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. His 9-category dominance of late is a welcomed addition to any roster, but temper your expectations and be ready to drop him as his production dwindles. Should you keep him long-term, you could do worse, as he is averaging 24.9 MPG on the season, yet his ceiling is somewhat capped.

CODY ZELLER (+30.9%) - If you missed out on Zeller, you are probably kicking yourself. He will never be a dominant player, but with little competition behind him on the depth chart, he'll consistently exceed 30 MPG, while averaging near a double-double. He will have his off nights, but he gives solid production, low turnovers, sporadic defensive stats, and decent assists for a big. Charlotte is surprisingly in the playoff conversation this year with potential rookie of the year LaMelo Ball showing he was worth the hype. This could make Zeller a trade-target for a tanking team to add that final piece. Barring such a trade were to happen, he needs to be locked into your line-up.

IMMANUEL QUICKLEY (+24.1%) - I'm very bullish on Quickley. I was a fan of him at Kentucky, I've mentioned him several times in previous articles, and it appears now he is starting to get regular minutes as he's carved out a substantial role in the backcourt rotation of the Knicks. He's not without his flaws as his shot is still a work in progress and his non-scoring statistics are somewhat sporadic. His low floor is offset by his high ceiling and with the ball usually stopping with him, his low turnovers make him worthy of a pick-up in 9-cat leagues. The emergency of Quickley reminds me of Coby White toward the end of last year, as they have a similar skillset and production. Should Quickley earn the starting spot over Elfrid Payton, he would be a must start in most leagues.

AL HORFORD (+22.9%) - He was likely not dropped in most leagues. The reality is that even with Oklahoma City not a major playoff threat, Horford's salary will earn him at mid-to-upper 20s in the minutes category. Health is a major concern for those that own him, but with the center position so scarce, his unique combination of 3's, rebounds, defense, assists, and low-turnovers make him a good fit on most teams, regardless of which categories you're tanking. In his advanced age, don't expect elite nightly production as he has fallen off in recent years. That being said, he's not taking enough shots for his low field goal percentage to drag your team down and his remaining categorical production make him a 3rd or 4th center option on your team.

GARY TRENT JR (+21.4%) - His production is almost entirely linked to CJ McCollum. He has shown bursts of offensive prowess, but he's never been a consistent producer even given a larger role. Right now he's hot and given mid-to-high 30s minutes. 3 of the last 5 games have been 22 points or more, and he's averaging a solid amount of steals as well. His remaining season averages make him a fringe rosterable player. Once McCollum and Nurkic return to the line-up, he becomes somewhat expendable. His production is directly related to playing time and unless there are injuries or trades, there is not much of a path for him to get those minutes.

- Adam Safianow - NBA Analyst - Upsyde Sports [Copyright 2021]

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