Michael Porter Jr. hasn't played since November 6 due to a back injury, and on Monday it was announced that he would have back surgery and may miss the rest of the season.
This is a heartbreaking scenario for Porter, who has missed significant time with back injuries going back to his school days, but fortunately he's expected to make a full recovery.
Now, the Nuggets are facing the majority of the season without the player tabbed to be their second big scorer behind Nikola Jokic, and they're already without Jamal Murray for another several months as he recovers from ACL surgery. In their extended absence, who are the Nuggets most likely to step in and produce? Let's dig into it.
Will Barton is the most likely candidate to slot in as the secondary offensive engine, as he's demonstrated the ability to put a lot of points on the board in a hurry and also create for teammates. Over his last 11 games, he's averaged 17.7 PPG, 3.1 3PG, 6.0 RPG, 4.6 APG and 0.8 SPG. Barton can be streaky, but if he stays healthy he looks like an everyday flex starter moving forward. Barton is still available in 31.8% of ESPN leagues, so if he's out there in your league he's worth adding immediately.
Aaron Gordon (44.1% rostered) has a proven track record as an impact fantasy performer from his days with the Magic, and early returns suggest he is prepared to replicate that value in Porter's absence. In his last five games, Gordon has averaged 18.6 PPG (47.8 FG%, 85.8 FT%), 7.0 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.0 3PG, 0.8 SPG and 0.4 BPG.
Four of those games came with Nikola Jokic also out, but Jokic returned on Monday and Gordon still popped for 20 points, five assists, four rebounds and two 3-pointers in a season-high 38 minutes. Gordon's production should be reasonably sustainable moving forward, making him a potential flex starter on most teams.
Jeff Green (3.4% rostered) is the player likely available on your waiver wire that could have the most expanded role in Porter's absence. Green has averaged a solid 17.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG and 2.0 3PG in his last four contests, but he's never been a consistent scorer and will be at best fourth or fifth in the Nuggets' pecking order this season.
He'll have positive stretches like this four-game stretch, but will also have four-game stretches like the four before his current streak, in which he averaged only 5.3 PPG (31.6 FG%), 3.8 RPG, 1.5 APG and 0.3 3PG in 27.3 MPG as a starter. Green isn't someone to depend on as an all-the-time fantasy starter, but he's streamable in games/weeks where he has good matchups if you have the roster space to add him.