Welcome to the Wire Troll for Week 20. Hardcore Fantasy hoops players love the start of baseball spring training. Why? Because it draws a large number of players’ attention away from their Fantasy Basketball team…leaving the gates wide open for the astute owner (that would be you, bunkie) to pluck the finest fruit from the Fantasy wire. You’ve come to the right place, because The Troll is where you’ll find all of the hottest under-the-radar players that are probably sitting out there waiting for you. Read on – just try to keep it between us, okay? Let the slugs in your league go hoo-ha over Aroldis Chapman’s 100-something mile-per-something he did in a practice game. Meh – there’s Fantasy Hoops championships to be won first.

In injury news, Luol Deng, Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah of Chicago are all ailing – with Rose’s bruised wrist looking like the least severe injury. Rose could be back on the court by the time you read this, but Deng’s return date from his calf injury is a bit more fuzzy. Noah does not figure to be back until at least late March. Tony Parker looks to be done for the regular season, and can probably be dropped in redraft leagues. Gerald Wallace, Antawn Jamison, Rodney Stuckey, T.J. Ford and Andre Kirilenko are all day-to-day with various injuries, so check their status before running them out there this week. Uber-guard Chris Paul is close to returning to practice, but it doesn’t look like he’ll play this week. Jason Terry may return for some part of this week, but he’s a risky play. Kenyon Martin should miss two weeks with a bad knee, while Yi Jianlian looks to be out until the end of the week. Peja Stojakovic will be out at least two weeks with a lower abdominal strain, and his owners should look elsewhere for their trey fix.

From the rumour mill: Guard Larry Hughes may sign with Charlotte in the next few days, so be prepared to add him if it looks like he’s in for some decent run for the ‘Cats.

Stay up to date on this and other breaking waiver-wire-worthy news by following the Wire Troll on Twitter.

Four-game weeks: ATL, BOS, CHA, CHI, CLE, DEN, DET, GS, HOU, IND, LAL, NO, NY, PHI, SA, SAC, TOR, UTA, WAS

Two-game weeks: DAL, ORL, POR

CENTRES

Brad Miller, Chicago Bulls: With Noah still battling plantar fasciitis, Miller has stepped up big for the Bulls. The 33-year-old veteran has averaged 14.3 points, 6.2 boards and 1.8 assists in six outings this March – while logging over 30 minutes per game. Noah has played in only four games since February 5, and his return date is still unclear. While Noah’s on the shelf, Miller is worth owning in larger league formats, and could even be useful in standard leagues if you’re thin at the centre position.

Jason Maxiell, Detroit Pistons: Ben Wallace’s creaky knee is acting up again, and as long as Big Ben is ailin’, Maxiell will keep sailin’. The burly power forward has stepped into the post for the Pistons in Wallace’s absence, averaging 9.4 points and 10.6 rebounds in his last five games. Maxiell is a good add in most formats, but keep in mind that his minutes will plummet when Wallace makes it back onto the court.

Chris Andersen, Denver Nuggets: With Martin out indefinitely due to a gimpy knee, Andersen has stepped up and does what The Birdman does best: Yank and Swat. In his past five games, Andersen has averaged 9.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and a lofty 2.8 blocks. He should see plenty of run while K-Mart is on the shelf, and can provide elite-level Fantasy help in blocked shots – along with decent support on the boards.

FORWARDS

Terrence Williams, New Jersey Nets: With the Nets having been eliminated from the playoff chase sometime in mid-December or thereabouts, the NBA’s sad-sack franchise appears to be committed to trotting its youngsters out there and seeing what happens…and hoping that people come to watch that “something.” Williams, the 11th overall pick in this year’s draft, has averaged 14 points, 7.5 boards and five assists per game in March, infusing a bit of hope into a team that has redefined the term “bad” this season. Williams is sure to have his ups and downs the rest of the way, but a swingman averaging seven-plus boards and five dimes per night is certainly worth at least a look in just about every Fantasy format.

Reggie Williams, Golden State Warriors: Williams is the latest beneficiary of the Warriors’ injury woes and Don Nelson’s lineup Tilt-A-Whirl. The 23-year-old has averaged 12.8 points (1.3 treys), three rebounds and 2.5 assists in six games since being called up from the D-League. He just inked a second 10-day contract Friday, so he’s at least a worthwhile short-term add in larger leagues. Be prepared to cut bait when and if he falls out of Nellie’s favour.

Jonas Jerebko, Detroit Pistons: Jerebko has been on a nice little roll lately, averaging 13 points, 9.3 rebounds, 0.8 blocks and 1.5 steals through six games in March. More minutes have translated into better numbers for the rookie, and his run should continue at least until Ben Wallace returns to full health. Add Jerebko in larger leagues for now, but he could become a global option if Big Ben’s injury woes linger.

GUARDS

Courtney Lee, New Jersey Nets: Lee has been on fire since the All-Star Break, averaging 17.2 points and 1.6 treys – while shooting a robust 48.5 per cent from the field and 85.7 per cent from the stripe. He won’t give you much in the way of peripheral stats, but with Joisey trying to spotlights its young players, Lee should be a solid source of points and treys the rest of the way.

Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 76ers: The departure of Allen Iverson has opened a window of opportunity for the Sixers’ No. 1 pick of 2009, and Holiday has used that break to form a potent backcourt combination with Sweet Lou Williams. Philly is going nowhere phast this season, and the club figures to spotlight its young, dynamic backcourt combination. In 13 games since the Break, Holiday has averaged 11.7 points, 1.3 treys, 4.5 assists and one steal per contest. His 48.4 shooting percentage is a plus stat as well, and his 48.6 mark from beyond the arc is downright studly. If you need help with little man stats, Holiday makes a great add.

Will Bynum, Detroit Pistons: Stuckey’s frightening collapse on the sideline has fueled speculation that he might be out for an extended period – or possibly even shut down for the season. While that would seem to be a long shot, what’s certain is that Bynum has been outstanding while playing in Stuckey’s stead. In his first three games since filling Stuckey’s spot, Bynum has averaged 10.3 points and 11 assists – including a monstrous 20-dime performance Friday night. Bynum’s value is directly tied to Stuckey’s health, but he’s a great short-term fill-in until Rodney makes it back.

Welcome to The Wire Troll for Week 20. Fantasy playoff time is looming, with most leagues set to drop the flag on the second season in just a week or two. Meanwhile, out on the court, some teams look to be positioning themselves for a playoff run, while others are simply trying to put enough people in the seats to stay above water. Lineup juggling can be rampant this time of year, and a heretofore unknown player that catches fire can sometimes turn the tide of your Fantasy season.

On the injury front, Chris Bosh has missed seven straight games with a sprained ankle and now a stomach virus, but he’s expected back Sunday. If he looks okay, go ahead and run him out there next week. Uber-guard Chris Paul remains out, and has not yet been given clearance to run. Bench him until he makes it back. Mavs guard Jason Terry is recovering from a facial fracture, and is not expected to play next week…though he could be back for the following week. Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey collapsed during Friday’s game, and was rushed to the hospital. He has since been released, but his return date is uncertain.

Chicago centre Joakim Noah remains out with a foot problem, and may be limited the rest of the season. Shaquille O’Neal is out indefinitely after undergoing thumb surgery, while Marcus Camby is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game with a sprained ankle.

Four-game weeks: BOS, CHA, LAC, MEM, MIA, MIN, ORL, PHI, POR, SA, SAC, TOR, UTA

Two-game weeks: ATL, HOU, LAL, PHO

CENTRES

J.J. Hickson, Cleveland Cavaliers: If Hickson is not yet eligible at centre in your league, chances are he will be soon. The youngster has started three straight games in the middle for the Cavs, averaging 13.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.3 blocks. He had a rough game Friday night, while fellow low post man Anderson Varejao lit it up. Hickson is risky, but he’s worth a dice roll in larger leagues. Be aware that Varejao (whom the Troll profiled last week) could become The Man in this situation, and if he steps up, Hickson’s minutes will suffer.

Ronny Turiaf, Golden State Warriors: Turiaf has stepped in for the disappointing Andris Biedrins, and has averaged 11.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 blocks over his past five games. Turiaf isn’t much of an offensive threat, but he should be a good source of boards and blocks while he’s seeing starter’s minutes. Even though he plays for Don Nelson, the lack of healthy bodies in Golden State should mean decent minutes for Turiaf going forward.

FORWARDS

Nicolas Batum, Portland Trail Blazers: Batum burst on the Fantasy scene with a 31-point explosion back on February 23, then followed it up with 21 points the next game. He had an off night Wednesday, so there is some cause for concern, but Batum is a worthy add in leagues with more than 12 teams.

Grant Hill, Phoenix Suns: Hill has been on a nice little roll lately, averaging 17.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists through his first three games in March. Phoenix is still not a playoff lock, so Hill probably won’t see much bench time the rest of the way. Owners in leagues of 12 or more teams should consider adding Hill for his across-the-board Fantasy production.

Marvin Williams, Atlanta Hawks: After ho-hummimg his way through February, Williams has caught fire in March. Through his first three games this month, he has averaged 17 points and 10.3 boards. While that kind of production is not likely to continue for long, Williams is worth a pick-up while he’s on this kind of roll.

GUARDS

George Hill, San Antonio Spurs: In eight games since the All Star break, Hill has averaged 16.1 points, 1.8 treys and 3.8 assists. Despite the fine line, he is still available in 60 per cent of Yahoo! leagues. Once the Spurs lock up a playoff spot, Tony Parker figures to see plenty of rest – opening up big minutes for Hill. In the meantime, if you need points, treys and a side order of assists, you could certainly do worse than Hill.

Marcus Thornton, New Orleans Hornets: We profiled Thornton a few weeks back, but if he’s still available – or was dropped – in your league, now’s the time to get to know him again. In 10 games since the Break, Thornton has averaged 21.1 points and 2.8 treys per contest – while shooting 48.8 per cent. You won’t get much else from him, but if points and treys are your bane he’s a great guy to grab.

Carlos Arroyo, Miami Heat: Arroyo is the new starting point guard in Miami, and he may be there for the remainder of the season. Since assuming the post, he has averaged 15.5 points, four rebounds, five assists and 1.5 steals. He doesn’t attempt many treys, but Arroyo should provide a healthy dose of the other “little man” stats for owners in deeper Fantasy leagues.

Rodrigue Beaubois, Dallas Mavericks: Since Terry went down, Beaubois has stepped up in a big way, scoring 17 and 22 points in successive games. A word of caution, though: before his breakout, Beaubois was barely seeing any playing time – and he could head right back to the bench when Jason the Jet returns to the lineup.

Bill Walker, New York Knicks: Walker has come out of nowhere, working his way into the Knicks’ starting lineup, and winning the favour of head coach Mike D’Antoni along the way (and that’s no small thing.) In three games this month, Walker has averaged 17 points, 0.7 treys, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists. While he may go back to Irrelevant City soon enough, Walker has shown enough to warrant a speculative pickup in deeper leagues…with the upside for a bit more if he retains his starting gig.

The 2010 RotoRob MLB Draft Kit is in full swing now. As we wonder if the tiff between Barry Zito and Prince Fielder will rage on into the season, let’s continue with our Top 10 Lists that Fantasy Owners Always Wanted But Were Afraid to ask For.

Chicks may still dig the long ball, but too many Fantasy owners take power production for granted, choosing instead to over-stock their rosters with the Jacoby Ellsburys, Bobby Abreus and Chone Figginses of the world. When their draft enters its final rounds, these speed-hungry owners find themselves staring at a team fleet of foot yet feeble of stick. Immediate action is needed, but the big-time sluggers are long gone, and the Fantasy budget is wearing paper-thin. What to do, what to do? Glad you asked.

Fear not, the poor man’s power brokers are here. The players profiled below should all be available in the later rounds – or for a mere pittance of coin – in most Fantasy drafts, yet each has the ability (or potential) to put a heaping helping of taters on your Fantasy plate. Don’t look for across-the-board production from this lot: power’s their game, and many will drag your team totals down in at least two categories – usually batting average and/or stolen bases. But hey, we’re bottom feeding here, remember? Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few tasty morsels tucked among the muck. Appetizing, huh? Well, if the thought of grabbing a 30-homer guy at the end of your draft doesn’t get the Pavlovian juices flowing, you may want to find another game. Grab a bat – it’s bustin’ time.

1. Paul Konerko, 1B, Chicago White Sox: Throw out his injury-marred 2008 campaign, and Konerko has jacked at least 28 homers in each of his last five seasons. It may surprise you to know that he is only 34 years old, so there’s almost certainly some gas left in his tank. Konerko plies his trade in a hitters’ park, and bats in the middle of a decent lineup, so the ribbies should be there as well. Don’t let his 2008 injury scare you away; Konerko has played at least 151 games in seven of his last nine seasons. The depth at first base this year is causing Konerko to fall a long way in many Fantasy drafts, so his potent bat should be available at a bargain basement price.

2. Nick Swisher, OF/1B, New York Yankees: Swisher’s first season in the Bronx was a success, as he smacked 29 homers and posted an OPS of 869. The switch-hitter has averaged 27.5 bombs over the last four seasons, and if he can learn to take advantage of the infamous Yankee Stadium right field porch, he could easily launch 30-plus dingers in 2010. Swisher’s perennially low batting average is offset by the fact that his razor-sharp eye helps him rack up a ton of walks and beefy OBP numbers. Keep that in mind if your league uses OBP and/or OPS as a stat cat.

3. Adam LaRoche, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks: LaRoche has averaged just under 26 homers and 87 RBI over the past four seasons, but has escaped the notice of most Fantasy managers. He should bat in the middle of the D-Backs’ order, and the 30-year-old first sacker is a safe bet for another line in the .270-25-85 range. Chase Field is a very hitter-friendly yard, but only so-so when it comes to home run production. If LaRoche goes undrafted in your league, or is drafted then dropped, consider picking him up in mid-season – as both his career batting average and home run rate are typically much better in the second half.

4. Ryan Ludwick, OF, St. Louis Cardinals: Ludwick’s numbers took a nose-dive in 2009, plummeting from .299-37-113 in 2008 to a relatively meek .265-22-97 last season. There is reason for hope, though – as new Cardinals’ hitting coach Mark McGwire is already drawing rave reviews from Ludwick. No matter Big Mac’s effect, the fact remains that Ludwick should garner plenty of ribbies batting behind Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday – and a return to 30-plus dingers is a very real possibility. The departure of Rick Ankiel should result in more playing time for Ludwick this season, and hopefully he can parlay those extra at-bats into some Fantasy power production. Don’t wait too long on Ludwick; he and Konerko are the two players on this list who will be drafted in just about every Fantasy league.

5. Edwin Encarnacion, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays: After blasting 26 homers in 2008, Encarnacion opened the ‘09 season in a terrible slump – then suffered a chipped bone in his wrist in late April. The Reds dealt him to Toronto at the trade deadline, and Encarnacion responded by batting .274-7-20 in 95 at-bats in September and October. He underwent surgery for a bone spur in his wrist during the offseason, and is slated to open the season as the Jays’ starting third baseman. There is risk to drafting Encarnacion, but if he can stay healthy and focused, your draft day leap of faith could reward you handsomely. Don’t expect more than mediocre batting average numbers from Encarnacion, but a run at 30 homers is a definite possibility.

6. Garrett Jones, OF/1B, Pittsburgh Pirates: Jones had spent over a decade bouncing around the minors, but did he ever take advantage of the opportunity afforded him last season by the woeful Pirates. When the dust had settled, Jones had stunned the Fantasy baseball world by slugging 21 home runs, batting .293 and swiping 10 bases – in just 82 games. As the 2010 season looms, Jones is penciled in as the Buccos’ everyday right fielder, and everyone wonders, “Can he do it again?” If you have a bit of riverboat gambler in you, grab Jones late in your draft and hope that the bloom isn’t off the rose. There’s reason to believe: Jones batted .309 last September, and showed no signs of slowing down despite the fact that he was no longer an “unknown.” The power should still be there this season, and if Jones keeps running that’s just icing on the cake.

7. Troy Glaus, 1B, Atlanta Braves: Two words: “If healthy.” When Glaus is on the field, he’s capable of some big-time power numbers – as shown by his .270-27-99 line with St. Louis in 2008, and average of nearly 31 bombs per season between 2005 and 2008. He underwent right shoulder surgery in January 2009, and didn’t make it onto the field until September of last year, appearing in just 14 games. The move to first base should help protect Glaus’ fragile body, and indeed, he seems in fine fettle so far this spring. Expect one dinger every 20 at-bats or so from Glaus, but have a back up plan in place if he succumbs to the injury jinx again.

8. Cody Ross, OF, Florida Marlins: Ross has quietly – which is the way baseball-related things happen in south Florida – averaged 23 home runs and 82 RBI over the past two seasons, and he should at least match those numbers as the Marlins’ regular right fielder in 2010. The Marlins don’t figure to be an offensive juggernaut this season, but if young Cameron Maybin can fulfill his potential and Chris Coghlan continues to develop, there should be a few ducks on the pond for Ross.

9. Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B, Oakland Athletics: Kouzmanoff possesses outstanding power, but has played his home games the past three seasons at PETCO park – where long fly balls go to die. Small wonder that the .261 career hitter owns a meager .239 career average at PETCO – though he has managed to average just under 20 homers and 82 RBI the past three seasons. While Oakland Coliseum isn’t exactly a hitter’s paradise, Kouz is 5-for-12 (.471) lifetime in his new home yard. The A’s will look to Kouzmanoff to provide some punch to what looks like a classic small-ball lineup this season, and he could very well lead the team in both homers and RBI.

10. J.J. Hardy, SS, Minnesota Twins: If you need some late-round pop out of your middle infielder’s spot, take a chance on the former Brewer, who smacked 50 homers between 2007 and 2008. He had a disastrous 2009 season, but his new digs in Minnesota could mean a revival for Hardy, who finished second among big league shortstops with 24 homers back in 2008. Draft Hardy late for his home run punch, and count it as a bonus if his batting average returns to the .280-ish levels of his glory days.

Welcome to The Wire Troll for Week 19. Last week, we profiled some of the players that stood to benefit from the recent flurry of activity at the trade deadline. Well, it’s a week later now, and injuries and a few unexpected twists of fate have combined to shuffle the Fantasy deck a bit. Intrigued? Thought so…follow along as we break down some of the new faces in new places, old faces in new spaces…and also talk of cake. As the season wanes, many of your league mates are undoubtedly prepping for baseball season – and ignoring their Fantasy Hoops team in the process. For shame…let’s teach them a lesson about attention span, shall we?

First, the injury news: Chris Bosh has missed four straight games due to what’s being called a mildly sprained ankle, and the Raptor star continues to be day-to-day. His status for this week should remain in question until he makes it back onto the court. Ditto for Dwyane Wade, who has missed four straight games with a strained calf muscle, making him a very risky play for the upcoming week. We won’t see Corey Maggette this week, as he received an injection for his injured hamstring, and is expected to miss at least two weeks.

The Mavs’ Caron Butler suffered an allergic reaction to medication and missed time last week, but he’s expected back in short order. Not so for uber-guard Chris Paul, whose recovery from knee surgery is expected to last at least another week, and possibly longer. His surgery was performed January 29, and Paul’s original timetable was set at 4-to-6 weeks. Take your time, CP3 – that Darren Collison guy is holding down the fort just fine. Josh Howard is done for the season after tearing his ACL on Monday, and Al Thornton has stepped into the void. More on Al later. Shaquille O’Neal suffered a sprained right thumb Thursday, and his status for the upcoming week is very much in doubt.

Houston’s Trevor Ariza will miss at least a few games with a sore hip, and Shane Battier should benefit the most from Ariza’s absence. Kobe Bryant is back in action, but Paul Pierce remains sidelined by a sore right thumb – and it sounds as though the Celts are going to take their time in getting their star back on the floor. Bench Pierce if you own him, as he’s listed as “out indefinitely.” Marquis Daniels is starting in Pierce’s place, but he is not Wire Troll-worthy…yet. However, we are watching you, Marquis.

And if you’d like to watch us as we watch Daniels (and everyone else in the NBA), simply follow the Troll on Twitter; we’ll keep you up to date on waiver wire-worthy news as it happens.

Four-game weeks: ATL, BOS, CHA, CLE, DAL, DEN, DET, GS, HOU, IND, LAC, LAL, MEM, NY, OKC, ORL, PHI, PHO, SAC

Two-game week: MIN

CENTRES

Robin Lopez, Phoenix Suns: The Troll profiled Lopez a while back, when his breakout game on national TV made him the waiver wire darling du jour. Back then, boards and blocks were about all he brought to the table – but no more. Lopez has found his scoring touch, averaging 13.4 points per game in February – including 14.3 per outing in seven games since the All-Star break. The youngster canned a career-high 30 against the Clippers Friday night, and he did it with both Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash on the floor. Lopez will throw in the occasional clunker, but he is well worth considering if you need big man stats in deeper leagues.

Drew Gooden, Los Angeles Clippers: Well, who saw this coming? Gooden looked like a buyout candidate when he landed in L.A. as part of the Antawn Jamison deal, but after the veteran posted 20 points and 13 boards Wednesday night, then followed up with 15 and nine on Friday, things changed a bit. Gooden is now starting at the four for the Clips, and DeAndre Jordan and Craig Smith have descended into Fantasy afterthoughts. As long as Gooden is seeing starter’s run, he’s worth rostering in leagues with 12 or more teams.

Anderson Varejao, Cleveland Cavaliers: With Shaq Daddy on the shelf, Varejao will be leaned upon heavily to do what he does best: create havoc under the boards. Over the past three games, Sideshow Bob has averaged 12 points, 8.3 boards and 1.3 blocks – and more of the same should be in store as long as he’s seeing significant run. This is potentially only a short-term situation, but Varejao is worth a speculative add in case Shaq’s bum thumb keeps him out for a while.

FORWARDS

Tayshaun Prince, Detroit Pistons: As the song goes, someday your Prince will come…and it looks like that day is finally here. Injuries limited the steady – and heretofore eminently durable – veteran to just 19 games before the Break, but since then, Tayshaun has been on fire. In seven games since the season cranked back up again, Prince has averaged 14.1 points, 7.1 boards, 3.9 assists, 0.9 steals and one block per game – while shooting 50 per cent from the floor. Prince is owned in about 60 per cent of Yahoo! leagues, and he makes a fine add if your team needs a shot of across-the-board Fantasy production.

Al Thornton, Washington Wizards: Thornton arrived in Washington as a piece of the Jamison deal, and Howard’s knee injury has opened the door for some big minutes for Al. He has been quite good – averaging 15 points, 5.6 boards, 1.4 dimes and 1.4 blocks in five games as a Wizard. Don’t expect those block numbers to stay in the one-plus range, but Thornton should continue to pump the jump (it’s what he does) for the foreseeable future. Points are what he does best, and any peripheral help he provides should be considered icing on the cake. Note: Thornton’s style of cake is not particularly yummy…since the aforementioned icing doesn’t show up nearly enough to make him a major Fantasy factor.

Hakim Warrick, Chicago Bulls: Since coming over from Milwaukee in the John Salmons deal, Warrick has averaged 11.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in nearly 27 minutes per game. He looks to have fallen into a role as the first forward off the Bulls’ bench, but could potentially earn a starting gig if Taj Gibson struggles. The Troll likes Taj as well, so this could very well be a time-share for a while. Warrick is versatile, though, and should maintain his playing time for at least the near future. Grab him if you’re in a deep league, but just keep an eye on him in standard-sized formats.

GUARDS

Jarrett Jack, Toronto Raptors: Jack has stepped up big-time since Bosh went down, averaging 20.8 points (with 2.3 treys) and 7.4 assists during his four-game absence. The sidebar story here is that Jack has held off former starter (and high-round Fantasy draft pick — ugh) Jose Calderon in their battle for minutes. Jack is worth at least a short-term pickup while Bosh is on the shelf, and he should have value as long as he continues starting for the Raps at the point. For the season, Jack is averaging 11.1 points and five assists (12.8 and 5.6 as the starter), and he has been in the starting lineup since early December.

Tracy McGrady, New York Knicks: We here at The Troll came close to recommending T-Mac last week, and when he started and played well we made sure that our Twitter followers got the word early. What stayed our hand then was McGrady’s uncertain role with the Knicks, and his well-documented fragile nature. That propensity for injury reared its ugly head in T-Mac’s second game, when he banged his knee a couple of times, and made comments about possibly not playing the following night. If you’re a new T-Mac owner, get used to this kind of thing. McGrady has averaged 17.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in four games as a Knick, and should probably be owned in most Fantasy leagues at his point. If you own him, be prepared to cut bait when the injury bug bites again.

Lou Williams, Philadelphia 76ers: Allen Iverson is still out tending to personal issues, and it’s looking more and more like AI’s time in Philly may be drawing to an end. Williams, though, is reminding everyone why he was a Fantasy stud in the pre-AI days early in the season. In the three games since he returned to the starting lineup, Sweet Lou has averaged 20.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists – along with 2.7 treys and 1.7 steals. While he’s not widely available (70 per cent ownership in Yahoo! leagues), Williams is certainly worth grabbing if he’s floating around on your league’s wire.

T.J. Ford, Indiana Pacers: Here we go again; Ford is once again starting for the Pacers at the point, and for good reason: the diminutive backcourt man has averaged 14.5 points and 4.0 assists in six games since the Break. He was so-so in his first start since December 30, scoring 17 points (on 3-for-10 from the field) and dishing five dimes against Milwaukee on Thursday. If Ford can ever settle in as the starter at the point, he has the skills to put up solid numbers…but that’s a very big “if.” Still he’s worth adding if you need points and dimes.

Welcome to The Wire Troll for Week 18. The NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and what a momentous time it was. Numerous star players changed addresses, and the Fantasy fallout from those deals has already been substantial. Those of you following the Troll on Twitter already know the implications of some of these transactions, but for you lollygaggers we’ll try to reset things again so that you may – may - still be able to take advantage.

In injury news, Brandon Roy, Monta Ellis and Mo Williams are back on the floor, while mega-stars Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade are sidelined with ankle and calf injuries, respectively. Both Kobe and Wade’s ailments appear to be short term, but stay up to date on their respective prognoses before setting your weekly lineups. Uber-guard Chris Paul won’t play this week, but his stand-in Darren Collison posted a triple-double Friday night, and he is rapidly becoming an NBA (and Fantasy) star.

Stay up to date on all the late-breaking waiver-wire worthy news by following The Wire Troll on Twitter.

Five-game week: MIL

Four-game weeks: ATL, CHI, DAL, DET, IND, LAC, LAL, MEM, MIN, NO, NY, OKC, PHO, POR, UTA, WAS

Two-game weeks: none

CENTRES

JaVale McGee, Washington Wizards: The trade of Brendan Haywood to Dallas opens up the starting centre’s job for McGee, and the 22-year-old has responded by averaging 11.5 points, nine rebounds and an absurd four blocks in the two games since Haywood left town. He is not playing starter’s minutes yet, but McGee is a very talented shot blocker who should provide big help in at least that category as long as he is seeing a decent amount of run. He’s worth adding everywhere if you need blocks, but be aware that McGee may struggle with some elements of his game as he develops.

D’Andre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers: Jordan and teammate Craig Smith are vying to fill the void left by the departure of Marcus Camby, but neither has asserted himself as the top man just yet. We like Jordan because of his upside, centre eligibility and shot-blocking talent, and his first game – 14 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks – showed his ability to its fullest. He regressed the following night, but such difficulties are to be expected as the second-year man learns the NBA game. Jordan is a good add in deeper leagues for boards and blocks, while Smith may be added if points and boards are your bane.

FORWARDS

Tyrus Thomas, Charlotte Bobcats: Thomas has disappointed Fantasy owners before, but his new digs in Charlotte would seem to fit his game to a T. The ‘Cats were lacking a true four, and Thomas’s skill set should allow Charlotte to turn him loose to wreak the kind of havoc in the lane we know he can create. We saw a glimpse of that in his first game Friday, as he grabbed 12 rebounds and slapped away six Cleveland shots in just over 25 minutes off the bench. Thomas should be owned in every league, as he’s likely to earn a starting job sooner rather than later.

Andray Blatche, Washington Wizards: Stop reading this and go check your league wire for Blatche’s name, and grab him if he’s there. The Troll spilled a perfectly good bowl of corn chips in his haste to tweet you the heads-up on Blatche the moment the Haywood-to-Dallas deal was confirmed, and those tasty chippies died for good reason. Blatche has produced big numbers whenever he’s been called upon for starter’s minute in the past, and with the team’s top four scorers now residing elsewhere, he should be an absolute best the rest of the way. His first two games after the deal should tell you all you need to know: an average of 25.5 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and 1.5 steals. Blatche is also a serviceable shot blocker, having averaged just under one block per game this year. Grab him if you can and enjoy the ride.

Taj Gibson, Chicago Bulls: The departure of Thomas pretty much eliminates any competition for Gibson at the four, and the rookie should see heavy minutes the rest of the way. Centre Joakim Noah continues to struggle with plantar fasciitis, and Brad Miller’s best days are behind him, so Gibson should pile up plenty of boards and blocks as the season wanes. Though he has scored 14 points in each of the last two games, boards and blocks are what Taj does best – though a few double-doubles now and then would be appreciated. Newcomer Hakim Warrick may grab a few of Gibson’s minutes, but we don’t see him as a legitimate threat for time.

GUARDS

Beno Udrih, Sacramento Kings: The Kevin Martin trade leaves a bit of a logjam in the Kings’ backcourt, but Udrih and starting point guard Tyreke Evans built a nice chemistry while Kev-Mart was on the shelf earlier this season. Francisco Garcia may cut into Udrih’s minutes, but Udrih looks like a safe bet for playing time at least in the short term. Keep an eye on Garcia as well, and he’s worth adding in deep leagues for his three-point shooting talents.

Sergio Rodriguez, New York Knicks: If you have any riverboat gambler in you, Rodriguez is the kind of all-in, buy-low pick that could lead to a Fantasy jackpot this spring. The Knicks’ point guard situation has been nothing short of atrocious this season, and the word is that coach Mike D’Antoni sees the 23-year-old Rodriguez as the cure for his team’s backcourt ills. Rodriguez has started only 14 games in his four-year career, averaging 7.3 points, 4.8 dimes and 0.9 treys per contest. If he indeed is handed the keys to D’Antoni’s offense, Rodriguez could be a Fantasy star by the end of the season. Stay tuned…or act now if your team needs a jump start.

Rasual Butler, Los Angeles Clippers: Butler appeared in the Troll earlier this season, but the trade of Al “never met a shot I didn’t like” Thornton should open up more looks for Butler – who was already having a nice season. Butler is owned in only about 30 per cent of Yahoo! leagues, and he makes a fine addition if your Fantasy team is in need of points or treys.

C.J. Watson, Golden State Warriors: Watson has been blowing up lately, tallying a career-high 40 points Wednesday, then racking up 22 on Friday. Though those numbers would seem to warrant an immediate pickup, be aware that most of Watson’s production is tied to the recent injuries to Monta Ellis and Corey Maggette. Both stars are back in action, though Ellis still looks shaky, so Watson’s run could be short-lived. If you’re in a deep league, grab Watson and watch how his minutes shake out. If you add him in a normal-sized league, be prepared to cut bait if and when Maggette and Ellis get back to full speed.

Welcome to The Wire Troll for Week 17. The NBA All-Star Break allows Fantasy owners a brief respite to take a hard look at their team’s performance, and possibly retool for their league’s stretch run. NBA teams are doing much the same thing, and their decisions to “play the kids” or dump salary in blockbuster trades often can change the tides of Fantasy fortunes for the savvy and vigilant owners out there. That would be you, by the way.

The Break is also a time for players to heal their injuries, and Kobe Bryant’s Fantasy owners are hoping that they’ll see their man back on the floor this week, as do owners of Brandon Roy, who has missed 12 straight games with a hamstring injury. Monta Ellis and Corey Maggette of Golden State should be back this week, thus torpedoing the burgeoning Fantasy value of recent Wire Troll alum Anthony Morrow. Uber-guard Chris Paul won’t be back this week or next, but it sounds as though he’s committed to coming back before the season ends…now we just have to hope that New Orleans stays in the playoff hunt.

With the trade deadline looming on February 18, there figures to be a flurry of activity that could well determine the Fantasy fortunes of many teams down the stretch. Several rumours are flying around as we go to cyber-press, including a blockbuster that would send Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood to Dallas and Drew Gooden and Josh Howard to the Wizards. Several big-name stars have been mentioned in trade talk, and you’ll want to move quickly when and if a deal is made. Stay up to date on all the late-breaking waiver-wire worthy news by following the Wire Troll on Twitter.

Four-game weeks: BOS, CHI, DAL, DET, GS, HOU, MEM, MIA, MIN, NJ, PHO, SAC, UTA

Two-game weeks: LAL

CENTRES

Nazr Mohammed, Charlotte Bobcats: Mohammed has been playing some solid ball lately, and even the return of Tyson Chandler didn’t dissuade Nazr from posting a monstrous 21-point, 20-rebound line last Wednesday. As long as Mohammed is on the floor for at least 30 minutes, he’s a bona fide Fantasy starter – but Chandler’s presence will almost certainly erode Mohammed’s playing time. If you decide to add Mohammed, stay vigilant – and be prepared to cut bait when the moment’s right.

Jermaine O’Neal, Miami Heat: It has always been about the health report with O’Neal, but right now he appears to be in fine fettle and finer form. Through five games in February, J.O. has averaged 15.4 points, 8.4 boards and two blocked shots per outing. Be on the lookout for the injury bug to bite again, and beware of his mediocre free throw shooting ability, but if you’re in need of big man stats, O’Neal can be of Fantasy value in just about every format.

FORWARDS

Lamar Odom, Los Angeles Lakers: Odom isn’t widely available, but if coach Phil Jackson follows through with his speculation about starting Odom over Andrew Bynum the veteran should see a nice spike in Fantasy value. If you’re in a shallow league, cast a glance at the wire and grab Lamar if he’s there; he has shown that he can post gaudy numbers when he’s playing starter’s minutes. This also might not be a bad time to offer a trade for Odom if you are so inclined.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Milwaukee Bucks: The Prince has been on a nice little run lately, averaging 12.8 points, 10 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.0 block over the four games leading up to the Break. His offensive skills are limited, but as long as Mbah a Moute is seeing heavy minutes he’s worthy of Fantasy consideration for modest help in the defensive categories. Be ready to cut bait, though, as Milwaukee’s rotation figures to remain in flux as the Bucks try to put a winning combination together.

GUARDS

Delonte West, Cleveland Cavaliers: A few Trolls ago, we warned you off the brittle West as a plug-in for the injured Mo Williams, instead endorsing Daniel “Boobie” Gibson as the guy. Well, now that West is back on the court – after missing nine straight games due to a fractured left ring finger – it may be time to give him a look. In his first game back, the gun-toting West scored eight points (including two treys) and dished six dimes in 23 minutes of action. Gibson will probably continue to start for now, and Williams may be back by late this month or early March, but West could be valuable in the interim for trey-starved owners in deeper leagues.

Mo Williams, Cleveland Cavaliers: All reports indicate that Williams’ rehab is going well, and the Cavs’ starting point guard may be back by the end of February. If your team looks to be in line for a playoff berth, or needs a push to get off the bubble and into the dance, then Williams is worth a grab if he’s available. Mo is averaging 16.9 points, 2.3 treys, 1.2 steals and 5.1 assists this season, and that kind of production could be a real difference-maker in the Fantasy season’s final days.

Marcus Thornton, New Orleans Hornets: Thornton returned to action Wednesday after missing three straight games due to a bruised lower back. If any impatient owners dumped him during that stretch, now might be a good time to scoop him off the wire. Thornton has been rock-solid as the Hornets’ starter at the two, and should see even more looks with CP3 on the sidelines. We’d expect him back in the starting lineup as early as the first game after the Break, so if Thornton’s on your wire, pull the trigger and enjoy the ride.

Welcome to The Wire Troll for Week 16.  Even though the NBA All-Star Game is looming, it’s injuries that dominate the news this week. No bigger blow was dealt to Fantasy owners than when uber-guard Chris Paul suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee back on January 27. CP3 underwent surgery last Thursday, and is expected to miss four-to-six weeks. Until then, Fantasy owners will have to scramble to try to account for the loss of one of the game’s greatest players.

In other injury news, Brandon Roy of Portland is still out with a bum hamstring, and rumours are that he may be sidelined until after the All-Star break. Bench him until he’s back in there. Carmelo Anthony has missed seven consecutive games with a sprained ankle, and may be out again on Saturday. Boston’s Paul Pierce injured his foot last Monday, but may be back in the lineup Sunday.

Utah forward Carlos Boozer hopes to return Saturday after missing three games with a strained calf. When the Booze Cruise sails again, Paul Millsap’s Fantasy value will be left behind in port. Bull centre Joakim Noah has had a fine season, but the team has shut the talented youngster down until after the All-Star Break due to plantar fasciitis. It’s a prudent move by the still-in-contention Bulls, but of course Noah’s Fantasy value takes a hit in the short term.

Gerald Wallace of Charlotte missed Wednesday’s game due to a sore hamstring, but is expected to return Saturday. As always, keep close tabs on any injury involving the talented-but-brittle Crash Wallace. Several other top players are listed as day-to-day, including Jose Calderon, Andrew Bogut and Dirk Nowitzki, so stay up to date with the latest news before making those line-up calls.

Take a close look at the schedule this week, weekly leaguers: The upcoming All-Star break has limited some teams to just a single game, while the Orlando Magic enjoys a three-game week.

Three-game weeks: ORL

One-game weeks: BOS, HOU, IND, MEM, NY, OKC, PHO, TOR, WAS

CENTRES

Brad Miller, Chicago Bulls: Miller makes a rare repeat appearance in The Troll, as the Bulls’ decision to shut down starting centre Joakim Noah until after the All-Star break lends a significant boost to Miller’s Fantasy worth. That’s nice for him and all, but even with increased minutes Miller is probably only viable in leagues with more than 12 teams. He’s not the player he used to be, and Noah’s battle with plantar fasciitis is the only thing keeping Miller in Fantasy lineups. Keep an eye on his production, but Miller appears destined to remain a fall-back option rather than a go-to guy.

FORWARDS

Peja Stojakovic, New Orleans Hornets: Peja has been on a nice little run lately, averaging 16 points and 2.5 treys over the past six games. You know the drill with Stojakovic: he’s worth owning when he’s going well, but his lack of peripheral stats makes him a liability when his shot’s not dropping. If you’re in need of three-pointers, though, Peja can pump them up like few others can.

Anthony Morrow, Golden State Warriors: Morrow has missed the last 10 games due to a sprained knee, but he’s hoping to play Saturday night. Before going down with his injury, Morrow was averaging 11.3 points and 1.8 treys per game – while shooting a tidy 47.9 per cent from the field and 90 per cent from the stripe. He plays for Don Nelson, but Morrow was seeing plenty of run before the injury. If you’re in need of treys, Morrow is definitely worth a look.

Donte Green, Sacramento Kings: Green threw in a career-high 31 points Friday night, and the second-year man has seen a lot of playing time lately with Jason Thompson sidelined due to a death in his family. Thompson is slated to return Sunday, but Green appears to have locked down a spot in the starting lineup. He’s not much of a force on the offensive end, but perhaps his 31-point outburst may earn him a few more looks. With the Kings headed for another dismal season, youngsters like Green may begin to play a larger role as the season winds down, and that alone makes him worth a speculative add in larger leagues.

GUARDS

Nate Robinson, New York Knicks: Little Nate has been in and out (mostly in) of coach Mike D’Antoni’s doghouse all year long, but the continued poor play of Chris Duhon finally inspired Coach D to name Robinson as his starting point guard last Thursday. Robinson responded with 13 points (on an abysmal 3-of-12 from the floor), four rebounds and seven assists the following night. He won’t be the most consistent producer out there, but Nate-Rob should be owned in just about every league as long as he holds the starting job in the NYC.

Darren Collison, New Orleans Hornets: Last week’s Wire Troll gave you an early heads-up on Collison with an “if/then” blurb about Chris Paul’s knee injury. What a difference a week makes, as CP3 is down for four-to-six weeks, and Collison is starting at the point for ‘Nawlins. Like any rookie, Collison has been rather inconsistent in his new role, and his turnover rate is problematic at this point – but he should be a solid source of points, steals and dimes as long as CP3 is on the shelf. If Collison is somehow still available in your league, time is running out, so hustle over to the wire and make your move.

Welcome to The Wire Troll for Week 15. The NBA season has reached its halfway point, and we’ve seen a fair number of shocking things in the first half. Who would have thought that the Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks would be right in the think of the playoff chase at this point – while the Sixers and Pistons are all but on life support? Who would have known that players like Brandon Jennings, “Cool Hand” Carl Landry, Stephen Curry and Tyreke Evans would be integral parts of so many Fantasy teams, while higher-round draft choices like Andris Biedrins, Anthony Randolph and Jose Calderon would go into the tank? We can only hope that the second half of the season provides as much entertainment and intrigue as the first three months. That might be tough now that Agent Zero is out of the mix, but we can only hope.

In injury news, Brandon Roy of Portland is still nursing his gimpy hamstring, and is hoping to return to action this week. Considering how long this thing has lingered, though, we wouldn’t risk playing Roy in weekly lineup formats. Spurs guard Tony Parker is expected to miss several games due to a sprained ankle, but given that he may be enjoying the personal therapeutic support of a certain Desperate Housewife, none of us would blame him if he extended his convalescence just a bit, now would we?

Gossamer guard Devin Harris of New Jersey is still out with his sore wrist, but is slated to return this week. We’ve learned by now not to take a chance on Harris until we actually see him back on the court (especially since the 4-41 Nets don’t exactly have any reason to hurry him), so The Troll would suggest you find another option…and there’s quite a few out there right now. Utah forward Carlos Boozer suffered a strained right calf Wednesday, and is expected to miss at least 10 days. Paul Millsap will fill in while Boozer is out, and he is a must-add in every Fantasy format.

Uber-guard Chris Paul injured his knee and had to leave the game Friday night, but the good news is that he returned and tried – unsuccessfully – to play through the pain. Keep an eye on this, as he’s listed as questionable for Saturday’s game. If CP3 misses time, Darren Collison again becomes a Fantasy must-have.

Four-game weeks: ATL, BOS, CHI, DEN, LAL, MEM, MIA, MIL, NJ, NO, POR, SAC, WAS

Two-game weeks: MIN

CENTRES

Channing Frye, Phoenix Suns: After losing his starting gig, Frye was abandoned by many Fantasy owners. Hold the phone, though: Frye has scored at least 20 points in two of his last three games, while tossing in 10 three-pointers over that stretch. Don’t expect consistency, but Frye looks like he should remain a good source of treys and a serviceable source of blocks for owners in deeper leagues. The loss of Leandro Barbosa for at least a month opens up more minutes for Frye, so he should remain a viable Fantasy option for the near future.

Brad Miller, Chicago Bulls: Starter Joakim Noah has been slowed lately by a bout with plantar fasciitis, and Miller has stepped up nicely to fill Noah’s shoes. The veteran centre has racked up double-digit points in four straight games, along with seven treys during that period. Miller’s value is directly tied to Noah’s health, so keep an eye on Joakim’s minutes going forward. Miller has shown he can play the game, so he’s a decent speculative add in larger leagues until Noah gets back to his normal playing time.

FORWARDS

Paul Millsap, Utah Jazz: Hopefully you’ve already added Millsap, as reading the words “Carlos Boozer injured…” generally triggers a Pavlovian run to the waiver wire by experienced Fantasy owners. It’s not certain how long Boozer will be out, but Millsap was an absolute beast in his first start of the season Friday night with 32 points, 14 boards and seven rebounds – while shooting 11-of-17 from the field and 10-11 from the stripe. You know the drill by now: As long as Boozer is sidelined, Millsap is a must-have in every Fantasy format. Be prepared to cut bait when the Booze Cruise sails again, but for now sit back and enjoy a ride on the Millsap Express.

Andrei Kirilenko, Utah Jazz: Kirilenko has also benefited from Boozer’s absence, but AK-47 had it going pretty well even before CB went down. In January, Kirilenko has averaged 13.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per outing, evoking memories of his days as a Fantasy stud. We’re not sure those days have returned for good, but what is certain is that the Russian Rifle is once again a formidable Fantasy weapon, and he should be even better while Boozer is out.

Anthony Tolliver, Golden State Warriors: Deep leaguers should be aware that Tolliver – a December call-up from the D-League – has become an important part of the Warriors’ battered lineup, averaging an impressive 14.7 points and nine boards in three games as a starter. He has never stuck for long in the NBA, so his run of success could be short-lived – but while Golden State is strapped for healthy big men, he should see plenty of run. Add Tolliver if your league has more than 12 teams, but be ready to cut him loose when he cools off – or the Warriors get healthy.

GUARDS

George Hill, San Antonio Spurs: Hill was carving out a nice little season before Parker went down, and had even earned a starting job at the two – but TP’s injury makes Hill a must-start in just about every Fantasy format. Hill started at point guard Thursday night, tossing in 18 points and handing out five assists. He didn’t attempt a three, but treys were not a big part of Hill’s game as a two-guard. On the subject of which, Roger Mason should be a nice source of treys while Parker is out – but he’s too much of a one-trick pony to merit global Fantasy attraction.

Brandon Rush, Indiana Pacers: Coach Jim O’Brien has done a fair amount of tinkering with Indy’s starting lineup lately, but Rush has just continued to produce through all the confusion and uncertainty. In the past five games, the third-year man has averaged 14.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.8 treys and a surprising 1.2 blocks. We wouldn’t expect those block totals to stay at this level for long, and Rush could conceivably lose minutes if O’Brien decides to mix things up yet again, but for now Rush looks like a great addition if you’re hungry for treys.

Marcus Thornton, New Orleans Hornets: Thornton has been very steady for the Hornets this season, but his recent promotion to the starting lineup should draw the attention of Fantasy owners everywhere. In his first three games as the starting two-guard, he has averaged 19 points, three treys and one steal in 39.5 minutes per game. Yikes. Last week’s trade of Devin Brown pretty much opens the door for Thornton to pile up points and treys – though that’s pretty much all Fantasy owners should expect from the rookie at this point. If your team needs help in either of those two stat-cats, add Thornton immediately; if he rounds out his game a bit so much the better.

Rudy Fernandez, Portland Trail Blazers: With Roy out of the lineup, and Martell Webster beginning to cool off, all eyes turn to Fernandez to pick up the scoring slack. Rudy obliged his fans Friday night, scoring 25 points while knocking down five treys, grabbing five rebounds and dishing three assists in 25 minutes. He’ll run hot and cold, but when he’s on his game Fernandez can pour in points with the best of them. Grab him if you need treys, and enjoy his modest contributions in steals, boards and dimes as part of the deal.

Goran Dragic, Phoenix Suns: As discussed, Barbosa looks like he’ll miss at least a month in the wake of wrist surgery, and Dragic stands to reap a fair benefit from the Brazilian Blur’s absence. We were sky-high on Dragic last weekend; even tweeted our feelings to the world – and The Troll looked like a prophet after Dragic’s 32-point, six-trey effort last Monday night. Since then, though, his playing time has steadily decreased, with Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley both eroding Dragic’s minutes. We’ll recommend Dragic for deeper leagues, but hold off for now if your group has 12 or fewer teams.

As always, follow us on Twitter for ongoing updates during the week.

Welcome to The Wire Troll for Week 14. There are a few new faces on the board this week, including a couple who could seriously swing the tide of Fantasy fortunes as the NBA season reaches its mid-point. Of course, if you’re following the Troll on Twitter, you probably already know who these folks are – and have doubtlessly added them in a few leagues. For the rest of you, you’ll just have to wait a bit longer…and maybe you can use that time to hit the follow button so this kind of awkward moment doesn’t happen again.

In injury news, Blazer Brandon Roy is still hobbled by a bum hamstring, but is slated to return on Monday. Even so, he is a very risky play for those of you in those goofy weekly lineup leagues. The Troll learned once again why he has sworn off this format, as Paul Pierce’s knee injury – which looked pretty serious last Sunday – turned out to be a false alarm. Nice. Never. Again.

Monta Ellis of Golden State is dealing with a sprained right ankle he suffered on Friday, and there aren’t a lot of details available at this time. Get the latest (from The Troll on Twitter, maybe?) before you make a decision on him for this week. Charlotte’s Raymond Felton is also dealing with a sprained ankle, and there isn’t much information out there as to the severity. The Cavaliers’ Mo Williams will miss four-to-six weeks with a shoulder injury, meaning even more of the load will be carried by that No. 23 guy. Delonte West (when he comes back from his own health woes) and Daniel Gibson will watch LeBron James from the point guard position until Mo-Will returns.

Speaking of returns, Kevin Garnett scored 13 points, grabbed four rebounds and blocked two shots Friday in his first game action since way back on December 28. KG’s hyperextended right knee bears watching, but for now it looks safe to get him back in your lineups.

Four-game weeks: ATL, BOS, CHA, CLE, DEN, GS, HOU, IND, LAC, LAL, MEM, MIA, MIL, MIN, NO, NY, ORL, PHI, PHO, POR, SA

Two-game weeks: none

Centres

Robin Lopez, Phoenix Suns: In case you missed Lopez’s nationally televised breakout game last Monday, The Troll was right there to tweet about it. Lopez gives the Suns a strong low post defensive presence that former starter Channing Frye simply cannot provide, and the youngster should see some solid minutes for at least the near future. In his first three games as a starter, Lopez has averaged 16 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots in just over 28 minutes per game. He’s not a good free throw shooter, and his moderate volume could make that a bit problematic, but Lopez is worth adding in the majority of leagues as long as he’s the starter in Phoenix.

Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons: While Big Ben’s 8.4 points per game in 10 January outings doesn’t qualify as an offensive explosion, when combined with his 8.7 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.3 blocks over the same period it merits Wire Troll notice. Wallace will have stretches like this, but figures to go back to his five-to-six point per game ways before too long. Be ready to drop him when that happens. Also, keep in mind that you, I and Three Random Dudes from your office probably shoot free throws better than Big Ben….though his volume is low enough that it really doesn’t sting too badly.

Forwards

Carlos Delfino, Milwaukee Bucks: Delfino has stepped up to try to fill the void created by Gossamer guard Michael Redd’s season-ending knee injury, and he has been chugging along quite nicely of late. Over the five-game period from January 15-22, Delfino averaged 16.4 points, eight rebounds and 2.8 treys. We’ve seen this before with him: flashes of semi-brilliance interrupted by long stretches of mediocrity, but this feels a bit more permanent given the Bucks’ struggles this season and his massive PT of late. If Delfino can sustain this level of play, he could be a late-season difference-maker in many leagues. That alone makes him worth a speculative grab.

Craig Smith, Los Angeles Clippers: What madness is this? After being almost invisible over the first two-plus months of the season, Smith has been on a very nice roll lately, averaging 12.1 points and 4.6 rebounds in his first 10 games in January. Caution is advised – this is Craig Smith, after all – but the burly power forward is worth adding in deep leagues while he’s playing at this level.

Kris Humphries, New Jersey Nets: Deep leaguers should know that Humphries has found new life in Jersey, averaging 12.6 points and seven boards in his first five games. The former Dallas Maverick is coming off the bench for an average of 23-plus minutes, but his solid play should earn him more run as the Nets sink deeper into the NBA cellar. Give Humphries a look if your league consists of 14 or more teams, or if your 12-teamer is very deep.

Guards

Corey Brewer, Minnesota Timberwolves: Brewer has quietly (which is the way non-Brett Favre-related things happen in Minnesota these days) cobbled together a nice little season, and has stepped up his play in January to the tune of 14.6/4.0/2.2 with 1.5 treys, 1.0 steals and 1.1 blocks through 11 games. That’s quality stuff, gang, and it’s good enough to where we can overlook his mediocre shooting percentages. Despite his solid play, Brewer is owned in only about 40 per cent of Yahoo! leagues, so grab him if he’s out there.

Daniel Gibson, Cleveland Cavaliers: With Mo Williams sidelined with a sprained left shoulder, West took over as the starting point guard Thursday night…and promptly fractured the ring finger on his shooting hand. Mr. Violin Case is day-to-day, but will probably miss at least a couple of games. Let’s be nice and say that Delonte is not the most durable (or stable) guy out there. Enter Gibson, who is next in line to fill the point guard spot in the lineup while King James runs the offense. Don’t set the bar too high for Gibson, who is more of a two than a point, but he has always been a solid three-point shooter, and should contribute at least a few treys every night. Also, don’t overlook Anthony Parker, who had some fine stretches running the point for the Raptors last year; he could be a dark horse while Mo is ailing.

Flip Murray, Charlotte Bobcats: Felton suffered a sprained ankle Friday night, and Murray posted 11 points and nine assists in his stead. Flip is a serviceable NBA guard, but won’t score many points with ball-hog Stephen Jackson in the backcourt with him. Keep an eye on Felton’s status; if his ankle will keep him out for an extended period, Murray should see a nice boost in Fantasy value. Teammate D.J. Augustin would also see an increase in minutes, but his ‘09 campaign has been so disappointing it’s tough to recommend him at this point. Still, the Bobcats are rumoured to be shopping him, so it would behoove them to showcase the former top 10 pick.

Welcome to The Wire Troll for Week 13. We’ll kick off a news-heavy week by announcing that the Troll is now part of the Twitter information network. Follow us @WireTroll to stay up to date on all of the news surrounding potential waiver wire gems just waiting to be mined. If it’s waiver-wire worthy, we’ll be sure that you hear about it just as soon as we do. Look forward to seeing – and tweeting – you soon.

Gilbert Arenas pleaded guilty to gun possession charges last week, and could very well be facing a short stay in the calaboose. No matter how this plays out, it appears Agent Zero’s NBA season is over (though there is speculation he’ll sign with the Knicks if he’s not suspended for the rest of the year) – and stay tuned to see if he could be facing an even longer suspension.

In injury news, L.A. Clippers rookie forward Blake Griffin will indeed miss the entire season after suffering a setback in his rehab from a broken left kneecap suffered in the preseason. Go ahead and drop him in non-keeper leagues.

Portland’s Brandon Roy, Utah’s Deron Williams and the Clips’ Chris Kaman are all day-to-day with injuries, but none appears to be of the long-term variety. Until they get back on the court, they are definitely risky plays in weekly lineup leagues. Kevin Garnett of Boston is expected back soon (January 22 and 25 have been mentioned), but he should be benched this week.

The Lakers Pau Gasol threw in 20 points Friday night in his first game back from a hamstring injury. He should be a safe start this week, and hopefully you took our advice and sold high on Lamar Odom. Sacramento sharpshooter and Gossamer guard Kevin Martin returned to the lineup Friday, scoring 19 points, including a pair of treys. It will be interesting to see how Kev-Mart and Tyreke Evans meld in the Sacramento backcourt (or if Martin will even finish the season as a King, given the trade rumours). Denver’s Carmelo Anthony also returned after missing five games, and looks like a safe start going forward.

Four-game weeks: CHA, CHI, DAL, DET, GS, IND, LAC, LAL, MIA, MIL, MIN, NJ, NO, OKC, ORL, PHI, PHO, POR, SAC, TOR, WAS

Two-game weeks: UTA

Centres

Samuel Dalembert, Philadelphia 76ers: Shameless plug coming — Those of you following The Wire Troll on Twitter received the heads-up on Sammy D. way back on Wednesday, but here’s the scoop for the rest of you. Dalembert has averaged 12.4 points, 13 boards and 2.7 blocks through his first seven games in January – while shooting a ridiculous 75 per cent from the field. He’ll certainly come back down to earth, but while he’s on this kind of a roll, Dalembert should be starting in every Fantasy format. He is reportedly flying to his native Haiti this week to aid the recovery efforts, but is not expected to miss any games.

Anderson Varejao, Cleveland Cavaliers: Shaquille O’Neal’s minutes have been dropping steadily this month, with Varejao the prime beneficiary. The bushy-haired Brazilian has averaged 10.4 points and 9.3 rebounds with over a steal and a block per game thus far in January, and should be a great Fantasy roster-filler for big man stats going forward; just don’t ask him to try to guard Steve Nash again…his ankles won’t take too many more of those.

DeJuan Blair, San Antonio Spurs: After we featured Blair in the Troll two weeks ago, he obliged us by going directly into the tank. Not the clean, happy, Petticoat Junction opening titles kind of tank, either – rather the Mike Rowe in a Tyvek suit, Dirty Jobs, 15 meaningless minutes per game kind of tank. Blech. Well, the Spurs have once again granted some solid run to Blair, and the youngster has responded with back-to-back double-doubles – including a 28-point, 21-rebound, two-block monster back on Wednesday. The talent’s there, and the Spurs figure to rest Tim Duncan more and more in the second half, making Blair worth a grab in deeper leagues.

Forwards

Kenyon Martin, Denver Nuggets: The veteran has been on a nice little roll of late, aided in no small part by the injury to Anthony. Melo is back, so look for K-Mart’s scoring to drop off – but he should remain a fine source of boards, blocks and steals. The only thing that keeps him from being a global Fantasy starter is his atrocious free throw shooting, which currently stands at 59.2 per cent.

Martell Webster, Portland Trail Blazers: Even before Roy’s injury, Webster was putting up some nice numbers in January, posting 18.9/6.7 with a stellar 50.7 percentage from the field – and an absurd 3.7 treys per game. While it’s tempting to think that this train will pull into the station soon, remember that Webster is still only 23 years old and seems to be a good fit in the Blazers’ offensive scheme. Don’t set the bar too high, but something along the lines of 12-to-13 points, 6-to-7 boards and 1.5 treys per game the rest of the way is not an unreasonable expectation.

Boris Diaw, Charlotte Bobcats: Diaw was all but left for dead in December, averaging just 8.7 points and a feeble 3.2 rebounds last month, but the versatile frontcourt man has turned things around. Through seven games in January, he has averaged 11.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and a point guard-esque 5.3 assists. With gunners Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson around, Diaw is probably at his scoring ceiling, but he can dish the dimes as very few forwards can. We’d expect him to be a meaningful contributor in every Fantasy stat-cat save free throw percentage the rest of the way.

Guards

Luke Ridnour, Milwaukee Bucks: When Gossamer Guard Michael Redd went down with yet another knee injury, Fantasy owners looked to players like Charlie Bell and Carlos Delfino to pick up the scoring slack. Lo and behold, it’s been Luke who has been the force the Bucks have sorely needed. In the three-plus games since Redd’s season-ending (and potentially career-ending) injury, Ridnour has averaged 13.5 points, 7.3 assists, 1.3 treys and 1.5 steals while coming off the bench. Neither Ridnour nor starting point Brandon Jennings is a great fit physically for the two-guard spot, so we’d expect Luke to remain in a reserve role (albeit a minutes-heavy one) for at least the near future.

Ronnie Price, Utah Jazz: D-Will’s balky wrist looks to be a short-term thing, but Williams’ owners might want to make a move on Price if they’re in a fairly deep league. Ronnie posted 13 points, two assists and a steal the night D-Will had to leave early, and the veteran guard has averaged 12 points and 7.5 dimes in his two starts this season. He’s not a special player, but Price’s Fantasy value should skyrocket if Williams suffers a serious injury. D-Will has not been the most sturdy of players the past two seasons, and Price is a solid insurance policy.

Welcome to the Wild Card Weekend version of The Wire Troll. The big news this week revolved around the mind-boggling exploits of one Gilbert Arenas, AKA Agent Zero – whose involvement in a handgun incident and subsequent breaking out of another type of “hand-gun” last Tuesday during pre-game warm-ups – earned him an indefinite suspension from the NBA. There has been a ton of real and cyber-ink already spilled about this situation, so we’ll skip the editorial histrionics and focus on the Fantasy implications a bit further on. Don’t bother trying to glean any “personal” takes from Arenas’ prolific Twitter account, as Agent Zero has apparently shut it down. Probably not a bad move. On we go.

Injury-wise, Laker Pau Gasol is still dealing with a right hamstring strain, but may return this week. Deron Williams of Utah has missed the past two games with a sprained right wrist, but it doesn’t look like he’ll be out for an extended period. Ronnie Price starts in his place. It looks like Golden State’s Anthony Randolph will be lost for several weeks after he apparently suffered a fractured ankle Friday night. MRI results were still pending when The Troll went to cyber-press, but it looks like the kid will be down for 4-to-6 weeks.

Several stars returned to action this week, including the Pacer forward Danny Granger (19 points, six boards and an awful 7-for-19 from the floor) and Troy Murphy (21 and five with five treys) on Friday. Granger and Murph’s return pretty much kills the Fantasy value of Luther Head – while Roy Hibbert’s Fantasy owners were happy with their man’s 15-6-3 with three blocks that same night. Toronto’s Jose Calderon is back, but he looks to be sharing time with Jarrett Jack at this point. Both players should be rostered, but keep an eye on the minutes distribution going forward. Note that the Spanish Fly didn’t have big numbers off the bench Friday, but he was on the floor as the Raptors rallied from a big deficit.

Chauncey Billups was back on the court Friday, tossing in 23 points and handing out five assists in a Nugget victory. Unfortunately, the Nugs were missing Carmelo Anthony, whose bruised right knee has kept him out four straight games. Melo expects to be back Monday, making him a tricky lineup call for you blokes in those weekly lineup leagues some folks find enjoyable. Go ahead and run Paul Pierce out there this week, as the Celtic star was back on the floor this week – and appeared in fine fettle, to boot. Not so for Kevin Garnett, who remains sidelined with a hyperextended right knee. Orlando’s Vince Carter suffered a shoulder injury Friday night, but the extent is not known at this time. He’s being called day-to-day by the team, but be sure to get the latest before you start VC this week.

Lastly, get out there and cast a few intelligent votes for the NBA All-Star team. It’s an abomination that Steve Nash, Deron Williams and Chris Paul all trail Tracy McGrady in the fan voting. C’mon people – step up and let’s get the right players on the court. Not slagging T-Mac here, but he has played only 41 games the past two seasons, and is currently on indefinite leave from the Rockets. Sakes…don’t people read box scores anymore?

Four-game weeks: DET, IND, LAC, MIA, MIL, NO, NY, OKC, PHO, SA, UTA, WAS

Two-game weeks: NJ, POR

Centres

Rasheed Wallace, Boston Celtics: As long as Kevin Garnett is sidelined, Wallace should continue to post Fantasy-relevant numbers. ‘Sheed has struggled with his shot this year, but his rare ability to provide Fantasy help in boards, blocks, steals and treys makes him worth a pick-up as long as he owns a starting gig…or if Kendrick Perkins runs, ahem, afoul of any more chicken tenders. It’s not certain how long Garnett will be out, but the last week of January is looking like a reasonable expectation.

Forwards

Lamar Odom, Los Angeles Lakers: Odom has once again thrived in Gasol’s absence, averaging 14 points, an absurd 15.8 rebounds and 6.3 assists in the four-plus games that thr Spaniard Gasol has missed. Pau’s gimpy hammy figures to limit him even after he returns (and that could be as early as this week) so Odom should be added if he is somehow available in your league. We’re also mentioning Odom here since he’s a great sell-high candidate if you can find a willing trade partner.

Mike Miller, Washington Wizards: Miller returned from his shoulder injury Friday, scoring six points, grabbing six boards and dishing six assists. He also turned it over five times, though, and attempted just five shots. Miller’s role figures to increase in Arenas’ absence, making him worth a grab in just about every Fantasy format. Consistency isn’t his game, but he generally figures out a way to put up serviceable numbers in some category or other. Miller won’t be a difference-maker for you, but makes a solid roster-filler style of player.

Corey Maggette, Golden State Warriors: Other than the general aversion to Warriors most Fantasy owners tend to have, it’s a mystery to The Troll why Maggie is still available in about 20 per cent of Yahoo! leagues. All he has done over the past month is average 23.7 points, 6.7 boards and 2.4 assists – while shooting a ridiculous .581 from the field and a very high-volume .852 from the stripe. Good night, people, what else do you want? The Nellie Factor doesn’t seem to be in play, as Maggette has played more than 30 minutes in 12 straight games.

Wilson Chandler, New York Knicks: Like Maggette, Chandler has been absolutely on fire of late, but that hasn’t translated into a big boost in Fantasy ownership. Chandler has averaged 24.7 points, 9.3 boards and four dimes per game so far in January – while shooting a stellar 54.6 from the field on 18.3 attempts per game. It’s unreasonable to expect that kind of production to continue, but remember that Chandler is still only 22 years old; it’s possible that he could be raising the Expectations Bar a notch or three. He is available in about 20 per cent of Yahoo! leagues, and, oddly enough, about 10 per cent of the 10-team format ESPN groups. If you’re lucky enough to see him on your wire, don’t let him stay there another minute.

Guards

Rafer Alston, Miami Heat: Alston signed with the Heat Thursday, and made his first appearance in the starting lineup the following night. Skip played over 34 minutes, scoring 10 points, dropping two treys and dishing four assists. It looks very much like Alston will man the point for the Heat the rest of the way, and his veteran presence should stabilize the Miami attack – and draw at least some attention away from Dwyane Wade. The Heat plays a brutal road schedule in the second half, and it will need guys like Alston to see them through what figures to be a grind to the finish line. Add Alston if you need help in threes, assists or steals – but be prepared to deal with his crummy shooting percentages.

Randy Foye, Washington Wizards: Foye averaged 19 points per game in his first two outings after Arenas’ ouster, and it looks like he’ll inherit a lot of Agent Zero’s playing time. Foye can crank up the shots, and he’ll dish quite a few dimes when he’s going well – but his 41.2 per cent mark from the field this year is a bit scary. We’d look for his three-ball to pick up now that he’ll see more minutes, and he’s a solid addition if you need backcourt help (or if you own Arenas). Point guard Earl Boykins (all 65 inches of him) might cut into Foye’s minutes somewhat, but Randy’s ability to play both the two and the point makes him a much safer pick-up at this juncture.

J.J. Redick, Orlando Magic: If – and only if – Carter misses time with his shoulder injury, Redick could be a viable source of three-pointers in just about every Fantasy league. Even if Vinsanity is okay, Redick has been on enough of a mini-run lately to draw the interest of owners in deeper leagues. The night VC went down after playing only 10 minutes, Redick tossed in 14 points, canning three from downtown. Mickael Pietrus could also be in the mix, but he’s more of a three than a two – and maddeningly inconsistent.

At long last, The Wire Troll is on Twitter! Follow us @WireTroll for additional Fantasy basketball insight during the week.

Matt Barnes, F, Orlando Magic: Barnes was promoted to the starting lineup Wednesday, and since then he has averaged 16.7 points, seven boards and 1.7 treys per outing. All of those three-balls came in one game, though, so we wouldn’t recommend counting too heavily on him in that category. Barnes makes a fine Fantasy reserve as long as he has a starting gig (and reports that coach Stan Van Gundy plans to keep him there bode well), but he won’t light it up in any one category – especially given the number of weapons in Orlando’s arsenal.

Welcome to the first Wire Troll of 2010. We here at The Troll marveled with the rest of you as the world welcomed the New Year with the traditional – and perennial Troll favourite – fireworks displays. The awesome beauty of these aerial exhibitions is truly a spectacle to behold; nowhere else is such firepower on display – with the possible exception of the Washington Wizards’ locker room. Rimshot, please.

Yes, indeed, Gilbert Arenas’ Fantasy owners – and both of the Bullet…err…Wizards’ loyal fans are watching anxiously as the legal system debates what to do next in the wake of the alleged gunplay between Arenas and Javaris Crittenton. Both players could be subject to heavy fines and/or suspensions; keep in mind that this is Washington, D.C. we’re talking about here, where the Second Amendment has historically been treated as more suggestion than rule. Some of the toughest gun laws in the country could ensnare these players, and bring further discipline from the NBA. Stay tuned.

On the injury front, The Pacers’ Danny Granger is not expected back this week, while teammate Troy Murphy should be back by the time you read this. Ditto for Sacramento’s Tyreke Evans, while fellow King Kevin Martin remains on the shelf. Toronto’s Jose Calderon is still sidelined with no timetable for his return, but Boston’s Paul Pierce figures to be back this week. We’re not sure of the status of Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge, who’s nursing a sprained ankle – so check up on him before setting your weekly lineup. Equally fuzzy is the status of Denver guard Chauncey Billups, who has missed all or part of the past seven games. Finally, Kevin Garnett is dealing with a knee injury that could cost him a week and a half.

Whether you call it two-thousand ten, twenty ten, or, as some of the Troll’s friends call it, two-oh, one-oh…we’d like to wish you and yours a safe, happy and prosperous New Year.

Four-game weeks: ATL, CHI, LAL, MEM, MIA, NJ, NO, ORL, POR, UTA, WAS

Two-game weeks: NY

Centres

Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers: With Murphy and Jeff Foster watching from the sideline, Hibbert exploded for 25 points, 13 boards and one blocked shot Wednesday, but consistency has eluded the big man all season long. We’re not optimistic about Hibbert’s chances to keep it going once Murph is back on the court (which may be by the time you read this) but even the 10.5 points and 1.5 blocks he averaged in December makes him a marginal Fantasy option in most leagues.

DeJuan Blair, San Antonio Spurs: The burly frontcourt man has found a nice niche in the middle for the Spurs, doing a lot of the rough-and-tumble work under the boards – allowing Tim Duncan to do that pick-and-pop thing he does so well. In the four games he has started – and played more than 24 minutes – Blair has averaged 10.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. Those aren’t great numbers, but his upside – and the fact that the Spurs figure to start resting Duncan more in the second half – make the youngster worth a speculative pickup in leagues with more than 12 teams.

Forwards

Jeff Pendergraph, Portland Trail Blazers: The Blazers are sorely lacking a big man, and Pendergraph’s minutes have slowly been creeping upward since he made his first appearance of the season December 22. He made it onto the Troll’s long-range radar with a solid eight-point, 14-rebound line – with two blocks to boot – last Wednesday, filling in admirably after Aldridge sprained his ankle in the first quarter. Pendergraph looks like a must-add in deeper leagues while Aldridge is sidelined, and could be an option in standard formats if he earns enough playing time. Don’t forget, Portland’s man in the middle is undersized and over-aged Juwan Howard, so there could be minutes available in the near future.

Guards

Kirk Hinrich, Chicago Bulls: Hinrich replaced the slumping John Salmons in the starting lineup December 26, and has averaged nine points, 5.3 rebounds and six assists in that role. Hinrich can score, but the number of available options in Chicago figures to limit his potential in that category. He should be a fine source of dimes at a minimum, and should also contribute at least one trey per outing. Owners in deeper leagues in need of assists should consider adding the Bulls’ veteran, while standard league owners should probably stay their hand until Hinrich gets his scoring touch going.

Rasual Butler, Los Angeles Clippers: Butler is one of those guys who seems to hop on and off the waiver wire several times per season, and right now his shot is definitely falling. He averaged 11.9 points and 1.8 treys per outing during December – while shooting a very serviceable 46.7 per cent. Butler also contributed 0.8 blocks per contest – not a bad showing from your Fantasy two-guard. As always, be ready to cut bait if/when Butler’s shot goes south, but for now he’ll be a helpful reserve in most Fantasy formats.

Nate Robinson, New York Knicks: Apparently Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni made a New Year’s resolution to actually start playing his best players, and re-unleashed Robinson Friday night after a month-long string of DNP-CD’s. KryptoNate responded with 41 points, six rebounds and eight assists, making him once again a must-own player – at least until he runs afoul of his coach again. That could never happen, though, could it?

Welcome to the Boxing Day Edition of The Wire Troll. The Troll hopes you and yours had a very Merry Christmas and happy holiday season. In keeping with the frenetic pace that is the Boxing Day shopping/return experience, this week’s Troll will be a rapid-fire affair, so stay with the group and have your credit cards and gift receipts ready, please.

First, some injury news: Celtic Paul Pierce is out two weeks with a knee infection, while Bobcat Tyson Chandler is down for one week with a stress reaction in his foot. Chauncey Billups of Denver is back after struggling with a sore groin, but Joel Przybilla of Portland is done for the season with a ruptured right patella tendon. The Clipper Marcus Camby is day-to-day with a hyperextended knee, but given his extensive injury history, Fantasy owners of the Cambyman should be very concerned.

Both Cool Hand Carl Landry and Disco Dirk Nowitzki are back in action following last week’s gruesome collision, and The Troll sends out a salute to both of these guys – who get paid whether they play or not – for displaying some serious toughness and determination in getting back on the court so soon.

A quick roster note: Sacramento’s Jason Thompson has gained centre eligibility in Yahoo! leagues, so weekly lineup leaguers may want to double-check their roster before setting next week’s lineup.

Four-game weeks: CHA, CLE, IND, LAL, MIN, NY, OKC, PHI, SAC, SA

Two-game weeks: DET, LAC

Centres

Nazr Mohammed, Charlotte Bobcats: Mohammed went 12 and nine with a blocked shot in his first start in Chandler’s stead, and should have some short-term value in just about every league. Be ready to cut bait when Chandler makes it back.

Juwan Howard, Portland Trail Blazers: The 36-year-old former Fab Five member takes over as Portland’s starting centre, and he picked up double-doubles in his first two starts. Don’t look for many blocks, and he could lose his gig if Portland trades for a big man, but Howard is worth grabbing in most leagues while he’s starting. Make sure he’s eligible at centre before pulling the trigger.

Andris Biedrins, Golden State Warriors: Biedrins is scheduled to return to the lineup today (Saturday) and should rejoin the starting five soon thereafter. He’s an injury risk, but Biedrins is a fine source of boards and blocks when he’s healthy. Check your wire and grab him if he’s there.

Forwards

Tyrus Thomas, Chicago Bulls: The enigmatic Thomas may be back on the floor by the time you read this, and his shot-blocking ability could be a major shot in the arm for Fantasy owners willing to take the chance that he’ll stay healthy. Thomas averaged 1.9 blocks, 1.2 steals and 10.9 points a season ago, and should be picked up in all leagues – especially after he proves he’s healthy.

Yi Jianlian, New Jersey Nets: Yi went off for 22 points and eight boards Wednesday in his first game action since November 2. He will almost certainly throw more than his share of clunkers on the board, but he is definitely a buy-low candidate at this point – especially with a Yahoo! ownership of only 35 per cent.

Tony Allen, Boston Celtics: Allen scored 16 points in his first start for Pierce, and makes a fine add in deeper leagues for as long as The Truth is on the shelf. Don’t set the bar too high, but 12-to-15 points and 4-to-6 boards per night seems about right as long as Allen is starting.

Guards

Earl Watson, Indiana Pacers: Watson is currently the point guard du jour in Indy, and as such is definitely worth adding in deeper leagues. He piled up 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists Tuesday, and has averaged 5.5 dimes in his four starts this season.

C.J. Miles, Utah Jazz: Miles made his 2009 debut December 4, and re-assumed his starting role December 21, scoring 13 points against Orlando. If you’re in a deep league, Miles is worth adding for his decent three-point shoooting (1.3 per game thus far in ‘09), but he doesn’t bring much else to the party.

Welcome to Week Nine of The Wire Troll. In the spirit of the season, this week’s edition profiles a few early season Fantasy stars who have been away too long, and have either just returned from injury or are about to make it back onto the floor. If you stuck with them, their return should make your holidays a little brighter, and if their former owners gave up on them, act now – for what better surprise is there than to find a starting point guard under your Christmas tree?

Just as these players make it back, though, another wave of injuries sweeps across the Fantasy landscape. Denver point guard Chauncey Billups is nursing a strained groin, while Raptor Jose Calderon’s sore hip has limited him to only seven minutes total playing time the past seven games. While there’s no clear go-to substitute option for Billups, Calderon’s understudy, Jarrett Jack, has been a popular waiver wire target this week, and we’ll chat about him a bit later.

Perhaps the most serious (and gruesome) injury happened Friday night, when Dallas Maverick power forward Dirk Nowitzi’s elbow collided with the mouth of Houston forward Carl Landry, dislodging three teeth (two of which reportedly ended up in Disco Dirk’s arm), a crash that sidelined both players. Nowitzki’s injury is to his shooting arm, and the fear of infection complicates an already nasty injury. Stay tuned for more updates – especially if you’re in a weekly lineup league.

Landry, meanwhile, whose calm post-collision demeanor defied belief, was either in a total state of shock at the time, or is tougher than Chuck Norris and Cool Hand Luke combined. (”Cool Hand Carl?” Hmmm.) The Rockets’ super-sub may also miss some time, so stay abreast of the latest news.

Four-game weeks: CLE, HOU, IND, LAC, PHO, SA

Two-game weeks: CHA, MEM, NJ, NO, PHI, TOR

Centres

Erick Dampier, Dallas Mavericks: Dampier’s illness (apparently related to numbness in his arm, which sounds life-threatening scary, but his reaction was nonchalant — “I just had a little numbness in my arm,” he said) appears to be behind him, and the beefy centre is once again snaggin’ boards and swattin’ shots. He has averaged 9.4 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game in nine December starts, but is available in more than half of all Yahoo! leagues. Dampier is entrenched as the team’s starter, and is a worthy waiver wire pick-up if you’re in need of boards and blocks.

Marreese Speights, Philadelphia 76ers: The super-sub and early-season waiver wire darling made his return to the floor Wednesday, scoring 14 points in 22 minutes off the bench. He was even better the following game, throwing in 17 points and grabbing 10 boards – again in 22 minutes. Saturday, he went off for 28 points and nine boards. Speights should be in line for around 25 or more minutes, 12-15 points and 6-8 rebounds a night for the foreseeable future.

Forwards

Omri Casspi, Sacramento Kings: The move of Jason Thompson to centre (keep an eye out for his eligibility to change) and Spencer Hawes to the bench has opened the door for Casspi, and the young Israeli has stepped up in a big way. In his first two games as a starter, the rookie averaged 21.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.5 treys and 1.5 steals. Time will tell whether he can maintain that pace, but for now Casspi is definitely worth picking up if your league has 12 or more teams. Beware of his awful free throw shooting, and be ready to move on if he loses his starting gig – but Casspi’s skill set can be of definite value to just about every Fantasy team as long as he’s seeing a lot of floor time.

Ersan Ilyasova, Milwaukee Bucks: We have profiled Ilyasova twice before on The Troll, but his Yahoo! ownership is still a lackluster fifty-something per cent. (Hell, RotoRob himself dropped him a while back — a move he regrets tremendously.) Ilyasova is currently on a hot streak, averaging 14.3 points, 6.9 boards, 1.6 treys and 1.3 steals through his first eight games in December. By contrast, Shawn Marion of Dallas is averaging 11.1/6.9/0.0/1.0 this month – and his 1.4 blocks do not justify the huge 40 per cent ownership disparity between he and Ilyasova. The Bucks’ youngster should be owned in most leagues at this point, but the longer he keeps putting up numbers the less chance you’ll have to get him…so what are you waiting for?

Guards

Jarrett Jack, Toronto Raptors: With Calderon sidelined by a sore hip – and his status still in question – Jack is a must-own in all Fantasy leagues. Since taking over as the starter December 8, Jack has averaged 12 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.9 dimes and 1.3 steals per outing – and it’s telling to consider that Calderon’s line was only 12.1/2.3/6.4/0.8 during his 22 games as the starting point guard.

Lou Williams, Philadelphia 76ers: The Sixers’ wunderkind point guard has been telling anyone who would listen that he would be back sooner than predicted, and those forecasts look to be coming true. He returned Saturday, and reportedly lost only two pounds while his broken jaw was wired shut. Williams averaged 17.4 points, 5.1 assists and 1.3 treys before getting hurt and is available in about half of Yahoo! leagues, so now’s the time to bargain shop. As an aside, what’s going to happen when Allen Iverson and Williams are both healthy? Could be a tumultuous holiday season in the City of Brotherly Love.

Jerryd Bayless, Portland Trail Blazers: The second-year guard exploded for a career-high 29 points on Thursday, while logging more than 24 minutes for the second straight night. The crowded Blazer backcourt may hold down Bayless’ minutes in the short term, but his value would jump several notches if Portland decides to move Andre Miller (as has been rumoured for some time). Bayless is worth grabbing as a speculative pick in deeper leagues, but stay your hand in standard formats until we see whether or not his recent spike in playing time is an illusion. If Miller is indeed dealt, don’t wait for us to tell you to do it – snap up Bayless ASAP if he’s still out there.

Jameer Nelson, Orlando Magic: Nelson, who underwent knee surgery in mid-November, is slated to return to the lineup sometime this week. Not many of his owners have cut bait, but Nelson is available in about 25 per cent of Yahoo! leagues. Have a glance at your league waiver wire between sips — okay, gulps — of egg-nog and make sure he isn’t available. The diminutive point guard was averaging 13.7 points, 5.5 assists and 1.5 treys before he went down.

From all of us here at The Wire Troll, a very Merry Christmas, happy Boxing Day and joyous Holiday season to you and yours. Whichever holiday or holidays you celebrate at this wonderful time of year, we wish you glad tidings and a safe and happy season and victory with your Fantasy teams!

Welcome to the Week Eight edition of The Wire Troll. Now that the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday frivolities (and convenient metaphors therein) are well behind us, we once again find health-related news forming the basis for much of our Fantasy hoops fodder. The luckless Indiana Pacers are once again feeling the bite of the injury bug, as top scorer and Fantasy stud Danny Granger looks to be out for at least a month after tearing his right plantar fascia (that would be the connective tissue on the bottom of the foot for you non-medical types). Since Granger’s injury happened Tuesday, weekly lineup leaguers were once again stuck without their stud – and had no recourse to try to shuffle their lineup and adapt. Hopefully this was just one more nail in the coffin of the ridiculous and out-dated league format known as “weekly lineups.”

With Granger on the shelf, the battle for playing time in his stead should make for some interesting rolling of the Fantasy dice. Mike Dunleavy is the obvious successor, but the Pacers are limiting his minutes as he recovers from injuries of his own. Options abound in Indy, and savvy Fantasy owners would do well to pay close attention to the Pacers’ box scores over the next few days; if someone can emerge form the logjam he could see a huge spike in Fantasy value.

The Andre Miller trade watch officially begins this week, as the Trail Blazers may look to move the talented but under-utilized point guard after his no-trade restriction expires Tuesday. They figure to be looking for a big man, as centre Greg Oden’s season appears to be over after he fractured his left patella December 5. Oden was off to a fine start this season, averaging 11.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game – but we’ll have to wait until next year to see if the big man can finally fulfill his awesome potential. His bum wheels figure to make him a huge draft day risk again in 2010.

Four game weeks: CHA, CLE, DAL, DEN, DET, HOU, IND, LAC, LAL, MEM, MIN, NJ, NO, NY, OKC, ORL, PHI, POR, SAC, TOR, UTA, WAS

Two-game weeks: NONE

Centres

Joel Przybilla, Portland Trailblazers: With Oden lost for the season with yet another knee injury, Portland turns its starting centre job over to Przybilla. The Vanilla Gorilla (if that isn’t the greatest NBA nick I don’t know what is) won’t score very often, but he can be an absolute beast on the boards. He should also be a fine source of blocked shots as long as he holds down the starting gig. In his first three starts, Przybilla averaged six points, nine rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. Based on his career history, those kind of numbers are what one should expect from the Gorilla going forward. Be ready to cut bait if the Blazers trade for a big man.

Chris Andersen, Denver Nuggets: The Bird Man has seen a nice increase in his minutes lately whilst spelling the injured Kenyon Martin (What?! K-Mart Injured?! Impossible!) and is back swatting down shots at a furious rate. If you’re in need of blocks, the Bird is the word…but temper your long-term expectations, since Martin’s finger injury is not reckoned to be serious.

Samuel Dalembert, Philadelphia 76ers: Dalembert has been on a nice roll of late, and has even picked up his scoring production a bit closer to respectable levels. The boards and blocks will always be there, but when Sammy D. is putting up 8-10 points a night, he’s worth adding in just about every league.

Forwards

Ryan Gomes, Minnesota Timberwolves: With Kevin Love back in the starting lineup (and behaving like an absolute Fantasy monster, thank you very much), Gomes moves back to small forward, where he’s much more comfortable. Gomes can be a bit inconsistent, but when he’s rolling he is capable of putting up some strong numbers in points, boards and three-pointers. Many Fantasy owners soured on Gomes after a slow start, but if he’s available in your 12-team or larger league, he’s definitely worth a waiver-wire grab.

Tyler Hansbrough, Indiana Pacers: Snap to, deep leaguers – Hansbrough has stepped up big-time since Granger went down, scoring a career-high 21 points on Friday after throwing in 13 the previous game. With Dunleavy medically limited to about 20 minutes per game, Hansbrough figures to see plenty of run for at least the near future. If your league has more than 12 teams, Hansbrough is well worth adding while he’s on his current hot streak; just be prepared to cut bait if Dunleavy’s minutes begin to increase.

Guards

Josh Howard, Dallas Mavericks: Howard returned to action Tuesday, throwing in 20 points, pulling down six boards and racking up three steals against Phoenix. We’re not convinced that Howard’s injury woes are behind him, and the Mavs are being cautious with his minutes for the time being (he played Friday, but sat out Saturday’s game). Even so, if Howard is still on your league wire he’s definitely worth a pick up at this point; if he makes it back to full health he could well put up starter-worthy numbers.

Courtney Lee, New Jersey Nets: Lee looks like he’s finally healthy, and the fact that he has averaged 14.2 points through six games in December bodes well for his Fantasy fortunes going forward. While the points are nice, what should grab Fantasy owners’ attention is the 2.5 steals C-Lee has averaged so far this month. The Jersey backcourt is a bit crowded at the moment, but Lee looks to have carved out a nice niche for himself at the two. He is a borderline option in standard leagues, and should be 100 per cent owned in leagues deeper than 12 teams.

Larry Hughes, New York Knicks: The streaky Hughes is back on another run of “good,” and with Nate Robinson firmly entrenched in coach Mike D’Antoni’s doghouse, Hughes should continue to see plenty of run. You know the drill with Hughes: grab him while he’s hot, dump him when his shot goes south…and believe us, it will. For now, though, saddle up and enjoy the ride.

Welcome to the Week Seven edition of The Wire Troll. Whereas last week, much of America was celebrating some long-overdue departures – namely that of over-staying holiday relatives, this week it’s all about homecomings. Two big names are back in the Fantasy landscape, while one former stud should be back in action early this week.

While it’s nice to see Allen Iverson comin’ back to Philly, Philly, Philly – and definitely a welcome sight to see the T-Wolves’ Kevin Love yanking boards and taking names again, there was no more beautiful spectacle than that of uber-guard Chris Paul walking back onto the court for the New Orleans Hornets Friday night. All CP3 did in his return was toss in 16 points, dish out 15 dimes and rack up eight – yes, eight - steals. Paul is back and life is again good – unless you own Darren Collison. Obviously, CP3’s return kills Collison’s Fantasy value in most leagues, but the youngster accorded himself very well in Paul’s stead.

Hopefully, those of you playing in daily lineup leagues rushed CP3 back onto the floor in time. Weekly lineup leaguers were almost certainly out of luck…and you guys need to remind me again why this “set and forget” format is an enjoyable way to play the game. Go ahead and get him in your lineup for next week — and maybe use this as a learning experience concerning your league format preference for next season.

A few trade rumours circulating out there involve Andre Miller, whose Fantasy owners would love to see get out of Portland. Also reportedly on the block are Tyrus Thomas, whose athleticism would make him a great fit in several places, and Al Harrington, whose value could fluctuate significantly depending on where he lands.

Four-game weeks: CHI, CLE, DEN, GS, MIN, NJ, POR, SA, TOR, UTA

Two-game weeks: LAC, MIA, NY, WAS

Centres

Kendrick Perkins, Boston Celtics: Coach Doc Rivers recently said of Perkins: “He’s doing all the little things, a lot of the dirty work that you don’t get the credit for.” We at The Troll are down with the dirty stuff, but we’re also digging the stuff you do get credit for – namely the 14.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks Perkins has averaged through his first three games in December. Coming on the heels of a solid 11.7/8.1/1.6 line in November – and the fact that his turnovers have decreased markedly of late – the Celts’ big man is appears ready to be rostered in most standard leagues.

Forwards

Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves: Love made his season debut Friday night, scoring 11 points, yanking down 11 boards and dishing three assists in 24 minutes. Once he shakes off the rust and gets into playing shape, Love should be a solid source of points and rebounds the rest of the season. Keep in mind that he averaged 14 points and 9.6 rebounds per game after the All-Star break last season, so the tools for success are there. The second-year pro should be owned in all Fantasy formats at this point, but his Yahoo! ownership is only at about 70 per cent. Grab him – and hurry.

Kenyon Martin, Denver Nuggets: The oft-injured Martin has been on a pretty good roll all season long, averaging 10.7 points, 7.2 boards, 1.3 steals and 1.4 blocks through his first 18 games. Those blocks and steals indicate his primary Fantasy value, so if you’re a bit thin in those two categories, K-Mart may be worth a look.

Vladimir Radmanovic, Golden State Warriors: He plays for Don Nelson (insert boiler plate Nelson line-up tinkering caveats and profanities here), but Vlad-Rad has seen a nice uptick in production since Stephen Jackson left town. The big man averaged 18.5 points, 2.5 threes, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals his first two games in December. While that’s a small sample size – and he does play for Nellie – Radmanovic’s unique combination of points, boards and treys makes him definitely worth a look in deeper leagues.

Yi Jianlian, New Jersey Nets: Yi is expected back this week, and deep leaguers should definitely give the big man a look. He was off to a decent start before his knee injury, averaging 9.7 points, 7.5 boards and 1.3 blocks through three games. If he can avoid injury (a big “if” to be sure), Yi has shown the ability to produce solid numbers. Managers in standard-sized league should hold off until he is back in the rotation, but the Net forward is certainly a lottery ticket worth buying.

Guards

Wesley Matthews, Utah Jazz: It’s hard to know what to make of it, but Matthews threw in 17 and 18 points last Thursday and Friday. He has held down the starting job for three weeks now, and may be on the verge of becoming a Fantasy contributor in deeper leagues. If you’re in one of those league of 14 team or more, Matthews is worth a speculative pickup – just in case his recent mini-outburst isn’t an illusion.

Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers: Iverson’s Yahoo! ownership jumped from around 30 per cent to almost 80 per cent last week, and hopefully Wire Troll readers hopped on that train before it left the station – on its way back to Philly, Philly, Philly. The Answer is slated to make his debut Monday, and we see some good things ahead for both the Sixers and AI. AI2, on the other hand, might see a bit of a drop in production, as the Philly offense will now run through Iverson rather than Andre Iguodala. Stay tuned for what happens when injured point guard and budding star Lou Williams makes it back in about six weeks. Oh, the drama.

Chris Duhon, New York Knicks: Duhon has been in an epic shooting slump since the beginning of the season, but recently he has shown signs of emerging from his funk. He has posted a stellar 50 per cent from the floor through three games in December, while averaging 12.7 points, 2.3 treys and 5.7 dimes. The caveat here is that most of those numbers came from the dominant 25-point, 10-assist night he posted on Friday. That being said, Duhon has been a fine source of assists despite his shooting woes, and the fact that his shooting touch may be returning makes him worth a speculative grab while he’s available in about half of Yahoo! leagues.

Welcome to the Week Six edition of The Wire Troll. We hope our American readers had a peaceful Thanksgiving, and we’re thinking that your last bite of turkey tetrazzini probably exhausted your poultry fix for a while. Shake off the tryptophan and brighten up – it’s time again to hit the wire.

We try to avoid leftovers here at The Troll, but this week we have to revisit a couple of players whose attraction just doesn’t seem to be catching on. Injuries are again playing a large role in the Fantasy landscape, as promising 76er point guard Louis Williams will miss eight weeks with a broken jaw. With Elton Brand also hobbling around, the Sixers are rumored to be in the market for a guy who can score and play the point; hmmm…wonder what The Answer to that riddle might be? Yep, Allen Iverson is reportedly close to inking a deal with his old team, and given Philly’s depleted roster, he could become Fantasy relevant in a hurry if he indeed signs. If he’s hasn’t already been scooped up in your league, AI is definitely worth a speculative pick up.

Four-game weeks: CHI, DAL, GS, HOU, IND, MIA, MIL, PHO, TOR, WAS

Two-game weeks: LAC, NO, OKC, ORL, POR, SA

Centres

Jason Smith, Philadelphia 76ers: With Brand nursing a gimpy hammy (What? Brand? Injured? Imagine that…) over the past few days, Smith has averaged 12 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and a trey per game. While it doesn’t look like Brand will miss significant time, if Smith can at least partially fill the role Marreese Speights played earlier this season, he would have some Fantasy value. For now, Smith should be rostered in super-deep leagues, but keep an eye on Brand’s ever-creaky body.

Robin Lopez, Phoenix Suns: On Friday, Lopez made his 2009 debut after missing the first month of the season while recovering from a broken foot. The seven-footer played just over 15 minutes, collecting eight points, seven rebounds, one steal and two blocked shots. While he doesn’t look like a threat to steal too much of Channing Frye’s thunder, Lopez should see a fair amount of playing time going forward – especially in one-sided affairs.

Forwards

Mike Dunleavy, Indiana Pacers: Dunleavy, who has played in only 18 games since the 2007-08 season due to knee and hip injuries, returned to the court Friday. The swingman garnered 13 points, two assists, one steal and a block in over 15 minutes of playing time. Though he’s a huge injury risk, the fact remains that Dunleavy averaged 19.1 points, 5.2 boards, 3.5 assists and 1.1 steals over 82 games back in ‘07-08. He should already be owned in deeper formats, and just about every Fantasy owner will want him on their squad if he can regain his old form.

Al Thornton, Los Angeles Clippers: Thornton had been putting up a ton of points lately, but a five-point clunker (including 2-for-15 from the field) Wednesday knocked that train right off the track. He recovered nicely with 19 points the following game, though – and threw in four rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot for good measure in an atypically balanced Fantasy line. Points are generally about all you’ll get from Thornton, but his 14.2 PPG average in November is certainly serviceable in larger leagues.

Ersan Ilyasova, Milwaukee Bucks: Here is one of our Thanksgiving leftover players for you to consider. We featured Ilyasova last week, but his Yahoo! ownership is still hovering around the 30 per cent mark. All he has done in six games as a starter is average 13 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.3 treys per game. Perhaps his third double-double of the season on Friday will get a few more folks’ attention, but if you’re in need of threes and boards check your wire for Ilyasova – chances are he’s there.

Guards

Jamaal Tinsley, Memphis Grizzlies: Yeah, yeah – there are more red flags here than a Manchester United home game, but Tinsley has quickly worked his way into a prominent role in the Grizzlies’ rotation. He outplayed and saw more action than starter Mike Conley on Friday, tossing in 16 points, doling out five dimes and draining a pair of treys. He looks to have earned a place on most larger Fantasy rosters, but he’ll almost certainly remain in a time-share for at least the near future.

Darren Collison, New Orleans Hornets: Hopefully you heeded our advice of two weeks ago and grabbed Collison, who’s doing a very nice job filling in for the injured Chris Paul. In six games as a starter, Collison has averaged 14.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists and one steal per outing. Despite that productivity, he is still owned in only about 20 per cent of Yahoo! leagues. We’ll say it again: Do the math: NO – CP3 = DC. One caution for those of you in those wacky weekly lineup leagues: only two games for the Hornets this week.

Jarrett Jack, Toronto Raptors: You may not know Jack – but you probably should. The Raps’ sixth man has been on a nice run recently, and he’s the kind of player you grab when he’s going well, then cut when he cools off. Jose Calderon has not delivered the kind of numbers many were expecting, while starting two-guard DeMar DeRozan has averaged only 18 minutes per night. Enter Jack – who has averaged 12.2 points, five assists, 1.6 treys and 28 minutes in the five games since November 20. If he supplants DeRozan as the starter, Jack’s value could shoot up in a hurry.

Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 76ers: The 17th overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft will be called upon to fill the big shoes of point guard Williams. Holiday started for the Sixers against Boston Wednesday, scoring 10 points and dishing out six assists. He regressed badly the next time out, managing just two points (on 1-for-8 from the floor) and five assists. Holiday’s shooting woes (23.8 per cent in two games as a starter) have served to fuel the turbines of the AI Rumour Mill.

Allen Iverson, free agent: As The Troll goes to cyber-press, speculation is rampant that Iverson may be returning to his old digs in Philly. Reports suggest that he may sign this week, and if so, we’d expect The Answer to be back in the starting lineup – and possibly even at practice - before long. Iverson is owned in less than one-third of Yahoo! leagues, and the upside he presents is just too great to ignore. If you have bait to cut, take a flier on AI and watch how the next few days play out.

Welcome to the American Thanksgiving Week edition of the Wire Troll, where we seek to serve up the tastiest morsels available on the buffet line that is your league’s waiver wire.

Before we dig in to the week ahead, let’s take a moment and pay homage to those players that have truly embodied the term “turkey” with their play so far this season. You know, that third round pick who has been playing like a seventh rounder…and dragging your team’s fortunes south in the process. Since no such dubious assemblage of underachievers would be complete without a kitschy name, let’s call this crew the 2009 Gargling Gobblers:

Guard: Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls (Average Draft Position in Yahoo! leagues – 42): Last season, he averaged 16.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists. This year: 14.0/2.7/5.6 through 11 games…and his turnovers are up from 2.5 to 2.8. Is the bloom off the Rose? In fairness, he looks to be waking up out of slumber, probably induced by missing most of the preseason with an ankle injury.

Guard: (tie) The Gossamer Guards – Devin Harris, New Jersey Nets (ADP – 26), Kevin Martin, Sacramento Kings (ADP – 34) and Michael Redd, Milwaukee Bucks (ADP – 55) – have managed just nine games between them this season. Martin is likely out until January, Harris finally made it back Saturday, playing off the bench, and Redd is talking about returning soon – assuming he doesn’t blow a hammy during an interview or something.

Forward: Caron Butler, Washington Wizards (ADP – 20): Last season, Butler put up 20.8 PPG, 6.2 RPG and 4.3 APG while shooting 45.3 per cent. This year, he’s at 17.7 PPG, 7.7 RPG and a pathetic 1.2 APG, while shooting only 40 per cent. In one league we’re in, he’s been traded for Danilo Gallinari. Just imagine what you what have thought of that trade before the season started.

Forward: David West, New Orleans Hornets (ADP – 34): Last season, West put up 21 PPG and 8.5 RPG with 47.2 per cent shooting from the field and 88.4 per cent from the line. This year, he’s at 14.8 PPG and 6.9 RPG, while shooting 45.3 per cent from the field and 80.4 per cent from the line. I’m not sure what’s up here – the dude’s been rock-solid consistent for three seasons, but perhaps the coaching change in New Orleans will help turns things around. Buy low? You bet.

Centre: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic (ADP – 11): Last season, Superman averaged 20.6 points, 13.8 boards and 2.9 blocks per game. This season, he’s at 17.4/11.0/1.9, and he still can’t hit the broad side of a barn from the stripe.

Coach: Don Nelson, Golden State Warriors. No explanation needed. Can I get a huzzah, Anthony Randolph owners?

Format: Weekly lineup leagues. In this era of swine flu, “personal leaves of absence,” Nellie and DNPCDs, some folks still insist on playing in leagues where you can’t touch your lineup after Monday – no matter what ill fate befalls your players. Explain to me where the challenge/attraction is in this, please. I tried two weeklies this season, and mark my words – they will be my last.

This week’s news includes the return of Troy Murphy of Indiana, who played nearly 24 minutes off the bench Friday. Murph racked up 10 points and 12 boards in his first game back, so needless to say he should be back in your lineup. Also back in action is Washington forward Antawn Jamison, who is back balling like only ‘Tawn can ball. The Lakers’ Pau Gasol finally made it onto the court Thursday, firing in 24 points and grabbing 13 boards. Tony Parker, in and out of the lineup all year with ankle woes, was back in action Saturday, and looked none the worse for wear, going off for 17 points, eight assists, six boards, a steal and a block, so make sure he’s in your lineup.

Michael Redd is slated to return this week, but is not a recommended play until he shows that he’s back in form. Ditto for Shawn Marion of Dallas, who is scheduled to return Tuesday from his sprained ankle.

Milwaukee centre Andrew Bogut will not play this week as he recovers from a strained calf ligament and leg bruise. Also on the shelf is Orlando point guard Jameer Nelson, along with Manu Ginobli of San Antonio. Uber-guard Chris Paul is also still on the mend, and all his owners can do is try to muddle through without their man.

Four game weeks: DAL, DEN, LAC, MEM, MIL, MIN, NJ, NY, ORL, PHI, POR, SAC, SA, TOR

Two-game weeks: CHI, NO

Centres

Drew Gooden, Dallas Mavericks: With Erick Dampier sidelined, Gooden has stepped in and accounted himself very well, averaging 14.8 points and 13 rebounds in his first three starts. Gooden’s game fits the Mavs’ style much better than the plodding Dampier, and he may not give up the starting gig even after Damp makes it back onto the court. Gooden is owned in only about 20 per cent of Yahoo! leagues, and should be rostered in most leagues with 12 or more teams – especially while Dampier is out.

Forwards

J.J. Hickson, Cleveland Cavaliers: Hickson has averaged 13.6 points and 4.6 boards in his seven games as a starter for the Cavs, and is becoming a popular waiver wire grab in deeper leagues. He’ll never be a top scoring option (that No. 23 guy always seems to get the ball), but Hickson should certainly put up serviceable numbers while he’s seeing starter’s minutes.

Corey Maggette, Golden State Warriors: Maggette has been perhaps the biggest beneficiary of the Stephen Jackson trade, throwing down 23 points, grabbing eight rebounds, dishing out three assists, blocking a shot and recording one steal in his first start of the season on Wednesday. With Kelenna Azubuike out for the season, Maggette figures to log heavy minutes and put up some very nice numbers – though the usual “Nellie” caveats apply. Maggette is owned in about 70 per cent of Yahoo! leagues, so time is running out to grab him, unless you’re in a smaller league.

Ersan Ilyasova, Milwaukee Bucks: Deep league owners in need of threes should have Ilyasova on their radar screens if not their rosters. The 22-year-old has averaged 9.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.4 treys in limited minutes this season, but his ability from beyond the arc makes him a viable option in leagues with 14 or more teams. The fact that he’s been starting the past few games makes him even more attractive. Keep an eye on Ilyasova’s minutes when Redd returns to the lineup, but for now Ilyasova is a decent grab if you’re desperate for boards and threes.

Dahntay Jones, Indiana Pacers: Jones’ value may drop a bit now that Murphy is back, but the 17 points Jones threw in during Murph’s first game back is encouraging indeed. The Indiana swingman was averaging 17.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 blocks through his first 10 games of the season, and is a good candidate for sixth-man duty once Murphy’s back to full speed.

Peja Stojakovic, New Orleans Hornets: Peja has turned up the gas in CP3’s absence, averaging 21.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and four treys in his first three games after Paul went down. Stojakovic is available in only about 30 per cent of Yahoo! leagues, so if he’s out there, grab him now.

Guards

Jason Williams, Orlando Magic: Nelson figures to be on the shelf for most – if not all – of December, leaving the door open for the veteran Williams to post big-time numbers. White Chocolate’s upside is limited, as he’s not much of a scorer and just turned 34 years old – but he should hand out enough dimes and throw down enough trey balls to be Fantasy-relevant in most larger leagues. If you’re in a standard 10-teamer, feel free to ignore Williams, but others should definitely try to find a home for J-Will until Nelson makes it back from his knee surgery.

Will Bynum, Detroit Pistons: Bynum has cashed in on the absence of Rip Hamilton (sprained ankle) to average 16.2 points and 4.3 assists in November, and the Piston combo-guard should be a part of most Fantasy rosters until Hamilton re-enters the picture. Since no one is quite sure when that will be, feel free to grab Bynum and enjoy the short-term boost in points, dimes and steals. Bynum’s fine play has probably earned him more minutes even after Rip returns, so don’t be too quick to cut bait.

Chris Douglas-Roberts, New Jersey Nets: CDR missed three games whilst battling swine flu, but he’s back in a big way. How big? Try 58 points, 22 rebounds, six assists and four steals Tuesday and Wednesday combined. If Douglas-Roberts is available in your 12-team league, run – do not walk – to your waiver wire and grab him…right now. Don’t look for many threes from CDR, but the two-guard should be a consistent point scorer and rack up a surprising number of rebounds for at least the near future.

Miscellaneous

Tom the Turkey, dinner tables everywhere: We here at the Wire Troll see Tom as a popular pick-up this Thursday – and he should have some value the rest of the week, provided he can avoid, ahem…fowl trouble. Don’t look for much staying power, though, as most folks will cut Tom from their rosters for good once December rolls around. For now, though, load up a plate, double down on the taters and pass the gravy.

All of us here at the Wire Troll would like to wish you and yours a very happy and safe Thanksgiving. We’ll see you again about the time the leftovers run out.

Welcome to Week Four of The Wire Troll, our weekly look at the ins and outs of working your Fantasy league waiver wire. This week, those ins and outs abound: Let’s look at who’s in, who’s out and who’s back.

The big news of the week concerns Fantasy uber-guard Chris Paul, who sprained his ankle Friday night and is expected to miss at least a week of action – though I’ve seen estimates of up to a month. There’s no way to know for sure at this point, but stop reading right now and go pick up Darren Collison, who figures to take over at point guard while CP3 is sidelined. Go ahead, do it…I’ll wait.

In other news, Golden State coach Don Nelson is rumoured to be on his way out, and the axe could reportedly fall as early as this week. Nellie’s lineup Tilt-A-Whirl has long been the bane of Fantasy owners everywhere, and if he departs many things stand to change in Golden State. Stay tuned.

Orlando Magic forward Rashard Lewis returns from his 10-game suspension on Monday, so it should be safe to activate him in weekly leagues. Coach Stan Van Gundy has made no secret of the fact that Lewis will step right back into the starting lineup when he returns. Washington Wizards Antawn Jamison and Mike Miller are scheduled to return from shoulder injuries, but both should be expected to show signs of rust, making them riskier plays in weekly leagues.

Four game weeks: ATL, CHA, CLE, DET, HOU, IND, MIA, MIL, NO, OKC, ORL, POR, TOR

Two-game week: MIN

CENTRES

Brendan Haywood, Washington Wizards: We recommended Haywood two weeks ago, but he’s still available in roughly one-third of all Yahoo! leagues and about three-quarters of ESPN groups. His numbers might slip slightly when Jamison returns, but he was still averaging a double-double and over two blocks per game as of November 14. Grab him if he’s still available.

Marreese Speights, Philadelphia 76ers: Elton Brand continues to struggle with adapting to the Philly offense, and Speights has been the beneficiary of that saga. Through nine games, Speights’ average line stood at 13.8/6.9 with 1.0 block in 24 minutes per game, while Brand has posted 9.7/5.2/0.7 in 26-plus minutes. Speights’ play should have him on your roster in larger leagues, and at least on the radar screen in medium-sized formats.

Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons: No, this isn’t the NBA Seniors Division Report — Wallace has awakened the echoes of bygone days this season, averaging 9.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals through eight games. He looks like the Big Ben of old (minus the hair), but just like Old School Ben, New School Ben can’t score a lick (only 3.1 PPG). If you’re set with points but lacking for boards, blocks and steals, turn back the clock and look to Big Ben in your hour of need.

FORWARDS

Carl Landry, Houston Rockets: Landry was featured in our first Wire Troll of the season, but despite averaging 14.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks through nine games he is owned in only about half of Yahoo! leagues. He has picked it up a bit in November, posting 15.3/5.3/1.3 through his first six games.

Kelenna Azubuike, Golden State Warriors: With all the tumult in Golden State, Azubuike just keeps rolling along, averaging 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.2 treys and 1.2 blocks through six games in November. He generally stays on the court through most of Nellie’s line-up tinkering, making him a rare “safe” Warrior option for Fantasy owners.

Mike Miller, Washington Wizards: Before going down with a shoulder sprain November 4, Miller was averaging 8.4 points, 8.2 boards, 3.2 assists, 1.2 treys and 1.4 steals per game. Talk about filling up the box score. Many owners panicked when Double M hit the shelf, and he’s currently owned in about half of Yahoo! leagues. Miller is scheduled to return this week, and his skill as a facilitator should make Washington’s scorers even more effective, Don’t look for big points from Miller, but he’ll provide at least modest help in just about every other category.

GUARDS

Toney Douglas, New York Knicks: The 29th pick in the 2009 draft earned his first start of the season November 11, and responded with 23 points, four rebounds and one assist. Coming on the heels of his 21-2-1 line off the bench the previous game, the effort has thrust Douglas onto Fantasy radars all across the land. Though it’s tempting to say Douglas will supplant the struggling Chris Duhon at point guard, the fact is that the rook is more of a two-guard than a point. He averaged only 2.9 dimes per game at FSU, so running an offense is not his strong suit. That doesn’t mean that deep leaguers shouldn’t be all over this kid for his points and treys – just keep an eye on how the backcourt minutes sort out now that Nate Robinson is back on the court.

Darren Collison, New Orleans Hornets: If you heeded my advice above, hopefully by now you own Collison in at least a few leagues. The injury to CP3 creates an enormous opportunity for the rookie, and he cashed in that chance by throwing in 18 points, dishing out two assists and posting two steals in 26 minutes the night Paul went down. Reports vary on how long Paul will be out of action, but Collison’s value will skyrocket while the superstar is sidelined…and if the youngster delivers, he should see increased run even after CP3 returns. Don’t forget: Collison was a rock-solid point guard at UCLA, so the kid can run an offense. Weekly leaguers take note: New Orleans plays four games this week, but only twice in Weeks Five and Six.

Anthony Morrow, Golden State Warriors: Morrow has averaged 14.2 points and 2.5 treys through his first six games in November. He and the aforementioned Azubuike are about as consistent an option as can be found in Golden State right now, so if you’re in a league with 12 or more teams, Morrow is definitely worth a roster spot; just be prepared to cut bait depending on how Nellie’s situation plays out.

Nate Robinson, New York Knicks: Little Nate played almost 23 minutes in his first game back from an ankle injury that had sidelined him for six contests. The diminutive backcourt man amassed nine points, four assists and one steal; let the Duhon bench-watch begin. Robinson and Douglas figure to cut into Duhon’s minutes, but Nate is more of a true point than Douglas is. Little Nate is available in about half of Yahoo! leagues, so grab him if you needs threes or steals – with the upside for considerably more if he supplants Duhon.