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.

Last week was definitely a bit rough as several of my mentions either succumbed to injury or simply underperformed.  Call it a jinx or call it poor timing, it just wasn’t a very fruitful exercise.  Here’s to hoping that this week is a bit different!

Shallow Leagues (Less Than 12 Teams)

Stephen Jackson, SG/SF, Golden State Warriors
41 MPG; 17.0 PPG; 3.0 RPG; 5.0 APG; 1.0 3PM; 44.4 FG%; 72.7 FT%; 1.0 SPG; 2.0 BPG; 1.0 TO

Yes indeed, there’s a New Sheriff in town.  If you were in a league with an impatient owner, waste no time at putting in a waiver claim for Stephen Jackson as he has served his suspension and is back in full effect. While this may not mean the best things for Monta Ellis and Mickael Pietrus, it can mean great things for your fantasy team.  Stop now, go check out your waiver wire and come back once it is confirmed that Jackson is not available.  If he is, add him and then head back this way.

Troy Murphy, PF/C, Indiana Pacers
25 MPG; 12.5 PPG; 5.8 RPG; 1.8 APG; 1.7 3PM; 44.0 FG%; 84.0 FT%; 0.3 SPG; 0.2 BPG; 1.3 TO

It hasn’t been the best start for Murphy, but then again it hasn’t been a good string of years for the big guy.  It appears that he’s finally healthy and is coming off of a 20-point outing, but now you just have to hope that he can keep it going.  Historically, Murphy will give you shooting guard stats from a center-eligible player, so do not count on efficiency.  But if you’re the type that needs some three point help, why not try and get it from your big man?  With nearly two treys a game, Murphy can definitely help bump up your dials from downtown.

Darko Milicic, PF/C, Memphis Grizzlies
29 MPG; 10.3 PPG; 7.6 RPG; 1.0 APG; 0.0 3PM; 50.8 FG%; 48.3 FT%; 0.6 SPG; 1.9 BPG; 1.9 TO

Not only has Milicic suffered from a thumb injury, but Stromile Swift has now gone off for a 24-point night in his place.  If you played fantasy hoops in the past, you know what thing: Stromile Swift is a tease.  If Milicic owners bailed on the shot-blocker due to the injury or even because of a hot free agent, jump all over him as he’ll be back soon.  Of course, this is assuming that his “game time decision” from Monday’s game was a correct assessment of his injury. 

Beno Udrih, PG, Sacramento Kings
35 MPG; 14.0 PPG; 3.0 RPG; 4.0 APG; 0.8 3PM; 47.4 FG%; 85.7 FT%; 1.2 SPG; 0.2 BPG; 2.0 TO

From being traded by the Spurs and then waived by the Timberwolves, Udrih is now the starting point guard for the Sacramento Kings – and is doing quite well with the job.  Now, the Wolves waiving a point guard with Randy Foye hurt is one thing.  Udrih leading the Kings in scoring in his last game, with the team actually winning is another.  Obviously, Udrih is just a short-term replacement until Mike Bibby returns, but until that happens, he needs to be owned in all formats.  He won’t kill your field goal shooting, is doing excellent from the line and is putting out some nice production in terms of assists.  Go get him.

(Last Week: Theo Ratliff, Yi Jianlian, Antoine Wright, Grant Hill)

Standard Leagues (12-14 Teams)

Sean Williams, C, New Jersey Nets
19 MPG; 9.6 PPG; 4.9 RPG; 0.0 APG; 0.0 3PM; 65.7 FG%; 72.4 FT%; 0.6 SPG; 2.4 BPG; 1.7 TO

We all knew that the kid had potential.  All he needed was a little love from Lawrence Frank to get into the lineup.  After giving owners only a few blocked shots here and there, Williams earned his first start of the season and tacked on a 22 point, eight rebound performance – with two steals and two blocks.  Until he falls out of the rotation, if he even does, Williams needs to be owned in all standard formats, with even consideration in shallow leagues.  For Williams’ benefit, Nenad Kristic appears to not be 100 percent yet.  If you need the help down low, get the rookie Williams.

Rashad McCants, PG/SG, Minnesota Timberwolves
26 MPG; 17.0 PPG; 3.3 RPG; 1.7 APG; 2.1 3PM; 48.4 FG%; 60.0 FT%; 0.6 SPG; 0.3 BPG; 3.7 TO

At this point, it appears that the only thing that can stop McCants from being a fantasy force is himself as he has struggled to stay healthy throughout his young career.  When healthy, McCants has produced huge scoring nights, with most of his production being from beyond the arc.  The Ricky Davis trade shot McCants’ value through the roof as he’s now the starting off-guard.  He’s coming off of a rough game, but before that had a line of 19 points, six boards and two steals.  If you have the room for a player that is mostly two-categories, snag the T-Wolves shooting guard, as they appear ready to make him one of the top scoring options on the team.

J.R. Smith, SG, Denver Nuggets
23 MPG; 11.7 PPG; 2.6 RPG; 3.7 APG; 2.1 3PM; 44.6 FG%; 73.9 FT%; 1.0 SPG; 0.1 BPG; 2.6 TO

Smith is in a similar situation to McCants, except that he is nowhere near being the top scoring option on his team that has names like Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony.  Some of Smith’s stats are padded by a huge scoring night against the Cavaliers a few games ago, but the rest is legit.  Unfortunately with Smith, you have his attitude that tends to clash with the coaching staff.  When he has his head on straight, he’s one of the best deep threats in the game.  But that’s a huge “if.”

Luis Scola, PF, Houston Rockets
19 MPG; 6.8 PPG; 4.4 RPG; 1.0 APG; 0.0 3PM; 53.0 FG%; 45.5 FT%; 0.5 SPG; 0.2 BPG; 0.8 TO

Though it appears that he’s still playing behind Chuck Hayes, Scola has rattled off two-straight 20-point games.  What’s even better is that Rick Adelman has noticed his improved play and looks to be rotating the power forward in a bit more in the future.  Hayes is not as talented on the offensive end, so if the Rockets want to put up some points, it’s going to have to be with Scola down low.  Yao Ming is getting a ton of defensive pressure lately, so look for Scola to be inserted as a relief of sorts to help out in the post. 

(Last Week: Jarrett Jack, Acie Law IV, Kurt Thomas, Anthony Parker)

Deep Leagues (14+ Teams)

Juan Carlos Navarro, SG, Memphis Grizzlies
17 MPG; 8.0 PPG; 1.4 RPG; 1.7 APG; 2.0 3PM; 39.3 FG%; 100.0 FT%; 0.6 SPG; 0.0 BPG; 1.3 TO

It was thought that Navarro would get a start or two with Darko Milicic out with his thumb injury.  Instead, it was Stromile Swift.  Regardless, that hasn’t stopped the Spanish sharp shooter from launching threes – as he made 8-of-9 long-range attempts this past week against New Orleans.  There is still quite a logjam at the guard positions in Memphis, but if Navarro can get consistent minutes, he could wind up leading the league in threes.  Monitor his play going forward.

Jordan Farmar, PG/SG, Los Angeles Lakers
20 MPG; 9.6 PPG; 3.2 RPG; 2.8 APG; 1.0 3PM; 48.5 FG%; 61.1 FT%; 1.2 SPG; 0.0 BPG; 1.2 TO

Yes, Derek Fisher is the starting point guard in Los Angeles.  But this hasn’t stopped Farmar from logging consecutive big-minute games and producing very, very well providing points, assists and a bevy of steals.  He’s worth a shot in deeper formats as the wire is typically pretty barren.  Watch the way Phil Jackson uses the former Bruin this week.  While he may not takeover the starting gig any time soon, Farmar can produce Jose Calderon type numbers, but with a few threes added into the mix.

Andray Blatche, SF/PF, Washington Wizards
17 MPG; 4.9 PPG; 3.6 RPG; 1.1 APG; 0.0 3PM; 45.5 FG%; 66.7 FT%; 0.7 SPG; 1.6 BPG; 1.1 TO

I was really big on Blatche in the preseason, but he failed to surmount any type of meaningful time at the beginning of the season.  Fortunately for my forecasts, the Wizards got off to an awful start, forcing Eddie Jordan to shake things up a bit.  Enter Andray Blatche.  Blatche has been getting some time at both forward slots; the small forward when Caron Butler moves to shooting guard.  He’s providing some solid hustle stats and will likely see an increase in his scoring and rebounding as he’s given more time.  If you’re holding on to someone like Luke Walton, it may be time to cut bait for Blatche.

Vladamir Radmanovic, PF, Los Angeles Lakers
19 MPG; 9.6 PPG; 2.4 RPG; 1.8 APG; 2.0 3PM; 44.6 FG%; 84.6 FT%; 0.9 SPG; 0.0 BPG; 1.0 TO

When you only get 19 minutes per night, it’s tough to be respected in the fantasy game.  That hasn’t stopped Vlad Rad from putting up solid scoring efforts with plenty of long range and free throw percentages.  The only down side is that he does not get a ton of time, so his impact on your charity stripe work is little.  But that also means that his field goal shooting will have a small drag.  Kwame Brown appears to be missing some time, so this should open up even more minutes for Radmanovic in the post.  He’s definitely worth a shot in deeper formats.

(Last Week: Jamario Moon, Erick Dampier, Bobby Jackson, Eddie House)