NAME

TEAM

INJURY

TIMETABLE TO RETURN

ANALYSIS

Russell Westbrook OKCKneeNo TimetableWestbrook is practicing but is not cleared for full contact and missed opening night. Dennis Schroder could be looking at heavy minutes early on in the season.
DeMarcus Cousins GSWAchillesNo TimetableCousins is lightly practicing after having surgery on his Achilles. It has been said that he'll be out at least the first month of the season and won't be rushed. Jordan Bell should be the primary fill-in.
Kristaps Porzingis NYKneeNo TimetableThis is a tricky one because if the Knicks are competing by January-February, they will bring Porzingis back, but he could be held out for the entire season. Lance Thomas and Noah Vonleh will fill in. 
Dwight Howard WSHBackDAY TO DAYHoward has had a sore back all preseason and it's not a lock that he will start the season active. If the soreness doesn't go away Ian Mahinmi will likely start in his place. 
Harrison Barnes DALHamstringDAY TO DAYBarnes is looking like he'll miss the Mavs opening game, but it may only be a one or two game absence. Dwight Powell will fill in. 
Lauri Markkanen CHIElbow4-6 WeeksMarkkanen will miss the first month of the season and while he is out Bobby Portis will be the primary fill-in option with Jabari Parker playing minutes at PF as well. 
Myles Turner INDAnkleDAY TO DAYTurner is dealing with a small Ankle sprain but the Pacers aren't too concerned but if for some reason he has to miss opening night, Domantas Sabonis will fill in. 
John Collins ATLAnkle1-2 WeeksCollins will miss the start of the season and Omari Spellman will pick up minutes and will likely start in his place. Miles Plumlee could be seeing more minutes early on.
Larry Nance Jr. CLEAnkleDAY TO DAYThere's a chance that Nance will have to miss opening night for the Cavs. If he misses the game, Tristan Thompson will be looking at a serious minutes boost. Ante Zizic could also see back up minutes.
Dewayne Dedmon ATLAnkleNo TimetableDedmon will miss opening night with an Ankle injury . Alex Len will Miles Plumlee will pick up minutes while he's out. Dedmon has been able to practice a bit.  
Allen Crabbe BKNAnkleDAY TO DAYCrabbe will miss the Nets opening game and is still unable to put pressure on his Ankle. Caris LeVert and Joe Harris should see more minutes early on. 
James Johnson MIAHerniaDAY TO DAYJohnson will miss the Heat's opening game and that means Kelly Olynyk will get a lot of playing time. There's a chance Johnson could miss the Heat's second game too.
Dejounte Murray SASTorn ACLOUT FOR THE SEASONMurray will miss the 2018-2019 regular season. Patty Mills will see a ton of minutes along with Bryn Forbes .
Bogdan Bogdanovic SACKnee3-4 WeeksBogdanovic will miss the first few weeks of the season and can't take full contac yet. Yogi Ferrell and Justin Jackson should see more playing time while he's out.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson BKNThighDAY TO DAYRHJ is feeling better but there's still a chance he can miss the start of the season. The Nets could insert Ed Davis in the starting lineup w/ DeMarre Carroll also hurt.
Isaiah Thomas DENHipNo TimetableWith Thomas missing the start of the season and possibly extended time, Jamal Murray 's minutes are safe and secure. Monte Morris could see some back up PG minutes. 
Dirk Nowitzki DALAnkle2-3 WeeksNowitzki will miss the first few weeks of the season and can't put pressure on the Ankle. Dwight Powell and Maxi Kleber will see more minutes early.
Derrick White SASHeel2-5 WeeksWith White out for a bit w/ a tough injury to come up with an exact timetable for, Patty Mills and Bryn Forbes will be seeing a lot of playing time early on. 
Wayne Ellington MIAAnkleDAY TO DAYEllington is very unlikely to start the season active and Dwayne Wade and Tyler Johnson will pick up more minutes. Ellington missed the entire preseason w/ this Ankle injury.
Delon Wright TORAdductor StrainDAY TO DAYWright hasn't been able to practice in full and is very likely to miss the Raptors opener. If he can't start the season active, Fred VanVleet will pick up playing time.
Courtney Lee NYNeckNo TimetableLee is suffering from Neck pain and will miss the start of the season. Frank Ntilikina in the starting lineup in his place. Mario Hezonja and Kevin Knox will also see more minutes. 
Maurice Harkless PORKneeDAY TO DAYHarkless is sore in multiple areas and it's undetermined whether or not he will start the season active. Evan Turner could draw starts early. Gary Trent Jr. and Jake Layman could see more playing time.
DeMarre Carroll BKNAnkleNo TimetableCarroll went through a procedure on his leg and will miss the start of the season and we don't know when we'll see him on the court again. Caris LeVert and Joe Harris will pick up minutes. 
Cory Joseph INDKneeDAY TO DAYJoseph's status for opening night is currently up in the air and Aaron Holiday and Tyreke Evans will play more minutes if he's not ready.
Justise Winslow MIAHamstringDAY TO DAYWinslow looks like he'll be inactive to start the season and that will open up more playing time for Rodney McGruder and Derrick Jones Jr.  
Wilson Chandler PHIHamstring2-4 WeeksChandler missed opening night and will be out for at least the next few weeks. Robert Covington , JJ Redick and Markelle Fultz will see more playing time.
Stanley Johnson DETToeDAY TO DAYJohnson's status for the Pistons opening game is up in the air and if he can't play, Reggie Bullock will be the primary beneficiary w/ Luke Kennard also picking up playing time. 
Marquese Chriss HOUAnkleDAY TO DAYChriss will miss the start of the season. P.J. Tucker, James Ennis III and Nene could see more playing time early with one of them likely to draw the start.
Dion Waiters MIAAnkleNo TimetableWaiters is coming back from surgery and he doesn't seem close to coming back. Wayne Ellington (if healthy) Dwayne Wade, Derrick Jones Jr. and Rodney McGruder will see more minutes. 
Andre Roberson OKCKnee2-3 MonthsRoberson is not recovering and he will start the season inactive. This could mean more minutes for Dennis Schroder , Alex Abrines and Terrance Ferguson .
JR Smith CLEElbowDAY TO DAYIt is looking like Smith will miss the Cavs opening game and that will translate to more minutes for Jordan Clarkson and Rodney Hood .
Denzel Valentine CHIAnkleDAY TO DAYIt's not looking good right now for Valentine when it comes to his status for opening night and if he can't go, Justin Holiday will see more back up minutes early and Zach LaVine will play even more minutes. 
Kosta Koufos SACHamstringDAY TO DAYKoufos could miss the start of the regular season and the Kings have a ton of big men. Harry Giles and Nemanja Bjelica will see more playing time if he can't go.
Shabazz Napier BKNHamstringDAY TO DAYNapier will miss the Nets opener. Spencer Dinwiddie will see even more playing time as the primary back up PG. 
Mike Muscala PHIAnkleDAY TO DAYMuscala missed the Sixers opening game and Amir Johnson will see more playing time if Muscala has to miss more games. 
Andre Iguodala GSWCalfDAY TO DAYIguodala left the game during the Warriors opening game w/ calf tightness and if he needs to miss time, Kevon Looney will see more minutes. 
Justin Anderson ATLTibiaNo TimetableAnderson continues to deal with injuries dating back to last season and is not looking good to start the season active. DeAndre Bembry could see more playing time. 
Jerryd Bayless PHIKneeNo TimetableBayless will miss at least the next few weeks and T.J. McConnell will pick up more backup minutes. Markelle Fultz will also pick up more playing time with Bayless out.
Thon Maker MILKneeDAY TO DAYMaker missed multiple preseason games and if he isn't ready to start the season active, Brook Lopez will get even more minutes and John Henson will pick up more playing time. 
Emmanuel Mudiay NYAnkleDAY TO DAYMudiay will miss the Knicks opening game and Trey Burke and Frank Ntilikina will pick up even more playing time. 
Raul Neto UTHamstring1-3 WeeksNeto will start the season on the shelf and this could lead to more playing time for Dante Exum and Alec Burks early on. 
NeneHOUCalfDAY TO DAYNene will miss the Rockets opening game and hopefully Marquese Chriss will be ready to go and if he plays, he'll see a lot of minutes. Clint Capela will play even more w/ the Rockets front court banged up.
D.J. Wilson MILHamstringDAY TO DAYIf Wilson can't start the season active, Ersan Ilyasova will pick up more playing time. 
Zhou Qi HOUKneeNo TimetableQi will not play in the Rockets opening game. Marquese Chriss and Nene (when healthy) will be seeing heavy back up minutes early on. A lot will be asked of Clint Capela early on.
Zhaire Smith PHIFoot2-3 MonthsSmith is dealing with a fractured foot and with him out for a couple of months, T.J. McConnell will pick up more playing time. 
Justin Patton MINFootNo TimetablePatton had surgery on his foot and it is undetermined when he'll be back. Gorgui Dieng has less competition for playing time because Patton is out. 
Omer Asik CHIArthritisNo TimetableWith Asik out indefinitely, Cristiano Felicio should pick up back up minutes. Wendell Carter Jr. will see more playing time early. 
Alex Caruso LALHipDAY TO DAYCaruso is on the outside looking into the Lakers rotation once he returns. If he has to miss the Lakers opening game, it could lead to a few more minutes for Josh Hart .
Lonnie Walker IV SASKnee5-8 WeeksAfter having surgery on his Knee, we won't be seeing Walker for awhile and Bryn Forbes and Patty Mills will play a ton of minutes early on in the season. 
Alan Williams BKNAnkle DAY TO DAYWilliams will miss the Nets opening game and Ed Davis will be picking up more playing time. Jarrett Allen should also see extended run. 
Brandon Knight HOUKneeNo TimetableWe don't know when we'll see Knight take the court again and Eric Gordon should pick up even more playing time.
TJ Leaf INDKneeDAY TO DAYIt is uncertain whether or not Leaf will start the season active and if he's out, Thad Young will pick up more playing time.