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

While owners are frantically looking for the players who will go from unknown to fantasy playoff superstars in the matter of weeks (Walter Herrmann circa 2007), we have all been confronted with a bevy of superstar injuries.  While the Gerald Wallace concussion hurts, no injury will likely impact the final weeks more than Houston’s Yao Ming calling it a season.  The rotations have ironed themselves out, and we now know who needs to be added where.  Hopefully your opponents have been asleep at the wheel as we have a ton of fantasy assets out there on the wire as we speak.

Shallow Leagues

Luis Scola, SF/PF/C, Houston Rockets
Last season, when Yao Ming missed some time, it was Dikembe Mutombo who stepped up big to provide owners with a slew of boards and blocks.  This season, things are a bit different thanks to the off-season acquisition of one Luis Scola.  The month of February was very fruitful for Scola owners – resulting in a Rookie of the Month award.  Going forward looks like it will be even better as the big man has averaged 14 points and seven rebounds over the last seven games.  Add in a solid field goal percentage and a five-steal performance against the Grizzlies, and Scola needs to be owned in all formats for the rest of the season. 

Matt Carroll, SG/SF, Charlotte Bobcats
The Bobcats waiving Jeff McInnis would never really figure to have much of an impact on the fantasy world.  However, the injury to Gerald Wallace has opened up a ton of shots for the rest of his Charlotte teammates – the main beneficiary being Matt Carroll.  The swingman has notched double-figure point totals in each of the last three games including eight threes made in the same span.  Add in the fact that Carroll had a solid season when given the chance last year, and it would be hard to ignore him for the rest of this year.  If you’re in need of points, threes and free throw percentage, Carroll’s your man.  (Note: Another ‘Cat to check out if needed would be Jared Dudley!)

Elton Brand, PF/C, Los Angeles Clippers
There are two types of leagues this year in regard to Elton Brand.  Most competitive leagues saw the stud power forward be drafted in the later rounds, hoping for his return and use within the fantasy playoffs.  Others decided to let him sit on the wire, hoping to be the first person to catch wind of any pending return.  If your league is more like the latter, now’s your chance.  The Los Angeles Times has given Brand a possible return date of around March 19th.  There’s no telling what sort of minutes Brand will receive, but there’s a solid chance that even at 50% he would be better than whichever forward is sitting at the end of your bench.

Craig Smith, SF/PF/C, Minnesota Timberwolves
Smith has been a borderline addition all season long, providing owners with nice totals in terms of rebounds and steals.  The only downside to his production is the lack of scoring as well as playing time, struggling to get more than 20 minutes a game.  Those that have given Smith a chance were handsomely rewarded on Sunday night when the forward logged in 33 minutes of PT.  His output?  15 points, four rebounds, five assists and three steals.  Not bad by any means.  If he can keep the minutes up, give him a shot in all leagues.  Until then, he’s worth keeping on the radar.

Standard Leagues

Dikembe Mutombo, C, Houston Rockets
You just knew there would be a point in the season where Deke would have some value.  While his teammates Luis Scola and Carl Landry are providing the low-post scoring, the veteran center is parting like its 1999 by racking up the boards and blocks.  Only scoring 10 points in the past three games (combined), Mount Mutombo has pulled down 24 rebounds and blocked 11 shots.  If you’re looking for a late-season run in the aforementioned categories, you may not need much more than a Dikembe Mutombo addition.  Standard league owners could do a lot worse.

Thaddeus Young, SG/SF, Philadelphia 76ers
While Reggie Evans may have taken over the starting forward spot, rookie Thaddeus Young has responded with back-to-back games with scoring in the double-digits.  Couple this with his 12 steals in the past six games and the fact that the Sixers will likely give the kid more time as the season winds down, and you may have yourself a sneaky play over the duration of the year.  Dynasty league owners should not even be questioning the addition of the 19-year old forward. 

Carl Landry, SF/PF, Houston Rockets
It sure seems like a lot of Houston Rockets on this week’s edition, eh?  And it is for good reason as Yao’s injury has opened up a slew of minutes for the rest of the team.  Landry is only getting around 20 minutes per night, but that has not stopped him from producing as he’s averaged 13 points and five rebounds to go with a solid field goal percentage over the past three nights.  Landry won’t offer much in the hustle-stat category, but if you have the room, feel free to add him and teammate Mutombo for quite the one-two punch in your front court.  Not quite Nash-Barbosa, but you get the drift!

Deep Leagues

Jason Williams, PG, Miami Heat
It does not get much more inconsistent than anyone on the Miami Heat.  Especially when you are talking of their point guard Jason Williams.  Thankfully, Williams is beginning to tease us all again, averaging 13 points and eight dimes over the past two nights.  The threes haven’t slowed down much, as White Chocolate has drained five in the same span.  The only downside is the fact that the Heat are awful, and Marcus Banks is bound to take some of the playing time away.  Still, if you can catch a good week, Williams could be a solid Utility guard between now and the end of the year.

Luke Walton, SF/PF, Los Angeles Lakers
The son of Bill has made the most out of Vladamir Radmanovic’s absence.  While Vlad Rad could return this week, it may be tough to get the starting job back as Walton is coming off of back-to-back double-digit scoring efforts and has been crashing the glass like a guy who could see his minutes drop at any minute.  The steals have slowed down a bit, but Walton continues to be a guy that can do anything that the Lakers ask of him.  I wouldn’t go dropping anyone just to pick up Walton, but if you have the space, he’s worth considering.

Anderson Varejao, PF/C, Cleveland Cavaliers
Though the Cavaliers have made moves to bolster their front court, a back injury to Zydrunas Ilgauskas has already caused a stir within the starting lineup.  Joe Smith will see an increase in minutes, but it is Anderson Varejao who was recently inserted into the starting five.  If he continues to start along side Ben Wallace, he may be relied on a bit more than normal to provide some offense in the post.  Even if he only takes about five shots a game, his rebounds and blocks will be there with the best of them as seen by last year.  He’s worth a look in all deeper formats.

Mickael Pietrus, SG/SF, Golden State Warriors
Okay, maybe he wasn’t going to be traded after all.  Regardless of his demands, Pietrus showed Don Nelson and company what he has the potential to do on a nightly basis when he scored 23 points in only 22 minutes of play, going 7-of-7 from the floor, including three treys, and 6-of-7 from the line.  And while he has very little chance of doing that ever again, don’t doubt the fact that the Warriors know what they have in the swingman.  Heck, he may not put up 20-something points ever again, but if you can take a deep flier on someone, why not a guy with upside?