Lakers reach summer league commitment with Robert Upshaw

tugs · Post #81 » by **tugs** » Wed Jul 1, 2015 12:59 am

"You humans... So petty. And tiny."

Lakeristic · Post #82 » by **Lakeristic** » Sun Jul 5, 2015 2:41 pm

Robert Upshaw stats vs other big men in the draft per 40 minutes.

Post #83 » by **crazyeights** » Sun Jul 5, 2015 3:51 pm

LApwnd wrote:
lake_show wrote:Why is everyone trying to manufacture ways to get rid of Nance? Hahahaha

That's extremely funny to me.

I don't think he'll be very productive.....i have feeling brown from stanford will be a better and more useful player

In their introductory presser, Mitch said he expected ALL THREE to make the roster.

Right now we have 12 that we'll likely keep, and Upshaw if things go well:

Russell/Clarkson
Kobe/J Brown
Young/A Brown
Randle/Nance/Kelly
Hibbert/Tarik/Sacre/Upshaw

(Listed somewhat by position, not a suggested rotation. Obviously Clarkson might start/Kobe plays SF. Nance or Randle might play a position other than PF.)

That gives us 2 open roster spots. Looks like we'd want a veteran PG and probably a vet wing.

But what is clear is even with Upshaw, we can more than afford to keep Nance and Anthony Brown (and why wouldn't we? They're dirt cheap).

Looking at our situation, they appear to be relatively vital:

Nance as a lengthy, versatile defender. Anthony as a wing. We're very thin at the wing, plus he has 3D potential.

It's not a mistake both late picks were seniors. As Ty pointed out earlier in the year, this has become Mitch's MO.

To me it indicates that he actually wanted these players going forward, forgoing younger, more unknown talent with higher potential vs upperclassmen with a more tabgible role to envision.

ALL HAIL · Post #84 » by **ALL HAIL** » Sun Jul 5, 2015 4:47 pm

crazyeights wrote:Looks like we'd want a veteran PG and probably a defensive wing.

Fixed that for you.

To your point though, a veteran defensive wing would be even better.

Also, they need another big too. One who can play both PF and center (alongside Randle).

Haven't these injuries taught us anything? Gotta have depth when people, inevitably, start going down.

Laker_Kid · Post #85 » by **Laker_Kid** » Sun Jul 5, 2015 6:56 pm

ALL HAIL wrote:
crazyeights wrote:Looks like we'd want a veteran PG and probably a defensive wing.

Fixed that for you.

To your point though, a veteran defensive wing would be even better.

Also, they need another big too. One who can play both PF and center (alongside Randle).

Haven't these injuries taught us anything? Gotta have depth when people, inevitably, start going down.

you mean ed davis? o wait :/

john248 · Post #86 » by **john248** » Sun Jul 5, 2015 7:40 pm

crazyeights wrote:It's not a mistake both late picks were seniors. As Ty pointed out earlier in the year, this has become Mitch's MO.

Good post. The only thing is it's not Mitch's MO. It's really something every team in the league does. Underclassmen opt out if they think they'll get drafted early. Upperclassmen get drafted later. Underclassmen who made the wrong decision to not stay are more likely picked in the 2nd round on tiny contracts since they're tougher to develop.

dipstick · Post #87 » by **dipstick** » Mon Jul 6, 2015 12:11 am

http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2015/7/3/8892313/Lakers-2015-Summer-League-Robert-Upshaw

On his plans for after Summer League ends:

I can tell you this: there is a big possibility that I'm going to be a Los Angeles Laker at the end of all of this.

On playing against Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor in the first two games of the Summer League:

I'm excited, they are two really good basketball players and I consider myself a really good basketball player... it's going to be exciting.

Looking forward to his play during summer league as much as im excited to follow Russell, Clarkson and Randle.

Post #88 » by **milesfides** » Mon Jul 6, 2015 7:00 am

Must sign this guy. We have to take the risk. Hassan Whiteside potential. I don't know the extent of the substance abuse allegations, but the Lakers need to do what they can to take care of this guy's needs off the court.

If we're not against burning 16 million to see if Hibbert can get right, then we have absolutely nothing to lose to invest in Upshaw.

I don't know why we waste a roster spot with Sacre, let alone play him so much.

ratra_1211 · Post #89 » by **ratra_1211** » Mon Jul 6, 2015 7:22 am

milesfides wrote:Must sign this guy. We have to take the risk. Hassan Whiteside potential. I don't know the extent of the substance abuse allegations, but the Lakers need to do what they can to take care of this guy's needs off the court.

If we're not against burning 16 million to see if Hibbert can get right, then we have absolutely nothing to lose to invest in Upshaw.

I don't know why we waste a roster spot with Sacre, let alone play him so much.

Gotta have one of those elite towel waiver off the bench to build a championship core.

ROballer · Post #90 » by **ROballer** » Mon Jul 6, 2015 10:13 am

http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2015/7/3/8892313/Lakers-2015-Summer-League-Robert-Upshaw

On going undrafted and then getting the call to join the Lakers Summer League team:

I was excited, just to have this opportunity and be a part of this franchise...to show what I can do, it's amazing. It's a once in a lifetime chance and I'm just excited to take it.

On his plans for after Summer League ends:

I can tell you this: there is a big possibility that I'm going to be a Los Angeles Laker at the end of all of this.

The last quote caught my eye.....maybe we promised him something, like we should have done anyway

If this guy doesn't not make the final roster and Robert **** Sacre does, I'm gonna lose my mind

Asianiac_24 · Post #91 » by **Asianiac_24** » Mon Jul 6, 2015 11:08 am

Never understood why no one took a chance on him. When I watched him and than later watched WCS, I really thought they aren't much different. UW went down the drain when he got kicked off the team

Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

dipstick · Post #92 » by **dipstick** » Mon Jul 6, 2015 2:20 pm

I do think that there is an understanding between him and the Lakers. We are not going in blind with Upshaw. We had him in for a workout in the late stages. We probably liked what we saw but really liked Anthony Brown more. It will be interesting what happens after Summer League. If he performs, I would be disappointed if a contract wasn't offered. 2 year minimum deal would work. Stash him with the D-fenders for most of the year. Call up in case of injury. If he makes it through a season of D-League, I think he would be ready for a call up.

-AC- · Post #93 » by **-AC-** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 4:31 am

Upshaw 3 blocks in 12 minutes! I hope this dude can keep his head on straight...

dipstick · Post #94 » by **dipstick** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 5:35 pm

-AC- wrote:Upshaw 3 blocks in 12 minutes! I hope this dude can keep his head on straight...

Pretty exciting what he can be after a season or even offseason of NBA conditioning.

LApwnd · Post #95 » by **LApwnd** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 5:41 pm

Blks r nice but dude looks slow as hibbert and odd though he looks really spry when he comes up to set picks

dipstick · Post #96 » by **dipstick** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 5:46 pm

LApwnd wrote:Blks r nice but dude looks slow as hibbert and odd though he looks really spry when he comes up to set picks

I was thinking (and hoping) that was just due to conditioning. But he is definitely not ready for NBA play at this point.

Post #97 » by **snaquille oatmeal** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 6:29 pm

meanwhile, over at the General Board.....

Re: Robert Upshaw to the Lakers, conspiracy theory
http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1399141#start_here

BigBennett2013 wrote:I been following this guy for a while because he has a great size and a good knack for blocking shots. Anyone else smell something fishy about this? Everyone knew Upshaw was a cocaine user or something back in college and was kicked out of two colleges but reportedly he cleaned up his act a while ago. But even after he was predicted a lottery pick if he didnt have problems.. During workouts some teams were reportedly expecting him late first round or early second round. Then all of a sudden reports during workouts was he had some sort of heart problem and his stock fell like a rock and was never talked about again and never drafted.

Then right away after the draft Lakers claimed Upshaw for their summer league team. Yesterday he plays a few minutes and blocks Towns a couple times, looks pretty good and then today they signed Upshaw to their NBA roster to a partially guaranteed contract.

Everyones knows Lakers passed up a center to get Russell, did they have a plan to engineer Upshaw to fall so they can grab them? Thats like getting two lottery picks. I practically predicted Lakers would get him when I saw that Upshaw wasn't drafted because they are the type of team that would do something like this.

The fishy thing was the reported heart problem, if he had a heart problem he wouldn't have been playing summer league

Post #98 » by **Kilroy** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 6:37 pm

snaquille oatmeal wrote:meanwhile, over at the General Board.....

Re: Robert Upshaw to the Lakers, conspiracy theory
http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1399141#start_here
BigBennett2013 wrote:I been following this guy for a while because he has a great size and a good knack for blocking shots. Anyone else smell something fishy about this? Everyone knew Upshaw was a cocaine user or something back in college and was kicked out of two colleges but reportedly he cleaned up his act a while ago. But even after he was predicted a lottery pick if he didnt have problems.. During workouts some teams were reportedly expecting him late first round or early second round. Then all of a sudden reports during workouts was he had some sort of heart problem and his stock fell like a rock and was never talked about again and never drafted.

Then right away after the draft Lakers claimed Upshaw for their summer league team. Yesterday he plays a few minutes and blocks Towns a couple times, looks pretty good and then today they signed Upshaw to their NBA roster to a partially guaranteed contract.

Everyones knows Lakers passed up a center to get Russell, did they have a plan to engineer Upshaw to fall so they can grab them? Thats like getting two lottery picks. I practically predicted Lakers would get him when I saw that Upshaw wasn't drafted because they are the type of team that would do something like this.

The fishy thing was the reported heart problem, if he had a heart problem he wouldn't have been playing summer league

Our Front Office is both laughably inept and ridiculous, and exceedingly far thinking and sneaky brilliant... :lol:

The GB at it's best.

Sashobe · Post #99 » by **Sashobe** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 6:53 pm

This is how it works: players in the second round are not guaranteed a contract and that is why it is more advantageous to be undrafted than drafted in the second round. If you are drafted in the second round, a team may ask you to sign with the D-League or overseas (if international) while they maintain the rights to your contract. Many players decide to go the route of refusing to be sent to the D-League and thus, going undrafted. This allowed Upshaw to go undrafted because he was only in for the real NBA pay track, and no one would guarantee him a contact / spot on the roster in the second round.

This is why I like MLB Draft much better because the player has the negotiation pitch that they can go back to college instead of signing. For the betterment of these kids, NBA should have the same option and not requiring the signing of an agent or the obligation to a contract if a kid is eligible for the draft.