While the NBA hasn't lost any games (yet) due to COVID-19 this season, we are seeing more and more positive cases of late which have led to more impact players entering the health protocol. DeMar DeRozan became the latest big name player in the protocol, joining a list that includes -- among others -- the entire back court of the Charlotte Hornets. In addition, non-COVID illnesses are up around the league as well.
The result of all these illness absences? Opportunities.
For example, guys like Chimezie Metu of the Kings are getting minutes and chances they wouldn't have gotten had everyone around them been healthy. Metu would've been on this list if the article ran in the middle of last week, when he was in the midst of averaging 11.7 PPG and 9.3 RPG over a three-game span while Marvin Bagley III was out sick. In fact, call Metu a bonus... even though he had a pedestrian game in Bagley's return, he's a young player that's shown potential, which means he's at least worth keeping on your radar.