Jazz's Georges Niang: Should benefit sans Bogdanovic
Rotowire
5D ago
Niang is expected to receive a boost in playing time when the season resumes with Bojan Bogdanovic set to undergo season-ending wrist surgery, Tony Jones of The Athletic reports.
The Jazz will likely turn to Joe Ingles to fill Bogdanovic's starting role at forward, but since Ingles was already averaging 27.7 minutes per game coming off the bench this season, he won't be able to assume all of Bogdanovic's playing time. As such, Niang, who is only averaging 13.3 minutes per game as a reserve this season, is a likelier candidate to absorb a good chunk of Bogdanovic's 33.1 minutes per game. Even if Niang pushes for a consistent 20-to-25-minute role, his low usage could still make it difficult for him to gain relevance in most fantasy leagues, but he should at least be on the radar.
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Jazz's Joe Ingles: Expected to move back to top unit
Rotowire
5D ago
Ingles is expected to slot in as the Jazz's starting small forward when the NBA season resumes with Bojan Bogdanovic set to undergo season-ending wrist surgery, Tony Jones of The Athletic reports.
Ingles has started 37 games this season, but he had come off the bench for the Jazz's final seven games before the NBA went on hiatus. With Bogdanovic now out of the picture, however, Ingles should slot into a starting role on the wing, while Royce O'Neale likely bumps over to power forward. Both Ingles and O'Neale could absorb some of Bogdanovic's minutes, but reserve forward Georges Niang may see the biggest uptick in playing time with a key rotation player sidelined. In any case, a move to the starting five should prove beneficial for Ingles, who has been far better statistically in that capacity rather than coming off the bench. Over those 37 starts, Ingles is averaging 11.2 points, 6.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 2.2 three-pointers and 0.9 steals in 31.6 minutes per contest.
Jazz's Bojan Bogdanovic: Needs season-ending wrist surgery
Rotowire
7D ago
Bogdanovic is scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery on his right wrist in the near future Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
Bogdanovic wasn't known to have been dealing with any injury prior to the NBA suspending its season in mid-March, but the forward has apparently been dealing with pain and discomfort in his right wrist since January, and it's only worsened in the months that have passed. The implication, of course, is that Bogdanovic wouldn't be available for the Jazz if the 2019-20 season resumes later this year in some form, though Utah expects him to be ready for the start of the 2020-21 campaign. In his first season with the Jazz, Bogdanovic appeared in 63 of the team's 64 games, averaging a career-best 20.2 points to go with 4.1 rebounds, 3.0 treys and 2.1 assists.
