With the sports world on hold and sports fans left to choose from old highlights, documentaries and video games, bettors may look as this new window of downtime as an opportunity to beef up on research. And rest assured, the most astute of gamblers are already looking ahead to what the landscape may look like when sports do return.
With that in mind, here’s a look at some key NBA players who were injured when play was suspended and could return when play resumes — and alter both scoreboards and oddsboards.
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Monday, March 16 at 2:20 a.m. ET.
Kevin Durant, F, Brooklyn Nets
Injury (date): Torn Achilles (June 10, 2019)
Original prognosis: Start for 2020-21 season
Current playoff position: 7th in East (30-34)
Current odds: +4900 to win East; +10000 to win championship
Looking ahead: On March 10 — or a day before the NBA announced the season’s postponement — video surfaced of Durant driving from beyond the top of the 3-point line, blowing by a defender and slamming it home. While the expectation has always been Durant would return next season, if the postseason is pushed back into the middle of summer, getting Durant back could make the Nets a contender in the Eastern Conference. It’s enough of a possibility that some sportsbooks have reportedly taken down NBA futures bets in large part because of fear of a flood of Nets bets.
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John Wall, PG, Washington Wizards
Injury (date): Torn Achilles (January/February 2019)
Original prognosis: 12 months
Current playoff position: 9th in East (24-40; 5.5 games out of playoff spot)
Current odds: +10000 to win East; +25000 to win championship
Looking ahead: Wall hasn’t played since Dec. 26, 2018, having first undergone surgery on a nagging Achilles injury, then developing an infection in the area before rupturing his Achilles in a fall at his home. The five-time All-Star turns 30 in September, so age and rust aren’t on his side. But since the postponement, Wizards fans have been buzzing about Wall’s potential return. Plus, we’re beyond the original timetable for his return. The ultimate question may not be time but rather, even if Wall can come back when the season resumes, are the Wizards too far out of it to take the risk?
Jusuf Nurkic, C, Portland Trail Blazers
Injury (date): Compound factures of leg (March 25, 2019)
Original prognosis: Return March 15, 2020
Current playoff position: 9th in West (29-37; 3.5 games out of playoff spot)
Current odds: +5000 to win West; +20000 to win championship
Looking ahead: The timing actually worked out against Nurkic and the Blazers, as the big man was ready to return just a few days before the NBA suspended the season — and the G League season (Nurkic was expected to get some work in the G League first). With a playoff spot within reach and the banged-up Damian Lillard now getting some time to rest, the Blazers could be primed for a late-season run. Of course, in the West, squeaking into the playoffs means an early date with the Los Angeles Lakers or Los Angeles Clippers.
Andre Roberson, G/F, Oklahoma City Thunder
Injury (date): Ruptured patellar tendon (Jan. 27, 2018)
Original prognosis: Likely out for season
Current playoff position: 5th in West (40-24)
Current odds: +3500 to win West; +10000 to win championship
Looking ahead: As long as Durant and Nurkic have been out, they have nothing on Roberson (who was injured while playing alongside Russell Westbrook). Roberson’s specialty is on the defensive end, as evidenced by his 2017 All-Defensive Team selection. In late February, Roberson rejoined the team to do individual work. Coach Billy Donovan at the time admitted the team was looking at the possibility of Roberson playing this season. The extra time can only make that more possible. If he does make it back, expect him to guard the likes of LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.
DeMarcus Cousins, C, free agent
Injury (date): Torn ACL (Aug. 12, 2019)
Original prognosis: Start of next season
Current playoff position: N/A
Current odds: N/A
Looking ahead: After Durant, Cousins may be the biggest wild card on this list — if for no other reason he will have his pick of playoff teams to join should he return. Cousins injured his knee shortly after signing with the Lakers in the offseason but before he ever played in a game. With the emergence of Dwight Howard and the addition of Markieff Morris last month, the Lakers cut Cousins. But the big man has been attending Lakers games and there is no shortage of speculation he could be back with the Lakers for the playoffs … giving them a frontcourt of Cousins, Howard, Anthony Davis and JaVale McGee.
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