If we're trying to field the best team possible now, and get back on the winning track, well then we want the best roster we can get. So yes, if Sanders wants back into the league I probably would take a shot with him. He's a real backup C and he isn't raw. I fear what will happen to us if Hibbert gets injured and this would help with that. All that said, it's just a rumor, and it would cost us one of Black, MWP, and Upshaw, and 2 of them if we stupidly didn't cut Sacre.
What kind of "demons" that need "fixing" with Larry are we talking about here? Not familiar with his story, but yeah just watched some highlight you tubes of him. Nice!
Pretty long article about why he chose to leave the NBA that I couldn't bring myself to read completely http://www.complex.com/sports/2015/05/larry-sanders-profile-walking-away-from-nba
Honestly right now I am cooling quickly on Upshaw. Seems like a project that might take forever. Big men usually take 2-3 years to really hit their stride in the NBA and that might be longer with Upshaw after everything he's been through. If Sanders is interested in coming here, I would be fine with this: Russell/Huertas Clarkson/Williams Bryant/Young/A. Brown Randle/Bass/World Peace/Nance Jr./Kelly Hibbert/Black/Sanders Cut Sacre. Send Nance Jr. and Anthony Brown to the D-Fenders. Waive Upshaw, Holmes, Frazier, and Jabari and send as many of them to the D-Fenders as we can. I'd prefer another guard, but I like that versatility inside. I wouldn't pick Frazier or Jabari over any of those bigs.
I couldn't on my phone in the time I had finish the long article on Sanders. Knee jerk reaction is do we really with our young Lakers players of the future with the work ethic, alpha and goals need that kind of recent past and questions about whether it's really in the past with this guy around them in the locker room? A guy that just walked away? What is the capsulized version now of WHY he wants back in? Needs the money? Just asking. Man he seems like a bigger FIX than Upshaw and Hibbert combined. Again I only got 1/2 -2/3 of the way through rapidly on a phone. The guy felt like meat? Liked to smoke it as well? What's changed now? There was some reference to making a point this isn't like the Ricky Williams scenario that played out in the NFL, but uhhh yeah knee jerk without the thorough read and trying to get into his head....... sounds awfully similar.
Not that quickly cooled on Upshaw here after seeing the flashes, honest 7', long arms, elevation, nice touch with the J and very QUICK feet to just "waive" him?? Especially after passing on Okafor. He and Hibbert made that a heck of a lot less painful in a hurry when we started contemplating what we now had in Russell. I don't think he is 2 or 3 years away from being a lot better 3rd string option than Sacre. Maybe by the halfway point of the season working in the D league, with a roster spot, he could look a whole lot better. All that money to come if he gets it together is still incentive. Sanders had the money and didn't care which is troubling more so to me. "Bob" is another guy like Randle who hasn't had all that many games since High School.
Let him go get ready in the D-League. I'm not all that interested in giving him a roster spot while he figures it out though.
Someone will give him a shot, and maybe you take that risk when the cupboards are bare, but I'm feeling like we have enough projects right now.
From the little flashes I see in Upshaw I still very much want to keep him. You get down to those last few roster spots why not keep someone that could develop into a good player? Upshaw still has a higher Upside than most. He still looks like he is in shock just being here...lol Worthy will straighten out some of the footwork and position problems. Then hopefully we will see a big jump in productivity on both ends.
Exactly. Upshaw is going to take a while and we don't need another project like that. We've got plenty of projects. Give me a couple more Brandon Basses and Lou Williamses and Roy Hibberts please. Sanders might not be them, but he's going to give us what he gives us and we don't have to worry about development.
"He still looks like he is in shock just being here". That would explain the "crazy eyes"...... Duh!! on us. Keep him, don't give offer to Sanders. See sirron's post below concerning our risks "pool". "Or him quitting on us."
Let me add more to my personal take on just say no to Sanders as it keeps bouncing around in my thoughts, now that it's kind of morphed into take a chance on Upshaw with the last spot or take a chance on Sanders with it. Hell no on Sanders. He is the antithesis of what Byron and Kobe and Metta have always been. Put in the work for the LOVE of the game and the will to be a WINNER and champion. "Gym rats" into their late 30s even with that same effort, love of the game and commitment to be the best they ever could be. We are blessed and so fortunate to have a bunch of young, skilled players with impact and star potential who are the exact same and will feed off this old school Lakers mentality and who it seems obvious play for the same LOVE of the game and wanting to be Lakers. Sanders on the other hand felt "oppressed" by the NBA system and cold business decisions that are made with Any pro sport franchise. While he was or could have been making high multi millions of dollars "playing" that same Game. There doesn't appear to be any gym rat in this guy or love for the game. Why NOW after the grind of training camp is 1/2 over already are his people or him getting his "interest" in coming back out into circulation? Why not a month before training camp??
