Report: Lakers still hope to have Upshaw in camp if personal issues sorted out

In most cases, when a talented player goes undrafted, there's a good reason.

The Los Angeles Lakers once appeared to have moved more swiftly than any other team in scooping up a high-upside undrafted free agent, reportedly signing Robert Upshaw in mid-July. But nearly two months later, Upshaw's deal still isn't official and Upshaw said last week that no contract has been agreed upon.

Upshaw said there are things he "needs to do" ahead of a potential training camp stint with the Lakers, something Eric Pincus of The Los Angeles Times provided greater detail on in a series of tweets Sunday:

As I understand it, the Lakers hope to have Robert Upshaw in training camp, but he has some private personal steps he needs to achieve. As I hear it, the Lakers have given a goal along with tremendous support to Robert Upshaw, an open door, but he has to walk through it. Robert Upshaw has battled through some personal issues that got him kicked off two different college teams. Upshaw is trying to get help on (these) personal issues, and in doing so, has a shot to get to training camp with the Lakers.

The Lakers gave Upshaw a close look at Las Vegas Summer League, and while the 7-footer put up disappointing numbers – he averaged 1.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 11.4 minutes per game – it was clear why at least one NBA team wasn't ready to write him off. With one of the best height, wingspan, standing reach, and hand-size measurements, plus a ridiculous block rate at Washington, the appeal is obvious.

But as Pincus notes, Upshaw was dismissed from Washington, and before that he was dismissed from Fresno State. It's believed that drug use was one of the issues he had at Fresno State, though in both cases he was removed for undisclosed violations of team rules.

Factor in a heart issue that has been flagged three times and there would have been significant risk in using a draft pick on Upshaw. As a training camp invite without much guaranteed money, that risk is almost entirely eliminated. If the Lakers believe their support and culture can help Upshaw sort out his off-court issues, the reward could be significant, too.

The Lakers have 12 players under guaranteed contract and four more on non-guaranteed deals, so Upshaw could be in tough to make the team if he gets to camp. Failing to make the team would make him a candidate to be assigned to the Lakers' D-League team as an affiliate player, letting him stay within the organization and continue to receive their support while honing his game.

You can read more about Upshaw in our pre-draft scouting report.