This article is part of our Charlie's NBAngle series.
Kobe Bryant's injury got most of the press, but the most significant medical report of the week concerns LaMarcus Aldridge's thumb. An MRI this week revealed a torn ligament in Aldridge's left thumb; he'll need surgery and 6-8 weeks of recovery time. The Blazers don't really have a good option to pick up LMA's minutes, especially with Robin Lopez and Joel Freeland both hurting. The situation got even more grim during last night's loss to the Celtics, when Nic Batum left the game with a wrist injury of as-yet-unknown severity.
Thomas Robinson - just 3.4% owned in ESPN.com leagues - got the start in Aldridge's place and played 28 minutes against the Celtics, finishing with nine points, 12 boards, two steals and two blocks. He's probably the guy to add right now, rather than Dorrell Wright (10 minutes), but the Batum injury and Lopez' imminent return could confuse matters.
Can't help wondering if the real fill-in for Aldridge will come from outside the organization. The Blazers might not be inclined to take on a long-term salary - not with Aldridge due to sign a max extension this summer. But Portland could emerge as a potential destination for someone like Amar'e Stoudemire, who might be a buyout candidate after the trade deadline. Another option might be Andray Blatche, who will be free to return from China soon (but possibly not soon enough.)
Grantland's Zach Lowe suggests that a wing player might be even more important for Portland, and suggests trading a first-round pick for Denver's Wilson Chandler. That makes an awful lot of sense too, especially if Batum's injury turns out to be serious.
The Blazers have a little wiggle room to figure this out. Even after losing their last two games, they've got an eight-game cushion over second-place Oklahoma City in the Northwest Division.
The scariest medical report of the week concerns Nets forward Mirza Teletovic. He was pulled from the Nets' game against the Clippers Thursday night with shortness of breath - which hardly sounds like a big deal during cold and flu season. But tests at a Los Angeles hospital revealed "bilateral pulmonary embolus" - blood clots in the lungs - a potentially life-threatening condition that will sideline Teletovic for the rest of this season.
Teletovic's absence could have a real snowball effect on the Nets' lineup, forcing Lionel Hollins to move Mason Plumlee back to the four spot and Brook Lopez back into the starting lineup, especially on nights when Kevin Garnett isn't available. The frontcourt could get a further shakeup if Lopez does get traded.
And then there's Kobe. Bryant was hurt during the second half of the Lakers' loss to the Pelicans on Wednesday night; he managed to return to the game but essentially played one-handed, which is a tribute to his determination (or his remarkable stubbornness, you decide.) He was later diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff in his right (shooting ) shoulder.
Now, a rotator cuff injury for a basketball player isn't as dramatic as one for a pitcher. Carmelo Anthony played through a rotator cuff and labrum injury during the 2013 playoffs, but that involved his left - off - arm. And as Rotowire's injury guru Jeff Stotts pointed out, Patty Mills of the Spurs played with a torn rotator cuff for much of last season, but he eventually did need surgery (and missed the first 31 games of this season as a result).
Without more information on the severity of Bryant's injury it's impossible to say how the Lakers will proceed. There's a rumor that Kobe will miss the remainder of the season, but It wouldn't be at all surprising if they allow him to play through it, treating with rest and anti-inflammatories. Even if they do, I'd want no part of him on any fantasy team; he's shooting just 37.3% from the floor this season - a bum shooting shoulder certainly isn't going to help that number.
In light of this news, Nick Young - whose percent owned is hovering in the low 40s as I write - is an obvious add. Jeremy Lin (27.5%) could re-emerge from Byron Scott's doghouse as well.
In other news:
- Denver guard Ty Lawson was arrested in Missouri late Thursday night and charged with DUI. His status for Friday's game against the Celtics is in question; Jameer Nelson would likely get the start in his absence. Lawson probably won't face a suspension until he has his day in court; if guilty, he'll likely lose two games (that's the penalty Greg Monroe got after pleading guilty to DUI last September).
- I wish the NBA would institute much harsher penalties for DUI and other driving-related crimes, if only to honor the memory of players like Malik Sealy and Bobby Phills.
- Getting the impression that most of this year's big trades have already been made. There has even been some buzz about moving the trade deadline up by a couple of weeks.
- Oklahoma City's second unit - which has been featuring both Dion Waiters and Reggie Jackson - looks absolutely devastating. That could inspire Sam Presti to hang on to Jackson for the rest of the season, even though he's a near-lock to try and sign elsewhere this summer.
- It could also take OKC out of the running for Brook Lopez. (And who knows how the Nets' uncertain ownership situation will impact their trade deadline plans?)
