Upshaw

[DJ Fieri]

Upshaw is apparently trying to get help on some personal issues that got him kicked off 2 college teams. That's why he hasn't signed yet apparently.

Kudos to the young man for putting his personal life ahead of his professional career.

 

[Retroram52]

Good thing to do. One's professional career is directly supported by your personal life and to take care of it is a gift to oneself. He is doing a very good thing and the Lakers are on-board with this I am sure.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

I have a feeling that with the Lakers signing Huertas from Barcelona, that they might be throwing in the towel on Upshaw. The guy has less than a month to go before training camp and a formal agreement was never offered according the internet article I read. Huertas has led his team to the finals three times and brings some better experience on a short term basis. Next year at this time, Russell should be in a better position to at least be reserve player and improving. I think Upshaw might be history

 

[OutlawImmortal]

Russell will not be a reserve player. He should be starting and if the Lakers don't add another SF then both he and Clarkson will be starting with Kobe at the 3.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Russell will not be a reserve player. He should be starting and if the Lakers don't add another SF then both he and Clarkson will be starting with Kobe at the 3.

I think the Lakers are still looking for the best option possible and if Huertas is capable of starting and bringing the game to Kobe, then they can take their time to train Russell and develop him properly. If Russell is going to start, then he will need to play much better then he did in the summer league and he will have to earn it. Don't forget that Clarkson has been there a year now and I think he is playing in Europe right to develop his game a little more. He is ahead of Russell by quite a bit. Russell is still very raw and he is not a Magic Johnson yet. We can always hope though for a fast developing player

 

[tomodach10]

Well Russell better be starting someday. He was a number one pick!! A pick that high either starts immediately or later in the season.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Well Russell better be starting someday. He was a number one pick!! A pick that high either starts immediately or later in the season.

We will see

 

[trojanfight]

he was signed today finally. didn't appear to have much interest from other teams...likely sent down to D league.

 

[trojanfan12]

he was signed today finally. didn't appear to have much interest from other teams...likely sent down to D league.

Yeah, just saw that this morning. He is the 18th player signed for training camp. The only thing I saw about the deal is that it's multi-year and non-guaranteed.

One of those "if he develops into something...awesome. If not, no loss" type deals.

 

[lakersrule]

I think only 35K of the contract is guaranteed. He's got a lot of work ahead for him if wants to make the roster. I doubt he does. He'll spend all season down in the D-League.

I don't hold out much hope for him. Maybe he's still getting used to moving around that big body, but he looked really awkward at summer league to me.

 

[Retroram52]

Well that is good news.

 

[trojanfan12]

I think only 35K of the contract is guaranteed. He's got a lot of work ahead for him if wants to make the roster. I doubt he does. He'll spend all season down in the D-League.

I don't hold out much hope for him. Maybe he's still getting used to moving around that big body, but he looked really awkward at summer league to me.

You may be right. On the other hand, he could be like Whiteside. Fortunately, the Lakers are in a position where they can afford to find out. The fact that it's multi-year tells me that they are willing to be patient with him. The fact that it's non-guaranteed means they can dump him at any time if he screws up or isn't going to develop into anything.

 

[Retroram52]

Upshaw has the opportunity of a lifetime. The Lakers have demonstrated they are willing to take the risk to develop this guy. If he screws this up, he'll be playing somewhere in China or the Euro league if he wants to continue to play basketball.

 

[trojanfan12]

Upshaw has the opportunity of a lifetime. The Lakers have demonstrated they are willing to take the risk to develop this guy. If he screws this up, he'll be playing somewhere in China or the Euro league if he wants to continue to play basketball.

Yep. The Lakers are giving him the opportunity. It's up to him to do something with it.

 

[Retroram52]

I find it interesting that the Lakers see something of basketball worthiness in this guy to take a risk on pouring resources into his development. Like similar projects such as Sacre and Wesley Johnson, the Lakers are going in this direction more out of necessity than much else because of their horrid handling of trades and salaries that backfired over the last several years.

Apparently Sacre is still viable. Johnson never took the next step and is gone. We shall see how Upshaw proceeds.

 

[lakersrule]

I don't know how viable Sacre is. I have feeling that he gets cut and the Lakers eat his salary. I think Kelly gets the ax as well.

 

[Retroram52]

You could be right lakersrule but the Lakers thought enough of he and Kelly to re-sign both.

 

[wildturkey]

You could be right lakersrule but the Lakers thought enough of he and Kelly to re-sign both.

That has more to do with them being cheap than it does them seeing any real long term value and its been that way for a couple of seasons. If you're looking to keep salary cap liquidity, you sign bottom tier players like Sacre and Kelly.

 

[trojanfan12]

That has more to do with them being cheap than it does them seeing any real long term value and its been that way for a couple of seasons. If you're looking to keep salary cap liquidity, you sign bottom tier players like Sacre and Kelly.

Exactly. Every team has their Sacre's and Kelly's. Teams have to have a minimum number of players. So guys like that who will try hard in practice, are just happy to be on the team and won't make any waves are good for those end of the bench spots and to help the occasional injured player off the court.

 

[lakersrule]

Apparently Upshaw has been working his ass off since Summer League ended. He's been working out six days a week, multiple sessions a day. He says that he's down 20 pounds and seems to realize the opportunity in front of him. He's gunning for your spot Sacre.