Five Guys that Should NOT Be Available on Your Waiver Wire

I tend to view the league I play in to be about as competitive as it gets. Basketball is our short league, we have 12 managers (vs. 16 for the other two sports), but the league runs deep in experience. However even in this league there's a couple of guys that are sitting in the FA pool that just should not be there. I've currently got three 2-1 offers sitting on the trading block. It's a race between me landing a trade and these guys still being available. I like my odds.

If these guys are on your wire, you can confidently be doing the same. If better players are on your wire, you're probably in a smaller league, but that doesn't mean the ole 2-1 isn't available for you too.

***********Secret Shady Thief Trick Alert******************
sometimes, if I really want a guy, I'll add him to my team and drop my lowest level player so he goes on Waivers (particularly if I am high on waivers) to make sure I get to keep both players. Shhhhhh, Thief didn't tell you that one
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So these five guys are available on my FA wire, and I'd gladly (given the freed up space) roster any one of them. While they might not consistently produce like a starter, they are good enough as injury insurance (in roto) or spot starts (in H2H).

1. Al Thornton
Thornton will be a good player someday, mark my words. He just hasn't 'put it all together yet'. Still he's capable of dropping 20-30 points on any given night with chip ins in other categories. To me, there isn't much difference between him and Corey Maggette (who is gone in almost every league).
2. Leandro Barbosa
Leandro is merely a fill in for whatever injured player is on your FA wire. For some it's Kevin Martin or Louis Williams or even Michael Redd. If you have the roster space, you should have these guys. When healthy they are all starters, and why wait for someone else to grab him?
3. Tyson Chandler
In need of Boards and Blocks? What a cheap way to snag them! Sure TC's had a slow start to the season, sure he's streaky and sometimes doesn't show up, but when he is on HE IS ON. Just like Ben Wallace came alive, TC can come alive at any time.
4. Mike Conley
T.J. Ford aside, there should never be a starting point guard sitting on the FA wire. Assists are the most valuable category in Fantasy Basketball because, really, only PG's get them consistently. Conley has had plenty of solid performances and just needs some confidence and consistency. He'll get there.
5. Jarret Jack
I actually WAS holding Conley on my squad, and just dropped him for Jack (hence my little trick listed above). I hope to make a deal soon and replace the empty slot with Conley. ANYWAY, Jack represents that player who is getting a shot due to anothers (Calderon) injury and making the most of it (17,8,8 yesterday!). He should not be on a waiver wire, this is how some of the best players get discovered. Another guy getting a similar opportunity is Tyler Hansborough.

That about sums it up. If you see one of these guys, or someone better, sitting out on your wire, then GEAR UP THE TRADE MACHINE, and move a quick 2-1 before an opponent beats ya to it!