Waiver Wire: Working the Wire-Week 8

Working the Wire
By Charlie Zegers
RotoWire Hoops Editor

More Coaching Carnage

Two more coaches were unceremoniously axed this week, with Mo Cheeks of Philadelphia and Reggie Theus of the Kings sent to the unemployment line. Ordinarily, that might mean major shifts in value for those teams, but the Kings are already deep into a rebuilding program, and the Sixers haven't given up on contending this year. You may see more minutes for the likes of Spencer Hawes and Jason Thompson over Brad Miller and Mikki Moore, but Hawes and Thompson were already getting enough run to be worth owning in most leagues.

That could change, though, if either team made a play for ex-Washington coach Eddie Jordan. Jordan has ties to both franchises - he coached the Kings in the dark days before the arrivals of Chris Webber and Vlade Divac made Sacramento one of the league's most entertaining franchises, and he worked with Sixer general manager Ed Stefanski when both were employees of the Nets.
Sacramento interim coach Kenny Natt will almost certainly hang on to the job for the rest of this season… it seems unlikely that the brothers Maloof will want to add another salary to the checks they're cutting for Theus, Eric Musselman and now Natt.

But the Sixers might be more favorably inclined to take on the salary of another name coach. And as fantasy players know, Jordan's high-octane offensive philosophy can be very friendly to the ol' box score.

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.

For Standard Leagues:

Chris Wilcox (OKC) - Wilcox was supposed to miss two weeks with a finger injury, but he's already being listed as a game time decision after sitting out just two contests. Wilcox was promoted to starting center just before he got hurt, and seems a good fit for Scott Brooks' small/athletic lineup.

Jarrett Jack (IND) - T.J. Ford left Monday's game with an apparent groin injury. Jack will move up to a starting role if Ford is sidelined for any length of time.

Bobby Simmons (NJ) - Simmons seems to be developing into a consistent scoring/three point threat for New Jersey. He's scored In double figures in five of six games, and hit at least one three in 12 straight.

Tyrus Thomas (CHI) - Maybe Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro has finally succeeded in lighting a fire under his talented but inconsistent forward. Thomas has been highly productive in two straight games, scoring 16 points with 5 boards in 24 minutes on 12/13, and following up with 22-and-9 against Charlotte 12/16.

For Deep Leagues:

DeMarcus Nelson (GSW) - Nelson has been recalled from Bakersfield, where he was leading the D-League in scoring and steals. Will he get enough run with the big club to matter? Unclear. But the Warriors are playing so poorly, a lineup shakeup wouldn't be a surprise.

Jannero Pargo (?) - Pargo's Russian team is reportedly having a very difficult time making payroll right now; there's the possibility that he'll be back in the NBA before long. Where he lands is obviously a major consideration, but the Knicks are one of several teams mentioned as a potential suitor.

Marco Belinelli (GSW) - Belinelli - the summer league superstar of a couple years back - has stepped into the void left by Stephen Jackson's hand injury and scored in double-figures in four of five games.

Roy Hibbert (IND) - According to coach Jim O'Brien, Hibbert hasn't earned a starting spot yet, and there are three veterans playing ahead of the rookie from Georgetown. That said, O'Brien is desperate to improve Indiana's interior D, so Hibbert may get an extended look.

Worth a Second Look:

• C.J. Miles
  
• C.J. Watson
  
• Joel Przybilla
  
• Matt Bonner
  
• Jose Barea

Article first appeared on 12/17/08