Jamario 'To the' Moon is first up in this week's Jumping the Waiver Wire with Austin Brown.

It’s frustrating picking guys off the waiver wire these days. Maybe it’s just because of old age (in fantasy years) but names just don’t pop like they used to anymore. An injury here, a coaching change there, the occasional trade changes situations around. I want to see some people make some real noise! Where are the Dunleavys, Turkoglus and Beno Udrihs this year? All I see is a bunch of one and donners. In and outters.
Well this week features a bunch of those sort and one guy who was put in a Jumping article a few weeks back on a hunch that deserves recognition for a recent up tick in performance. (Clears throat) Drum roll please…

Jamario Moon (Owned in 50 percent of all Yahoo! leagues) Some might say putting him on here is a bit premature because his improvement has only been marked over the last two Raptors games. But I remind you this column is called Jumping the Waiver Wire not Browsing it. Moon has started the last two and averaged 0.7 3PTM, 10.7 PPG, 8.7 RPG 2.3 SPG and 2 BPG. Bargnani, who had been struggling mightily, was benched for Moon right before his recent tear, and has continued to flounder, so it would make sense for new Raptors coach Jay Triano to stick with the move for the foreseeable future.

Boris Diaw (Owned in 46 percent of all Yahoo! leagues) I like the idea of picking up Diaw because he’s in a new situation, he has potential, and even if he struggles you can cut him loose just as easily. I added him in my obsession league immediately after the trade and was quite pleased with his first game: 7 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, a steal and a block. Do I really need to dig up his 2005 numbers as starting center under D’Antoni to remind you of what he’s capable of? Okay, 13.9 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 6.4 APG, 0.8 SPG and 1 BPG. As Eno mentioned, that was in the run and gun, not under Mr. Fantasy Killer Larry Brown. I’m aware these numbers aren’t likely to be attained but I know Charlotte is really soft up front and think Diaw will be hungry to silence his critics in Phoenix, you know the majority of fans who loved the trade. I’ll also note that he’s really a wing player with only PF, C eligibility on Yahoo!, so I wouldn’t be surprised if added position eligibility was on the horizon.

Rodney Stuckey (Owned in 45 percent of all Yahoo! leagues) He’s baaack! After initially struggling to find his way after the Iverson trade, Stuckey rebounded a bit then was plugged into the starting lineup last week and has been putting up great numbers since. Over his last three as starting point guard for the Detroit Pistons, Stuckey has been a to 20 fantasy performer, averaging 1.7 3PTM, 14.7 PPG, 9.7 APG and 2 SPG with a 68 FG%. As you may have noticed the treys weren’t there until this recent stint. He’s knocked down 5 – 7 over his last two, which matches the three point total for Stuckey’s entire career prior. Get him while he’s still available because if he keeps this up—and from last year’s numbers it appears very possible he can—he could be one of the bigger fantasy sleepers of the year.

Bobby Simmons (Owned in 21 percent of all Yahoo! leagues) A deep league special, the Nets have stuck with Simmons as their starting small forward through the bad and the ugly in November. Now perhaps, come December, it’s time for the good. He’s scored in double digits in his last five and posted averages of 2.6 3PTM, 11.4 PPG, 5 RPG, 1.4 SPG and a 49 FG%. I personally dropped him earlier this year in my Lounge 16 teamer because I have little patience for guys struggling at the end of my bench but someone picked him upshortly thereafter and now, once again, I have good reason to kick myself before I go to sleep.         

C.J. Watson (Owned in 11 percent of all Yahoo! leagues) If you’re in a league of 16 or greater, Watson should definitely be a mainstay on your Watch List. He’s been in and out of the Warriors’ starting lineup all season and now that he’s back in and posting stats as good as ever, it’s time to swoop. Over his last three contests since being reinserted, he’s averaged 1.0 3 PTM, 14.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2 APG and 1.7 SPG. On a team that can’t rebound he provides a nice lift on the boards, so expect an unusually high number there for a man of his stature. And with the ball usually being in one of the other four stud guards’ hands, don’t expect the assist numbers to climb over the rebounding ones anytime soon either.

Darko Milicic (Owned in 9 percent of all Yahoo! leagues) Nine percent ownership really isn’t enough for this former draft bust. No I’m not hating, just stating that with the streak he’s currently on, he’ll be in double digits soon enough. Yes, Darko was put into the starting lineup five games ago and has responded nicely, posting averages of 8.8 PPG, 5.6 RPG and 2.4 BPG. If this were a Strategery article with the theme Waiver Wire Material Good for Punting Rebounds but Going Hard After Blocks, Darko would certainly have his picture plastered next to the five spot. The Grizz have won four in a row with Darko patrolling the paint, which could be a coincidence, but with things going so well for the struggling franchise, why would Coach Iavaroni risk a change. He’s streaky so get him while he’s on but don’t forget to cut him loose when he switches it to off.

Juan Dixon (Owned in 6 percent of all Yahoo! leagues) Who’s going to be the starting point guard in Washington? With Antonio Daniels gone it’s anyone’s guess. As of now, with newcomers Mike James and Javaris Crittenton getting acclimated to capitol city, it appears to be Dixon’s job to lose. All three point guards have their flaws, but I like Dixon a) because in his last three games his play has been outstanding, as shown by these averages: 1.7 3PTM, 14.3 PPG and 1.7 SPG with great percentages; and b) because of the three, he’s the only one yet to see any real PT or production this season. While Dixon is averaging over 19 MPG, neither James nor Crittenton are over 10. This is not solely the best reason to count either out, especially James, because they were both in tough point guard situations with their old teams. But what if there’s more behind them not playing? James has a pathetic 3.78 PER going this season and Crittenton’s isn’t much better, while Dixon is at a respectable 13.51. So please, keep bringing me back flashes of those great Terps days, Juaney.

Austin Brown writes the weekly Jumping the Waiver Wire, an article that will help fantasy NBA managers everywhere pull the trigger on hot pickups throught the season. He also has a blog at www.efantasysportsblog.com .