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Lakers News: Robert Upshaw agrees to multi-year contract with Los Angeles

It was the second time he had been dismissed from a college program, having left Fresno State after his freshman season amid controversy.

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Upshaw’s numbers at Washington through 19 games this last season suggest a significant upside – averaging 10.9 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.5 blocks in 24.9 minutes – provided he can show the team he has significantly matured. However, only $35,000 is guaranteed. Although the second year increases in value, the $874,636 is non-guaranteed. The 4.5 blocks per game were first in the entire nation.

Every other NBA franchise felt the same way.

The Lakers have been active in adding players, including signing Marcelo Huertas, Jonathan Holmes and Michael Frazier to deals. Those physical factors and Upshaw’s collegiate issues caused him to drop off many teams’ boards. He now has a chance to showcase his size and raw ability during Lakers training camp later this month, hopefully with his past behind him.

The Lakers have 18 players under contract, including non-guaranteed deals to Tarik Black and Jabari Brown. In his heyday, World Peace was one of the league’s stingiest, most tenacious defenders, earning multiple All-NBA Defense Team honors and winning the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2004 with the Indiana Pacers. Teams can carry up to 20 players on their roster heading into training camp, which begins at the end of September.

The Lakers have a young core coming in with D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson and the team made some strong additions with Roy Hibbert, Lou Williams and Brandon Bass this summer.

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Upshaw, who is 21 years old and 7 feet tall, averaged 1.4 points and 2.2 rebounds a game with the Lakers’ summer league squad in Las Vegas, playing only 11.5 minutes a game.

The Los Angeles Lakers are rumored to be in talks to bring former championship player Metta World Peace to the roster