Waiver Wire: Working the Wire-Week 21

Working the Wire
By Charlie Zegers
RotoWire Hoops Editor


Devin Harris' shoulder injury makes Keyon Dooling the guy to get off the wire this week.

An MRI on Harris' left shoulder has revealed a torn deltoid muscle, the New York Daily News reports. That changes Harris' status from "doubtful for Wednesday's game against the Knicks" to "Are we going to see him again this season?"

The injury is an awful blow to the Nets' playoff hopes. As I write, the Jersey Boys are 28-39 on the season, 2.5 games behind Chicago for the eighth and final playoff berth in the East. To make the post season, New Jersey will have to make up those games on the Bulls - and leap-frog the Bucks, Bobcats and Knicks.

From a fantasy owner's perspective, though, this represents a significant opportunity. Laurence Frank's version of the dribble-drive offense has proven to be very friendly to point guards' stat lines, and Keyon Dooling is a highly capable fill-in for the short-term. Dooling has averaged over 15 points, five assists and a steal per game in seven starts this season - and had 17, six and one in Sunday's loss to the Nuggets. Word of the severity of Harris' injury apparently hasn't circulated yet; as of this morning, Dooling is just seven percent owned.

Picks for the Week

The first set of picks is for players in standard leagues - guys who will typically be available in your average 10 team/15 player roster league. The second group is for owners in very deep leagues, and will be based more on speculation than actual numbers. The third batch of players will be guys I've mentioned in previous columns that still seem to be available in a lot of leagues and worth a look.

Standard Leagues:

Ronny Turiaf (GSW) - Andris Biedrins is out until at least April, so Turiaf will be getting starter minutes… probably for the rest of the season.

Hakim Warrick (MEM) - Warrick will get some extra run with Darko Milicic (back) and Darrell Arthur (knee) both hurting.

Mario Chalmers (MIA) - March seems to be a good time for Chalmers. Last year's Final Four hero is averaging 12.9 points, 4.4 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.6 3-pointers this month, and shooting 96 percent from the line.

Deep Leagues:

Marcin Gortat (ORL) - It's hard to generate much fantasy value as Dwight Howard's backup, but Gortat has put up some really excellent "per minute numbers" -- eight points, eight boards and a block in just 13 minutes on Sunday, 13 and 15 in 24 minutes against Chicago last week - and could get an extended look if the Magic - who will clinch their division any day now - decide to give Howard some extra rest to prep for the playoffs.

Dominic McGuire (WAS) - With Caron Butler hurting again, McGuire will be asked to do more.

Demetris Nichols (NYK) - This one may be a reach… but New York just lost rookie Danilo Gallinari - possibly for the season. Gallinari has been the Knicks' best three-point threat. If D'Antoni's guys fall out of the playoff chase… or if Wilson Chandler (fighting a
sore ankle) or Quentin Richardson are unavailable, Nichols could get a look. He wouldn't be the first deep, deep sleeper to emerge as a fantasy threat on a D'Antoni team.

A Second Look:

Leon Powe (BOS) - KG should be back soon, but do you really think the Celtics are going to push him?

Andres Nocioni (SAC) - Becoming a consistent part of the Kings' attack.

Article first appeared on 3/18/08