Upsyde Blog

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS: Overlooked 2nd Round Players in 2020 Draft: SABEN LEE - The Vanderbilt product has been scorching hot since Derrick Rose got traded. It's more likely that Killian Hayes is the future point guard on this team, even with Dennis Smith Jr added to the roster. That does not diminish what Lee has done over the last two games. With the Pistons honestly needing upgrades at just about every position, it's possible Lee ends up as the starting point, with Hayes as the 2-guard. Lee improved every year playing for the Commodores, and now he is given a great opportunity to develop. Over the last two games he's averaged 16.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 4.5 APG, and 2.5 SPG. He also added 1.5 3PG. His FT% is a crux, but he's getting the minutes and usage to be an interesting prospect, at least for the short term. As an older rookie, he comes in with a certain level of polish and should see heavy minutes until their backcourt is at full health. XAVIER TILLMAN - He was a popula...

UPYSDE SPORTS PRESENTS: Addressing the Viability of a Kristaps Trade: I myself, have been very critical of Kristaps. Ranging from his health, finding him overrated as a shooter, not assertive enough on offense, and feeling that his defensive stats are empty. Obviously, I can see his upside, it's the name of my blog, but I feel like he plays out of position, is too thin, and his biggest strength (his size), is also likely going to be what limits his potential. Now, I gave him time. When the trade happened originally, I was pretty excited. He was coming off an injury, but had a really nice All-Star season in New York. Most Mavs fans, myself included, had somewhat soured on Dennis Smith Jr, and we saw what Luka is - a superstar. Wanting to get some wins in his rookie contract, I was receptive of the trade. Tank for the rest of the season and then the following year we get the two Euro sensations. Didn't quite work out that way. He did play very well in the bubble - helping us get ...

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS: Breakout Stars In The Waiting: Over the last few years we've soon a lot of guys that looked really good in limited time, but have yet to put everything together and be in the right situation. The previous years' lists have been Sabonis, Siakam, Christian Wood, and Victor Oladipo to name a few. We are seeing guys more NBA ready entering the league and having a wider array of skills at a younger age. This could be a combination of social media allowing for a wider reach for scouts, or it could be just improved pace and technique over time. Without further ado, here is a list of guys that I've been scouting for a while that are ready to pop at any moment. JARRETT ALLEN: This is probably a pretty obvious one. While many were concerned he had taken a step back this year, in the 18 games in a Cavs uniform, he's averaging 14.3 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 1.7 APG, and 1.7 BPG. He's doing all of this in only 27.2 MPG and has impressed enough that Cleveland has inde...

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS: CAN THE PELICANS MAKE THE PLAYOFFS? This article comes in the midst of the Pelicans being on a 4-game win streak. The Kings which got hot, finally ended their streak. Nuggets, Grizzlies, and Rockets seems to be in a slump. I wouldn't say the door is open for them, but there's at least a window. What has propelled this team? A lot. Let's start with the obvious. Zion and Ingram have played very well. During the win streak, Zion has scored 23.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 5.8 APG, and 1.3 BPG. Ingram has averaged 25.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 4.8 APG, and 1.8 BPG. While these numbers don't jump off the page, what's interesting from both players is the increased amount of passing. Everyone on these team seems to be getting involved in the offense, nobody on this team is selfish, and it's just a group effort in every facet of the game. The next player that has done phenomenal has been Lonzo Ball. He's almost the forgotten Ball brother since his younger brother, La...

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS: TRADE TALK TUESDAY: These are some trades that would mutually help both teams that are probably unlikely to happen. None of these trades are based on any rumors, but merely speculation based on team needs. AYTON / TOWNS: This is a complicated trade. The basic framework would be Dario Saric, Jae Crowder, and DeAndre Ayton for Karl Anthony-Towns. There might be some draft picks flying around and probably a third team to the mix for Saric, but this is a great trade for both sides. On the Minnesota end, they get a guy that has looked very good in the early part of his career, but is not at the level he needs to be in Chris Paul's winning window. He's been slightly less productive than last year with the ball being spread across the floor and less of a reliance on his offense. There is also the fact that he's not a jump shooter. In the modern NBA, you have to be able to do everything, and he does have some limitations in that regard. Minnesota has also fo...

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS: TRADE GRADES FOR DERRICK ROSE TRADE: Rose and Thibs reunite once again, but aside from that, this trade is somewhat perplexing for both teams. It seems like both of these teams are on similar timelines, so a trade forfeiting any draft equity for any player at this point is sort of a head scratcher. Here's my take: NEW YORK KNICKS - With the Knicks being the primary asset gainer, we will start with them. From a pure value stand point, I don't hate the trade. Dennis Smith Jr was asking to play in the G-League just to get reps, so he definitely feels like he's worth more after being drafted 9th and the core piece in the Kristaps Porzingis trade. A second round pick is sort of whatever, but with guys like Theo Maledon already putting up quality minutes Xavier Tillman, you can't take those second picks for granted. This upcoming draft is also much deeper than last year's draft. The Knicks, despite being 11-14, are in the 8th-seed. They must see th...

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS: BEST LANDING SPOTS FOR BRADLEY BEAL: He keeps claiming he wants to stay in Washington, but lets be real, he's on a sinking a ship. The Wizards are likely stuck on that Westbrook contract for at least another couple of years, so at least they can try to load up their team with young players and draft picks. Here are some of the realistic offers I think they can get by the deadline: PHILADELPHIA 76ERS: Philly Receives: Bradley Beal, Isaac Bonga Washington Receives: Mike Scott, Danny Green, Seth Curry, 2021 1st, 2021 2nd via NY, 2022 1st Swap, and 2023 1st Philly is undefeated with their starting-5 healthy, so they may just hold the line at this point. Should they see themselves with an opportunity to consolidate talent and future assets, this could be an excellent option for them to go with. This trade would at the very least lock them in for this year and next year as probably the favorite in the East. Thybulle or Maxey would likely move to the starting line-...

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS: PANIC BUTTON TEAMS: DALLAS MAVERICKS - This is the easiest to identify and the easiest to talk about. Yes, their depth was decimated by COVID and they slid down the rankings. The problem is, even when healthy, that have not looked very good. This team greatly misses Seth Curry as they rank 23rd in scoring, 21st in 3-pointers made, and dead last in 3-point percentage. Their inability to bring in a guy like Valanciunas or Tristan Thompson has also hurt them, as they rank 28th in rebounding and 22nd in blocks. Looking around the league, it is possible for them to get better. JJ Redick has been noted as being available and Whiteside appears to have fallen out of the Kings' regular rotation. The Mavs do not have a treasure trove of draft picks to help them shop, but they have 3 young players they drafted this year that all appear to be projects that could be helpful on a rebuilding team. With Powell still working himself back into shape from an Achilles injury, K...

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS: UNDERSTANDING THE VALUE OF MOST ADDED PLAYERS: There are a lot of people that try to jump on the hype train of players in an overreaction to big games. Often times, the most added players are already picked up by the time you have a chance to notice them getting hot. This article is to look into the top 5 most added players to see if they're a flash in the pan or they are worthy of keeping for the long haul. THADDEUS YOUNG (+37.1%) - Thad has been the league for a while and thus has a pretty large sample size. Some advantages to him is his defensive upside, 3-point shooting, above average passing for a big, and multi-position eligibility. In the short-term, he's a solid add with Wendell Carter on the shelf. His near triple-double averages of late are likely not sustainable, but he's a solid back-end player on your roster until the Bulls regain full health. With a healthy front-court, barring other injuries or trades, Thad Young is a temporary add. Hi...

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS: INTERESTING DEEP LEAGUE SLEEPERS: This list features mostly handcuff players and potential streams. All of the players on this list have less than 10% ownership in ESPN Leagues. YUTA WATANABE (0.4%) - Probably the deepest sleeper he has been given a shot with Siakam and OG Anunoby missing time. Over the last two games he's averaging 11.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1 APG, 1.5 SPG, and 1.5 BPG. He doesn't cause many turnovers and he's efficient with his 3-point production. Should there be a major COVID outbreak or injuries, his 3-and-D production make him intriguing. MALIK MONK (0.9%) - Most might have forgotten about him with all attention around LaMelo and Hayward, but Monk was a lottery pick 3 drafts ago. He sort of came out of nowhere the other night having a nice 18-point game with 2 assists, 2 rebounds, and no turnovers in 23 minutes. Should either Rozier or Graham miss substantial time, he should receive 22-25 mpg off the bench and put up decent production. ...