpe is looking like a strong streaming option with Nassir Little (hip) already ruled out for this game. Sharpe could play a big role in this game, so fantasy managers should keep an eye on him for Wednesday's slate.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Josh Hart (ankle) has been downgraded to out for Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. The 27-year-old was questionable coming into this game due to an ankle issue that he re-aggravated on Tuesday night. The Blazers will take the cautious approach and give Hart the night off. Trendon Watford will move into the starting five for Wednesday's game. The Blazers are going with a big lineup for this game. Last season, Watford averaged 15.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists in 10 starts with Portland. However, this is a different team, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect the same result. Fantasy managers should consider Watford a deep league streaming option for Wednesday.
Sunday, November 20
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (calf) won't return to Sunday's meeting with Utah. Lillard began experiencing tightness in his right calf, the same one that kept him out of the lineup for five games this season. Considering the ailment hasn't resolved, there's a good chance he won't be available on Tuesday in Milwaukee. If that's the case, 2022 No. 7 overall pick Shaedon Sharpe may fill the void. The 19-year-old has averaged 9.8 points in four stats this season, so he won't offer much to fantasy managers unless he increases his production.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (calf) was forced to exit early during Saturday's loss to the Utah Jazz. He has been diagnosed with a strained right calf, which is not good news for the Blazers. The expectation is that Lillard will miss at least a few games because of this injury. Shaedon Sharpe will likely be asked to fill the void and is worth rostering in most fantasy formats. Sharpe has played fairly well this season and should have increased value with Lillard likely to miss time.
Saturday, November 19
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers forward Nassir Little (calf) is questionable for Saturday's clash with Utah. He has a troublesome left calf and could end up sitting out his first game of the campaign. The 22-year-old has had a couple of strong performances this month, but he doesn't do a lot most times, averaging only 15 minutes off the bench. He has been able to get 6.1 points and 2.5 rebounds in the limited action. Little's absence could help Trendon Watford back into the rotation, but Justice Winslow should be able to cover most of his minutes.
Thursday, November 17
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (quadriceps) is questionable for Thursday's meeting with the visiting Nets. The big man missed three games due to a groin issue but returned on Tuesday against the Spurs. He finished that one with only nine points and five rebounds in 15 minutes of work. Considering Nurkic has been banged up lately, there's a good chance he'll be limited again. As a result, Drew Eubanks may continue to see the court more than usual.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Justise Winslow (illness) is listed as questionable for Thursday's matchup against Brooklyn. He has been battling an illness lately and it's already resulted in Winslow sitting out two games. The 26-year-old had just enjoyed his best form of the season before getting knocked out by the illness, so it's very unfortunate timing for Winslow. With him on the shelf, Nassir Little and Trendon Watford have been covering the frontcourt minutes off the bench. Neither player has managed to impress, though, and it's actually been Drew Eubanks who's played himself on the fantasy map lately, with him also benefitting from Jusuf Nurkic's (quadriceps) healthy issues.
Wednesday, November 16
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (groin) will play Tuesday against the San Antonio Spurs after missing three straight games. Nurkic had the usual questionable tag before the game, but he must feel good enough to get back on the court. Drew Eubanks was serviceable as the fill-in starter but loses most, if not all, of his fantasy value with his move back to the bench. Nurkic has been known to miss games, and Eubanks would once again have fantasy value if Nurkic ever misses more time.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Justise Winslow (illness) will not play Tuesday against the San Antonio Spurs. Winslow has been dealing with an ankle injury and now an illness which will force him to miss his second straight game. Shaedon Sharpe and Nassir Little should see an increase in minutes off the bench, but do not offer much in terms of fantasy value. Jerami Grant should see the bulk of the minutes at the four.
Tuesday, November 15
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (groin) is listed as questionable to play Tuesday against the San Antonio Spurs. Nurkic has missed three straight games with adductor soreness despite being listed as questionable for most of those contests. Drew Eubanks has been holding down the center position and would likely do the same if Nurkic is ultimately ruled out. Eubanks has averaged 7.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 27.3 minutes per game as a starter.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Justise Winslow (illness) is listed as questionable Tuesday night against the San Antonio Spurs. Winslow missed their last game with an ankle injury, but is now dealing with an illness, putting his availability in jeopardy. With Winslow out on Saturday, Shaedon Sharpe and Nassir Little saw extra minutes off the bench, but neither hold much fantasy value right now.
Sunday, November 13
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers forward Justise Winslow (ankle) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Dallas Mavericks. This is a bit surprising considering Winslow was listed as probable heading into this game. Despite that, Winslow will sit this game out due to a right ankle sprain. Shaedon Sharpe should see an expanded role with Winslow on the sideline, but it probably won't be enough to warrant starting him in most formats.
Saturday, November 12
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (hip) is questionable for Saturday's game against Dallas. The veteran has missed his previous two games with a right adductor strain, allowing Drew Eubanks to take his place in the lineup. Eubanks has played well in the starting lineup while Nurkic has been out, averaging 10.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks, so he'll be a viable replacement for fantasy managers in all formats.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (calf) is not listed on the injury report ahead of Saturday's meeting with Dallas. He missed four games because of a right calf strain before returning against the Heat less than a week ago. However, the 32-year-old Sat out on Thursday versus New Orleans, the second of back-to-back outings. Despite playing only 29 games in 2021-22, Lillard came back with a vengeance, averaging 28.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and shooting 40.8% from deep. Obviously, fantasy managers should get him back into the starting lineup.
Thursday, November 10
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (ankle) and center Jusuf Nurkic (groin) are listed as questionable for Thursday's meeting with the Pelicans. Both players sat out Wednesday's 105-95 win over Charlotte and could now miss another game, although Damian Lillard (injury management) has already been ruled out for the contest after he played Wednesday night and the team might want to have its other big guns on the court against New Orleans. However, if Grant and Nurkic remain out, the trio of Justise Winslow, Drew Eubanks and Trendon Watford is set to benefit again. The first two joined the starting squad Wednesday and Watford had a good showing off the bench.
Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (calf) will sit out Thursday's game versus New Orleans. He just returned from a right calf strain, and Lillard had no issues logging 71 minutes across two outings, but it's the second leg of a back-to-back and the team is being cautious with its star player. Lillard's recent four-game absence resulted in Anfernee Simons having a nice scoring spurt, and Shaedon Sharpe benefits from the situation as well.
Wednesday, November 09
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (calf) has been listed as probable to play in Wednesday's game against the Charlotte Hornets. He was able to make his return from a strained calf on Monday night, but still made an appearance on the injury report. It seems as though it was just in case he was feeling any effects from their previous game. While he had a rough game with just 19 points, six assists, and four turnovers, the star guard didn't seem too bothered by any lingering pain. He's always a must-start when he plays, so he'll look to right the ship on Wednesday.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (foot) is listed as probable for Wednesday's clash with the Hornets. The 23-year-old is dealing with Inflammation in his left foot and sat out two games last week because of it, but he was back in action Sunday versus Miami and it seems like he will also be able to play Wednesday. Simons went for a pair of back-to-back 30-point efforts before missing some time and he returned from the sidelined with a 25-point performance, so Simons is currently in very good scoring form, although the return of Damian Lillard is bound to slow him down eventually.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (ankle) has been downgraded to questionable for Wednesday's visit to Charlotte. He was initially considered probable for the contest with a left ankle sprain. If Grant can't go, we should see a lot more Trendon Watford, who has just made his season debut. The 22-year-old played his first two games of the season last week after recovering from a hip flexor problem. Watford went for 5.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 14.5 minutes in the two contests. He was able to get 10 starts last season and did a good job by getting 15.3 points and 6.3 rebounds with 3.4 assists.
Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (groin) has been downgraded from probable to out on Wednesday night. The fact that he was listed as probable just earlier in the day and kept getting downgraded as the day went on is not a good sign. Hopefully, this turns out to be a one-game absence for the big man, who has been a steadying presence in the paint and on the glass. While he and Jerami Grant are both out, a couple of streaming options would be Drew Eubanks, Trendon Watford and Nassir Little.
Friday, November 04
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (foot) is listed as questionable for Friday's game against the Phoenix Suns. The Blazers will already be shorthanded with Damian Lillard (calf) ruled out for this game. This team will be extremely thin at guard if Simons is unable to play. Keon Johnson and Justice Winslow would be asked to play significant roles. Also, Josh Hart would see increased usage and an uptick in playing time. Hart could be an interesting streaming option for Friday's slate, but fantasy managers should check back on Friday to see if Simons is able to play.
Thursday, November 03
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers guard Josh Hart (concussion) will be available for Wednesday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. The 27-year-old hit his head during Friday's game and was placed in concussion protocol. He has now cleared the league's protocol and is available for this game. Hart has played at least 30 minutes per game in every contest this season. There is no word on Hart being limited, so he's expected to have his normal workload on Wednesday. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly with Hart returning.
Sunday, October 30
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers forward Josh Hart (head) entered concussion protocol on Saturday. The 27-year-old hit his head during Friday's win over Houston but will now go through the return-to-participation process before he's cleared. Hart has played well in his six games this season, averaging 10.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.3 steals. The Blazers' next game will take place on Wednesday against Memphis, so there's a chance he could be good to go by then. However, if Hart isn't available, Justise Winslow and Nassir Little could see some more work.
Thursday, October 27
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers forward Justise Winslow (ankle) will be available for Wednesday's game against the Miami Heat. The 26-year-old is back in action after a once game absence. This is good news considering Winslow has been playing a big part in the rotation this season. His return means less playing time for Shaedon Sharpe and Nassir Little. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly. Winslow has been surprisingly decent early in the season and is worth a look in most deep leagues.
Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard missed the end of Wednesday's loss to Miami with a right calf strain. He noted after the game that his calf was feeling tight already before tip-off. It tightened up even more over the course of the game and Lillard decided to exit. He added that he would've continued to play if this would've been a playoff game, so it looks like the ailment isn't too serious, but Lillard said that he will likely skip Friday's contest against Houston. Rookie Shaedon Sharpe, who had the best game of his young career on Wednesday with 15 points and eight rebounds, is set for a bigger role with Lillard out, and there should be more shots available for Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant and Josh Hart.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (calf) is now set to miss at least one to two weeks. The calf strain that he suffered during Wednesday's loss to Miami didn't sound too severe at the time. Now the report is that he needs to be re-evaluated after missing some time. In the meantime, Shaedon Sharpe, Anfernee Simons and Josh Hart should all see more minutes and opportunities. Lillard said himself that he would have kept playing if it was a playoff game, so that's encouraging news that he shouldn't be out too long.
Wednesday, October 26
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers forward Justise Winslow (ankle) is questionable for Wednesday's meeting with the Heat. The former Miami player is carrying a sprained right ankle and it already forced him to sit out Monday's win over Denver. Winslow has played a pretty big part for the 4-0 Blazers, averaging 25 minutes off the bench. Fellow reserves Shaedon Sharpe and Nassir Little have a chance to get more playing time if Winslow remains out on Wednesday. Both players have shown good scoring form early in the season, but they haven't really offered anything else to fantasy managers.
Tuesday, October 25
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers forward Justise Winslow (ankle) will not play Monday night against the Denver Nuggets. Winslow was questionable coming into the contest with a right ankle sprain, but was ultimately ruled out. Portland will likely use a combination of Jerami Grant, Josh Hart and Nassir Little Monday as they look to replace Winslow's 25.0 minutes per game. Little should see the biggest boost as the first forward off the bench, but does not hold much fantasy value right now.
Monday, October 24
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers forward Justise Winslow (ankle) is listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Denver Nuggets. The 26-year-old is dealing with a right ankle sprain, so it remains to be seen if he can actually suit up. Otherwise, Shaedon Sharpe and Nassir Little would be asked to pick up the slack. Winslow was playing over 25 minutes per game, so there's plenty of minutes to go around. Fantasy managers will have to check back closer to game time for another update on Winslow.
Monday, October 17
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers forward Nassir Little has agreed to a four-year, $28 million extension with the team. This will keep the 22-year-old in Portland through the 2026-27 season. While he has yet to play more than 48 games in a season, his production has increased each year. Across 42 games this past year, he dropped 9.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. He may present some value in deep fantasy leagues, but his playing time could take a hit after Portland brought in Jerami Grant and Jabari Walker. As of right now, there are better players to target.
Friday, October 07
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
The Trail Blazers picked up the 2023-24 option on guard Keon Johnson. The 20-year-old began last season with the Clippers but was traded to Portland ahead of the deadline. In his 22 appearances for the Trail Blazers, he averaged 9.7 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.7 rebounds. The former first-round pick will likely remain buried on the depth chart this season, although he may get a few chances to start. However, while Johnson should stay stashed on dynasty squads, he shouldn't have a place on teams in redraft or category formats.
Friday, September 16
TEAMPLAYERTRANSACTION
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (abdomen) declared he feels "great" after undergoing abdominal surgery early in January. The multi-time All-Star had been dealing with the injury for years. However, it became unbearable, forcing him to go under the knife. It was undoubtedly a chaotic year for Lillard, who appeared at times to be on his way out of Portland. Yet, he now seems happy and optimistic about the team's current roster, adding that he plans on finishing his career with the Trail Blazers. The 32-year-old has been an MVP-caliber superstar since entering the NBA in 2012, averaging 24.6 points, 6.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 1.0 steals and shooting 37.3% from deep. As long as Lillard stays healthy, he has a realistic chance of ending the 2022-23 campaign as a top-five fantasy option, so managers in all formats should strongly consider drafting him heading into October.