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yinoma2001
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 Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:10 am Post subject: OFFICIAL ROBERT UPSHAW THREAD (Cut from D League for Drug Violation pg 137) |
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I've been a big critic of his, and apparently I wasn't the only one as all 30 teams passed on him.
I'm going to be pulling hard for this kid. Who doesn't love a redemption story? Plus, we badly need a center and if he could salvage his life and career, we may have found a sleeper here.
I didn't want to use a 1st rounder on him, but as an undrafted player, hopefully he shows enough that we lock him into a 2 year minimum deal. I'm really going to follow this kid's progress with great intrigue. Let's go Upshaw, Lakers Nation will be rooting for you!
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Last edited by yinoma2001 on Wed Oct 21, 2015 8:08 am; edited 4 times in total |
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kobetimeeverytime
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| Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:12 am Post subject: |
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| no risk at this point, nothing but upside. best move of the night |
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Chronicle
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| Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:12 am Post subject: |
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| kobetimeeverytime wrote: | | no risk at this point, nothing but upside. best move of the night |
Well what if gets high and shoots one of our players
I mean that chance is really low but there's still risk
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SaintStephen
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| Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:14 am Post subject: |
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| Chronicle wrote: | | kobetimeeverytime wrote: | | no risk at this point, nothing but upside. best move of the night |
Well what if gets high and shoots one of our players
I mean that chance is really low but there's still risk |
Or, more realistically, offers them a bump.
Really hope Upshaw has gotten his life turned around. If not I want him nowhere near the Lakers. |
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yinoma2001
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| Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:14 am Post subject: |
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| Chronicle wrote: | | kobetimeeverytime wrote: | | no risk at this point, nothing but upside. best move of the night |
Well what if gets high and shoots one of our players
I mean that chance is really low but there's still risk |
Upshaw's life is literally in his hands right now. He wasn't drafted. He's been kicked out of 2 schools. He's a massive 7 footer with unbelievable length/defense.
What are you going to do with your life? I hope he can pull through.
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LandsbergerRules
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| Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:18 am Post subject: |
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| Chronicle wrote: | | kobetimeeverytime wrote: | | no risk at this point, nothing but upside. best move of the night |
Well what if gets high and shoots one of our players
I mean that chance is really low but there's still risk |
I don't know about shooting someone, but he might be a bad influence on some of the young guys. Nightmare scenario would be getting them to be dependent on drugs like he has been.
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angrypuppy
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| Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:21 am Post subject: |
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I wouldn't have minded using a pick on him as the draft board was drying up at #27, the money isn't that much higher than the vet minimum and if things work out you retain his rights for four years. I was actually semi-ambivalent at #34 as I wanted to stash Hernangomez for the next 2 to 3 years. There's no certainty that Upshaw would be willing to go to Europe and if that's the case you'd likely lose his rights or perhaps be forced to pay him market value after two seasons if he works out.
I'm glad we signed him to a summer league contract. Let's not get carried away though. Someone could still snatch him from under our noses as a summer league contract doesn't confer any rights to us. I hope we work out a two year deal (second year team option) if he shows promise, and I hope we do it fast. |
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LandsbergerRules
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| Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:21 am Post subject: |
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| SaintStephen wrote: | | Chronicle wrote: |
Well what if gets high and shoots one of our players
I mean that chance is really low but there's still risk |
Or, more realistically, offers them a bump.
Really hope Upshaw has gotten his life turned around. If not I want him nowhere near the Lakers. |
Agreed.
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-from Chick: His Unpublished Memoirs and the Memories of Those Who Knew Him |
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yinoma2001
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| Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:26 am Post subject: |
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| angrypuppy wrote: | I wouldn't have minded using a pick on him as the draft board was drying up at #27, the money isn't that much higher than the vet minimum and if things work out you retain his rights for four years. I was actually semi-ambivalent at #34 as I wanted to stash Hernangomez for the next 2 to 3 years. There's no certainty that Upshaw would be willing to go to Europe and if that's the case you'd likely lose his rights or perhaps be forced to pay him market value after two seasons if he works out.
I'm glad we signed him to a summer league contract. Let's not get carried away though. Someone could still snatch him from under our noses as a summer league contract doesn't confer any rights to us. I hope we work out a two year deal (second year team option) if he shows promise, and I hope we do it fast. |
Yup. But he CHOSE the Lakers, which is a good first step. He sees how the Lakers have helped guys like Meeks, Ed Davis, Shannon Brown, Ariza, et. al. get paydays after being written off. I think if he plays well, he may stick with the team.
I'm really pulling for this guy.
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angrypuppy
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| Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:28 am Post subject: |
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| yinoma2001 wrote: | | angrypuppy wrote: | I wouldn't have minded using a pick on him as the draft board was drying up at #27, the money isn't that much higher than the vet minimum and if things work out you retain his rights for four years. I was actually semi-ambivalent at #34 as I wanted to stash Hernangomez for the next 2 to 3 years. There's no certainty that Upshaw would be willing to go to Europe and if that's the case you'd likely lose his rights or perhaps be forced to pay him market value after two seasons if he works out.
I'm glad we signed him to a summer league contract. Let's not get carried away though. Someone could still snatch him from under our noses as a summer league contract doesn't confer any rights to us. I hope we work out a two year deal (second year team option) if he shows promise, and I hope we do it fast. |
Yup. But he CHOSE the Lakers, which is a good first step. He sees how the Lakers have helped guys like Meeks, Ed Davis, Shannon Brown, Ariza, et. al. get paydays after being written off. I think if he plays well, he may stick with the team.
I'm really pulling for this guy. |
Same here, even if he falters I hope he conquers his demons. His life depends on it. |
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kobetimeeverytime
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| Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:30 am Post subject: |
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| SaintStephen wrote: | | Chronicle wrote: | | kobetimeeverytime wrote: | | no risk at this point, nothing but upside. best move of the night |
Well what if gets high and shoots one of our players
I mean that chance is really low but there's still risk |
Or, more realistically, offers them a bump.
Really hope Upshaw has gotten his life turned around. If not I want him nowhere near the Lakers. |
lol i really doubt Upshaw as a undrafted tryout player having that much social capital or cache in the lockerroom to be an influence. Most nba players will have drugs offered to them at some point in their life, most adult americans have at some point, if some rookie does start using drug I think it's gonna be pretty weak to blame Upshaw for it. |
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Gatekeeper
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Lakerpark
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| Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:32 am Post subject: |
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I will be rooting for Upshaw.
I just hope that the Lakers don't slip up on him and fail to sign him ASAP if he does impress in the Summer League. I don't want someone else to sign him.
But great move to sign him for the summer league so quickly after the draft was over.
Tell me, has there ever been an NBA "druggie" (for lack of a better term) who was successful at kicking the habit and having a long successful NBA career?
Roy Tarpley - RIP
Ed Griffin - RIP
Lamar Odom? I think he was just a pothead and not into the hard stuff.
Come on Upshaw, you can make a big difference on this new up and coming Lakers squad...you can do it! |
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panamaniac
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| Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:32 am Post subject: |
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| As an undrafted player with alot of upside I think that it's a good risk. And from a moral, feel good standpoint, I'm really pulling for the dude to get his stuff together. |
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yinoma2001
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| Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:33 am Post subject: |
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| Gatekeeper wrote: | | I don't have high hopes for this kid. Odds are heavily stacked against him. |
I like those odds. Pull for him! 
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zoogz
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| Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:33 am Post subject: |
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| Rooting for this kid to turn his life around. But this was a nice signing. If it doesn't work out just cut him. |
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Lakerpark
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| Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:34 am Post subject: |
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| Also, maybe if Upshaw proves he has the skills, could the Lakers hire a "baby sitter"/counselor/assistant to help him through the rough times if he shows he needs a little extra help? |
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yinoma2001
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| Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:36 am Post subject: |
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| Lakerpark wrote: | | Also, maybe if Upshaw proves he has the skills, could the Lakers hire a "baby sitter"/counselor/assistant to help him through the rough times if he shows he needs a little extra help? |
He's got a group of excellent young teammates around him.
Clarkson, Brown Sugar, Randle, Black. Hang with him.
DO NOT HANG OUT WITH SWAGGY P UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
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SaintStephen
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| Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:36 am Post subject: |
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| Lakerpark wrote: | | Also, maybe if Upshaw proves he has the skills, could the Lakers hire a "baby sitter"/counselor/assistant to help him through the rough times if he shows he needs a little extra help? |
Absolutely, this happens a lot in pro sports. |
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RG73
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| Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:37 am Post subject: |
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| Chronicle wrote: | | kobetimeeverytime wrote: | | no risk at this point, nothing but upside. best move of the night |
Well what if gets high and shoots one of our players
I mean that chance is really low but there's still risk |
I am not aware of him having any gun charges against him, so why would it be anymore of a risk for him to shoot someone than anyone else, like, oh, a random staff member in some other team's arena who wasn't properly vetted? Or, oh, a guy on our team getting shot outside of a game? |
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yinoma2001
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| Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:38 am Post subject: |
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| RG73 wrote: | | Chronicle wrote: | | kobetimeeverytime wrote: | | no risk at this point, nothing but upside. best move of the night |
Well what if gets high and shoots one of our players
I mean that chance is really low but there's still risk |
I am not aware of him having any gun charges against him, so why would it be anymore of a risk for him to shoot someone than anyone else, like, oh, a random staff member in some other team's arena who wasn't properly vetted? Or, oh, a guy on our team getting shot outside of a game? |
It was Javaris Crittenton, who was apparently a choir boy in high school, who ended up KILLING someone.
The chances of Upshaw doing that...0.
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dont_be_a_wuss
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| Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:40 am Post subject: |
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| SaintStephen wrote: | | Lakerpark wrote: | | Also, maybe if Upshaw proves he has the skills, could the Lakers hire a "baby sitter"/counselor/assistant to help him through the rough times if he shows he needs a little extra help? |
Absolutely, this happens a lot in pro sports. |
I was thinking of this also. For another $80,000 get him a baby sitter entertainer who can help him come up with entertaining things to do in his down time.
He might just need a good wife.
Last edited by dont_be_a_wuss on Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:41 am; edited 1 time in total |
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LandsbergerRules
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| Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:40 am Post subject: |
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| yinoma2001 wrote: |
He's got a group of excellent young teammates around him.
Clarkson, Brown Sugar, Randle, Black. Hang with him.
DO NOT HANG OUT WITH SWAGGY P UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. |
I'd rather he get Swaggy hooked on coke than those other guys though.
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LakerLogic
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| Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:41 am Post subject: |
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There actually is a risk, if he gives some of his stash to his teammates.  |
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angrypuppy
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| Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:42 am Post subject: |
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| LakerLogic wrote: | | There actually is a risk, if he gives some of his stash to his teammates. |
It's a summer league contract. All he can afford is oregano. |
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