Opening night for the NBA’s 2026-27 season brings a wave of absences that reshape team lineups and fantasy basketball strategies. Keaton Wagler, the Clippers’ rookie and fifth overall pick, is set to make his first NBA start at shooting guard amid injuries to several high-profile players.
Bradley Beal, Brandon Ingram, Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, Mark Williams, and Shaedon Sharpe headline a crowded injury list that has already shaken up rotations. Beal is out with knee inflammation and has no confirmed return date. Ingram, expected to be a major offensive option for his new team after a trade from the Raptors, underwent surgery for a partially torn Achilles and will miss an uncertain period.
With those wing players sidelined, Wagler is positioned to get substantial minutes early in his career. Clippers’ management is also expected to increase the roles of Kris Dunn, Kobe Sanders, and Gradey Dick while Beal and Duncan Strus remain out; Strus is dealing with a partial plantar fascia tear and will miss at least the first few weeks.
Derrick Jones is set to replace Ingram’s production and has shown in the past that he can be a dependable starter. The Clippers will rely on him to provide consistent value during this stretch.
Injuries also affect the frontcourt across the league. Jusuf Nurkic is sidelined until at least early November with a partial plantar plate tear in his toe. Jalen Smith will start at center for the Brooklyn Nets while Claxton remains out with a hamstring injury expected to keep him sidelined for at least two weeks. Jaxson Hayes is likely to take a significant role at center, backed up by Mo Bamba, with Ace Bailey and Brice Sensabaugh potentially seeing more minutes at power forward.
Ben Simmons, who was nearing a return, suffered a torn Achilles in practice last Sunday and will miss the entire season. This leaves De’Andre Hunter, Nique Clifford, and Precious Achiuwa to fill the void Simmons was expected to manage. The Sacramento Kings face additional frontcourt absences with Raynaud and Cardwell out for a couple of weeks, increasing Achiuwa’s responsibilities and opening opportunities for newcomer Jonathan Mogbo.
Mark Williams of the Suns remains sidelined for months following shoulder labrum surgery. The Suns will turn to Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach to cover the minutes at center.
The Warriors face their own injury list. Jimmy Butler, out with a knee injury, will be unavailable until early next year, while Moody, also dealing with knee issues, might return in December. Kristaps Porzingis continues to be affected by illness with no clear return timeline. Golden State will rely on Gui Santos and Yaxel Lendeborg as starters, with Draymond Green shifting to center, supported by Al Horford and bench contributor Georges Niang.
Dallas Mavericks’ center Isaiah Lively is recovering from foot surgery last December and remains unavailable. Daniel Gafford is expected to handle most of the center minutes, with Moussa Cisse providing additional support.
The Chicago Bulls’ duo of White and Knueppel are both recovering from calf and hamstring injuries, respectively. White will miss at least the opener, and although Knueppel is not expected to be sidelined long, the Bulls might approach their returns cautiously.
Dennis Schroder, a new addition to the Bulls, is set to start at point guard for the foreseeable future. Grayson Allen, Sion James, and Royce O’Neale will compete for playing time at shooting guard and are expected to carry a significant workload in the backcourt.
Shaedon Sharpe’s torn meniscus will keep him out until at least March 2027. The Trail Blazers, deep on the wing, will turn to Jrue Holiday, Scoot Henderson, and Vit Krejci for added minutes.
Simultaneously, the absence of DiVincenzo, sidelined with an Achilles tendon tear from last season’s playoffs, means players like Terrence Shannon, Isaiah Evans, Bones Hyland, and Ayo Dosunmu must shoulder more responsibility.
As the season begins, the injury shuffle has brought unexpected opportunities for players like Keaton Wagler and Derrick Jones to establish themselves. Teams across the league are adjusting rotations amid a wave of sidelined stars. The latest confirmed development is Wagler’s expected start for the Clippers at shooting guard, marking a significant moment in his rookie campaign.
According to CBS.
