The LA Lakers have started making roster moves, as Robert Upshaw and Michael Frazier were cut heading into the final week of the preseason. The Lakers have Kobe Bryant ready for the season opener after an injury and he likely will not play another exhibition game, while D'Angelo Russell is pushing to start at point guard.
The Lakers needed to start making roster cuts heading into Thursday and the team announced that Upshaw and Frazier were the first two to get released. According to NBA.com, the Lakers roster now has 17 players and the team will need to get down to 15 to start the season. The Lakers let go of Upshaw and that means Robert Sacre will be the number three center on the roster with Roy Hibbert and Tarik Black, who also likely will make the final roster.
Byron Scott and many others have highlighted the physical tools and potential of Upshaw, but the head coach said that the center still has a "big time learning curve" ahead of him. Scott cited "flashes" of potential of what Upshaw can do and the team is hoping that he ends up in the D-League with the Los Angeles D-Fenders to work things out. Upshaw previously was dismissed from two college basketball programs and Scott said that he will likely have that "stigma with him for awhile, until he can kind of erase it."
The Lakers needed to start cutting down the roster from 19 players to 15 and the first two cuts were for Upshaw and Frazier. Upshaw has a ton of raw ability, but he is young and has some off the court issues and the Lakers likely want him to work things out in the D-League. There is a chance that all the players the Lakers cut end up in the D-League, but Upshaw also could have some suitors after the Lakers let him go. Frazier is likely going to end up in the D-League, as Scott said to the Los Angeles Times that right after he was cut, Frazier asked immediately what he could do to improve his game.
Marcelo Huertas has played well since coming back from an injury and Scott said that he likes the energy that the point guard brings to the offense. Scott said to reporter Mike Trudell that "he's been very impressed" with Huertas and that he is the "leader of the second unit." The team may start Russell or Jordan Clarkson at point, but having Huertas off the bench is a solid option despite the Euro star getting his first NBA experience.
Kobe Bryant has been dealing with a leg injury suffered in the preseason against the Sacramento Kings, but according to ESPN Los Angeles, Baxter Holmes reports that Bryant is expected to play in the season opener. Bryant has not played in the preseason since the injury and the team likely wants to be cautious after the star has dealt with serious injuries the past two seasons.
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