Wire to Wire aims to be your waiver wire resource for all of your fantasy basketball needs. It will dive into playing time trends, injury replacements, and even an occasional category specialist—all of which can be found on a typical waiver wire within your fantasy league at any given time.

We may as well cut to the chase this week, as owners everywhere are scrambling to cover their losses as Los Angeles Lakers big man Andrew Bynum will miss considerable time with a knee injury.  Last week, Bynum continued to be one of the biggest surprises in the fantasy game.  This week, he’s relegated to taking up a slot on the end of a bench because you simply cannot drop a player of his caliber.  We’ll explore options for owners in all formats, and even sprinkle in a few other names for good measure. 

Shallow Leagues (Less than 12 Teams)

Kwame Brown, PF/C, Los Angeles Lakers
The biggest injury news in the league this week is undoubtedly the eight-week shelf that has been given to Lakers big man Andrew Bynum after he landed on Lamar Odom’s foot.  The knee injury has opened up time for the former first-overall selection Kwame Brown to log in starts for the Lakers.  It takes talent to put up the type of games that Brown has in the past, but it is just a matter of getting consistency as well as hustle.  If a double-double in his first game starting is any indication, Brown is a solid addition for those in need of a big man.

Jameer Nelson, PG, Orlando Magic
Back injuries and a rough shooting patch may have hampered Jameer Nelson a bit towards the end of 2007, but it appears that this is a new year of production for the St. Joe’s product.  In the last seven games, Nelson has averaged 12 points, six rebounds and a three-point field goal per game.  There’s always a chance that the Magic get flustered – as they have lost five of the past six games – but Nelson deserves to be owned in all formats given his ability to score and dish the rock.

DeShawn Stevenson, SG, Washington Wizards
Talk about streaky.  Stevenson lit up the box score about a month ago, and then proceeded to fall off of the face of fantasy relevance for five straight nights, forcing owners to lose their patience and cut ties.  Well, he’s back as the shooting guard has now produced double-figures in the past five games including an 18-point average over the past three.  In the same stretch, Stevenson has drained eight treys and has even been contributing in the hustle categories with 15 rebounds and five steals.  I hate to get whipsawed by Stevenson’s play, but it is hard to ignore the recent play.

Ryan Gomes, SF/PF, Minnesota Timberwolves
Similar to Stevenson, it was not long ago that we mentioned adding Gomes to fantasy rosters.  While he has just hovered around 12 points per game, I felt that it was time to bring him up again as he has rattled off back-to-back games of 20 points, with modest totals in rebounds and solid free throw shooting.  In fact, Gomes has missed only one foul shot in the past seven games after sinking 21 of his last 22 attempts.  The Timberwolves change their lineup on a whim, but with Gomes starting every game since December 19th, he deserves to be rostered in all formats.

(Last Week: Kurt Thomas, Antonio Daniels, Derek Fisher, Joe Smith)

Standard Leagues (12-14 Teams)

Luke Walton, SF, Los Angeles Lakers
The former Arizona Wildcat is back in the starting lineup for the Lakers and has rattled off several games of double-digit production and has recently put up a game that included 10 rebounds and seven assists.  His percentages have been historically rough on fantasy owners, but with the occasional long-ball to go with all-around production is something that is worthy of consideration in standard leagues.  Andrew Bynum going down for eight weeks may force others to step up their game, and Walton’s recent rebounding production is likely to raise some eyebrows.

Anthony Carter, PG, Denver Nuggets
I admit, I was a bit skeptical of the long-term prospects of Anthony Carter, but this was because I was one of those guys that thought Chucky Atkins would be a huge sleeper this season.  Well, now that Atkins is officially a big bust of a health risk, Carter looks to be locked in to the starting point guard slot for Denver for the foreseeable future.  If 11 points and nine assists over the past five games are any indication of what Carter will do going forward, he deserves to be owned in all standard leagues.  It may be a rollercoaster of a ride, but sit tight and let the assists pour in.

Maurice Evans, SG/SF, Orlando Magic
I hesitate to mention Evans this week as I just can’t understand how he has been able to put up 12 points per game over the past four nights.  With Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard in tow, it is not often that you can get consistent double-figures from another swingman.  While Evans has supplanted Keith Bogans in the starting lineup, and is a solid source of threes, he is only worth a look if you are desperate for scoring and long-range production. 

Marquis Daniels, SG/SF, Indiana Pacers
If you’re in need of steals, look no further as Daniels gives you the rock-ripping abilities of Allen Iverson in half of the playing time.  We are talking 17 steals in the past seven games, at only 21 minutes per game.  And if you are concerned about the rest of the statistics, Daniels has averaged 12 points, four rebounds and three assists in the past two games as well.  Pick up the Pacers bench player and you are adding an instant category advantage over your opponents.

(Last Week: Mike Conley, Al Thornton, Martell Webster, Earl Watson)

Deep Leagues (14+ Teams)

Ronny Turiaf, SF/PF, Los Angeles Lakers
Yes, this is another play on the Andrew Bynum injury.  The downside to Turiaf is the fact that he does not have center eligibility despite playing the position very often while on the floor.  The upside to Turiaf is that he is fresh off of a 14-point, three block performance against the Seattle Supersonics and is a Kwame Brown injury away from being ownable in all formats.  Turiaf has double-digit potential every night that he laces up the high-tops, so he may be worth adding now while his minutes are still in the teens.  Once he eclipses 20 or 25, someone else will have scooped him up.

Luke Ridnour, PG, Seattle Supersonics
Not long after the Seattle Times reported that Luke Ridnour’s quadriceps are fully healthy, the point guard logged in 24 minutes of play and put up a double-double in a tough loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.  This 10-point, 11-assist game may be a mirage, but if you’re in need of point guard help, Ridnour is worth the addition.  The Sonics are still struggling, so P.J. Carlesimo has no real allegiance to Earl Watson.  Do not be surprised if Ridnour puts up a rough night in the near future, but there’s some upside to be had.

Charlie Bell, SG/SF, Milwaukee Bucks
Despite all of the recent talks Charlie Bell possibly having the worst single season in the history of the NBA, he has recently turned things up a bit with double figures in five of the last six games to go with seven steals in the past three.  If you have read any of my past season pieces, I’m a sucker for steal-to-turnover ration, and Bell is one of the best in the league.  Couple all of this with a five-game week for Milwaukee next week and Bell is a prime addition for weekly lineup leagues.

Thaddeus Young, SF/PF, Philadelphia 76ers
While this may be possible ingredient for extremely-deep league success, there is a reason that the Sixers took this kid out of Georgia Tech over a more NBA-ready player like Al Thornton.  Young has produced solid per-minute statistics all season, and the fact that he’s now receiving about 20 minutes a game makes things that much better.  Young’s last two games have been a bit rough, but he has been no stranger to double-figures since the clock ticked 2008.  Most owners should just monitor the rookie, but if you are in need of an upside play, Young may be the ticket.

(Last Week: Chris Quinn, Jamario Moon, Jarrett Jack, TJ Ford)