What media day told us about ten injured stars, and what we changed

Media day is the first time in months that players and coaches answer questions on the record, and for fantasy managers it is the most useful day of the preseason, because it turns rumor about injuries into something closer to a timeline. This year it confirmed some good news, revealed one injury nobody had reported, and left several important questions open.

Below is what was said about ten of the most draft-relevant players, as collected in RotoWire's media day roundup, beside the number of games our projections now give each one. Our projections read the injury news every night, so a player's projected games and his rank on our board already reflect what follows.

The good news

Tyrese Haliburton answered the question before anyone asked it: "Before you ask a question, I'm healthy. I'm 100%. There will be no restrictions." He missed all of last season after tearing his Achilles in the Finals, and we still project only 61 games, because his coach also said the team would go at the correct pace. Even at 61 games his projected 9.6 assists, 3.0 threes and 1.7 turnovers rank 11th in 9-cat and 17th on points, which makes him a first-round categories pick.

Kyrie Irving said there would be no restrictions on his return from a torn ACL, but that he would talk with the medical staff about back-to-backs, which is why we project 53 games rather than a full season. Walker Kessler said he felt 110% after shoulder surgery, and Alex Sarr is expected to be ready for opening night. Damian Lillard, Jalen Brunson, Jalen Williams, Keegan Murray, Josh Giddey, Zach LaVine and Fred VanVleet were all described as cleared or back on the court.

The news nobody had reported

Brandon Ingram's partially torn Achilles was the biggest surprise. The tear was found in May during surgery on his heel, both were repaired in the same operation, and the Clippers said only at media day that he would miss the start of the season. Our model now projects him for about 30 games, which drops him to 141st on points even though per game he would still be 51st. The player who gains most is Max Strus, who we covered in our three deep sleepers piece.

The open questions

Kawhi Leonard's new coach in Toronto said he wanted him to play 82 games and then, in the same session, mentioned load management. We project 61 games, which allows for the rest days, and he still ranks 14th in 9-cat. Kristaps Porziņģis is out indefinitely with no timeline, and we give him 40 games. Jimmy Butler said he had started running and could dunk, but there is no return date after his torn ACL, and we project 23 games, which keeps him out of the top 175 on either board. Dereck Lively is still not cleared, and Mark Williams is out after shoulder surgery, which is why Khaman Maluach's projected minutes jumped.

How to use this

Draft Haliburton and Kawhi at their prices, since both are already discounted for the games they will miss. Let Ingram, Butler and Porziņģis go to someone else unless they fall into the last few rounds, where a stash on a long absence costs little. Our projections will keep reading the injury reports every night through the season, and the projections page shows each player's games as they move.