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.

Yet another week of fantasy hoops under our belts.  Let’s see how I did last time around…

Shallow Leagues:
Jamaal Tinsley: Three solid games with one that was horrible.  He likely provided a short-term burst without hurting you too much on Tuesday night.  Note that the Pacers have changed up their rotation a bit, and here’s my opinion on Tinsley if you already own him.  For now?  Hit.
Fred Jones: While there were two nice games in there, those last two have been rough on the field goal percentage.  Standard leagues would have me taking a hit here.  Can’t do it in shallow leagues.  Miss.
Tim Thomas: Aside from the foul-plagued game against Minnesota, Thomas was a nice source of threes.  I still don’t like him, so I’m taking the miss here.  Miss.
Marvin Williams: No games played to judge just yet.  Stay tuned!

Standard Leagues:
Quinton Ross:  What happened to the playing time?  When the Clippers need to score, they put in Maggette.  They also lost five straight.  I couldn’t have peaked this one any worse, but he’s just rattled off a five steal night.  Bad timing, but keep an eye on him. Miss.
Reuben Patterson: Only a few games since last week, but as long as Charlie Villanueva and Bobby Simmons are out, he’ll have value.  Hit
Brent Barry: In our DroppingDimes.com expert league, Nels from Give Me the Rock apparently agreed with this call adding him this week.  Hit.
Desmond Mason: Rough week for the high-flyer.  He may bump up a bit this week with Peja Stojakovic on the shelf, but not enough to warrant you picking him up last week.  My bad.  Miss.

Deep Leagues:
Kwame Brown: His three block, three steal night against Utah likely woke up a few owners.  Totaled eleven boards since, and should only improve.  Hit.
Damon Jones: I told you that this addition would be simply for the long ball.  Since last week, Jones has made two (yes, TWO) combined field goals that weren’t three pointers.  He’s now averaging two a game.  Hit.
Charlie Bell:  Easily my favorite mention of last week.  Bell’s limped his way into the starting lineup, and clocked in 38 minutes against the Lakers.  He failed to hit a three or do much aside from score, but this could be nice for Bell’s numbers, even if it is temporary.  Hit.
Reggie Evans: The 14 boards against the Clippers were nice, but what’s up with the rest of the week?  And five turnovers?  What’d he do, rip the ball down and then hand it to the other team?  C’mon Reggie!  Miss.

(Overall 6-5-1)

Again, I’m in the black.  And I’d like to think that I actually graded myself fairly tough.  Some may have liked the 14 boards from Evans, but I don’t think it was worth the other nights.  Yes, I think the Charlie Bell addition should be worth more points, but hey, he’s only one man.  I’ll take a second to mention Randy Foye again.  I’m done talking about him within the actual column, but I could be re-grading last week’s piece!  Quinton Ross officially frustrates me (I know, I’m fickle sometimes), and I’ve actually dropped him in the DroppingDimes.com expert league for a “player to be named later.”  How much later?  OK, Here goes…

Just Getting In…

Anthony Parker, SG, Toronto Raptors
14 G; 30.1 MPG; 10.9 PPG; 2.8 RPG; 1.5 APG; 0.9 3PM; 44.9 FG%; 94.4 FT%; 1.0 SPG; 0.1 BPG; 1.1 TO

May just be my favorite non-French Parker in the NBA.  I’m a sucker for a high steal-to-turnover ratio, and I think you should be too.  Solid free throw shooting, decent points per contest, and an occasional long ball.  He’s been a huge beneficiary of the whole Morris Peterson debacle, and even picks up if Fred Jones has a rough night from time to time.  Here’s to hoping he stays over 30 minutes a night!

Mike James, PG, Minnesota Timberwolves
14 G; 28.2 MPG; 10.8 PPG; 2.1 RPG; 4.2 APG; 1.0 3PM; 41.1 FG%; 88.6 FT%; 0.7 SPG; 0.1 BPG; 2.0 TO

James is in the thick of things for the “Biggest Bust” award for this season.  I knew that last season was a bit of a peak, but even I didn’t expect his points per game to be down about 10 per contest.  With Marko Jaric getting minutes (more on that later), and Randy Foye finally getting time, James has to pick it up.  At this point, he’s a low-risk/high-reward pick up in shallow leagues if a frustrated owner cut bait.  Give him a whirl, but feel free to put him right back in his place if he doesn’t give you at least a couple signs of life over the next two weeks.

Mike Dunleavy, Jr., SF, Golden State Warriors
15 G; 28.5 MPG; 11.3 PPG; 4.5 RPG; 3.5 APG; 1.0 3PM; 48.2 FG%; 62.9 FT%; 1.1 SPG; 0.5 BPG; 2.0 TO

Ladies and Gentlemen, your “player to be named later.”  Yes, your friends will likely make fun of you for adding him, as he could be the only player in the NBA to have no street cred in the fantasy world as well, but look at the numbers.  Aside from the FT%, which will gradually rise to his career average of 77%, he doesn’t hurt you anywhere.  Dunleavy will be as streaky as they come, but odds are, someone on Golden State will be hurt/sick on any given night.  Dunleavy will likely benefit.  I know it’s not a great selling point, but hey…you could do a lot worse!

Getting Deeper…

Joel Przybilla, C, Portland Trailblazers
3 G; 15.5 MPG; 1.0 PPG; 6.0 RPG; 0 APG; 0 3PM; 16.7 FG%; 25.0 FT%; 0 SPG; 2.0 BPG; 1.0 TO

While I feel like Jim Cramer at times, I feel obligated to tell you when I add players to my team while I’m giving my recommendations.  Aside from our expert league, where he was added by my colleague Ron Chow, I’ve added Przybilla to any standard size league that I could.  He won’t give you anything aside from rebounds a blocks, with the occasional boost to field goal percentage, but he pretty much dominates the glass.  He’s already at 2 blocks a game through 15 minutes per…If that’s not a telling sign, I don’t know what is.  As everyone’s favorite Dennis says, “Get that Shiznit outta here!”

Chucky Atkins, PG, Memphis Grizzlies
14 G; 27.5 MPG; 15.4 PPG; 2.1 RPG; 3.1 APG; 1.2 3PM; 43.2 FG%; 79.1 FT%; 0.3 SPG; 0.1 BPG; 1.4 TO

My name is Scott Sargent, and I’m a Damon Stoudamire owner.  “Hi, Scott.”  Seriously, I had high hopes for this guy, thinking he was under the radar, and c’mon…someone needed to score in Memphis.  Well, apparently he was under the radar for a reason, and Mike Miller is that “someone.”  I officially don’t trust Damon’s knee anymore, and Chucky Atkins is now the starting point guard.  His defense leaves a lot to be desired, but you can’t leave a starting point guard with a three point shot on the waiver wire.

Chris Duhon, PG, Chicago Bulls
14 G; 23.4 MPG; 8.3 PPG; 2.0 RPG; 3.2 APG; 1.4 3PM; 45.1 FG%; 77.8 FT%; 0.9 SPG; 0.1 BPG; 1.2 TO

He can’t wear a headband, and his nights are up and down like Artie Lange’s cholesterol, but he’s pulled in three games of more than 30 minutes and is a huge source of threes and steals.  Add in some scoring and assists, and Duhon may be a bit underrated in fantasy circles.  Another solid steal-to-turnover guy, and his minutes are improving game over game since mid-November.  Sounds good to me.  Yet another guy I’d move Damon Stoudamire for…

Dorell Wright, SG/SF, Miami Heat
14 G; 25.2 MPG; 6.1 PPG; 6.4 RPG; 1.7 APG; 0.3 3PM; 38.5 FG%; 84.6 FT%; 0.8 SPG; 0.7 BPG; 1.0 TO

Wright is a guy that is likely still on your waiver wire because he doesn’t put up the sexy numbers and was a virtual unknown prior to Shaquille O’Neal going down.  With the Big Diesel going under the knife, Wright has responded by averaging 10.5 rebounds a game over his last six.  He’ll block a few shots, maybe rip a few rocks, and chip in at the line, but Wright is pretty much one of those “rebounds only” guys, but when you play with Dwyane Wade, that’s all you really need to be.  If you need those boards as well, Wrights the man for the job.

Hold You Breath…

Speedy Claxton, PG, Atlanta Hawks
8 G; 21.4 MPG; 4.0 PPG; 1.6 RPG; 2.4 APG; 0.1 3PM; 21.6 FG%; 60.0 FT%; 1.6 SPG; 0 BPG; 2.1 TO

While I’m willing to throw in the towel on Damon Stoudamire, I’m still holding out hope for Speedy.  The Hawks are doing well, and Tyronn Lue is running the show in Speedy’s absence.  Claxton has to be better than Lue, or the Hawks wouldn’t have given him the starting gig.  Of course, drafting Chris Paul last year would’ve helped all this, but that’s a whole other story.  Speedy will likely be worked back slowly, but I’m still feeling positive about his long-term potential.

Bonzi Wells, SG, Houston Rockets
3 G; 15.1 MPG; 3.0 PPG; 4.0 RPG; 1.5 APG; 0 3PM; 30.0 FG%; 0 FT%; 1.0 SPG; 0 BPG; 2.0 TO

Totally a flier, but in a deep league, Wells poses very little risk.  He’ll likely start off very slowly, but once he works his way back into shape, I think Bonzi has a shot at cracking the starting lineup, or at least getting some spot duties behind Tracy McGrady if coach Van Gundy doesn’t want to shuffle around his players.  Another long-term thought, but it may pay dividends if Wells can even sniff last season’s numbers.

Jordan Farmar, PG/SG, Los Angeles Lakers
12 G; 17 MPG; 5.9 PPG; 1.8 RPG; 2.6 APG; 0.8 3PM; 43.1 FG%; 83.3 FT%; 0.3 SPG; 0.2 BPG; 1.0 TO

It’s no secret that the Lakers do not run their offense through their point guard.  It’s also not a secret that Smush Parker isn’t a true point guard…while Farmar is.  He’s seeing some playing time lately, and has two straight contests in double-figures, including a seven assist game against Milwaukee.  He loves shooting long range, and if Phil Jackson gives him a shot, he could be your full-time point guard before it’s all said and done.  Yet another long-term flier, but keep your eyes open.

Jeff Foster, C, Indiana Pacers
15 G; 20.5 MPG; 4.7 PPG; 7.0 RPG; 0.5 APG; 0 3PM; 52.0 FG%; 72.0 FT%; 1.1 SPG; 0.9 BPG; 1.3 TO

We’ll wrap this one up with a guy that may be able to help you now, as opposed to a bit down the road.  Foster’s numbers have floated around the 20 minute mark all season, but the Pacers haven’t won more than two consecutive games all year long.  I expect Foster’s time to increase in the near-term to solidify the defensive end, thus improving his numbers.  He’s always had a knack for stealing the ball (without coughing it up), and should tip his rebound figures near double-digits.  Plan accordingly.

That’s all for now. See you next week…