Upshaw with the 16th pick. Yes or No?

[Tr1boy]

This guy is starting material. He just needs to focus on basketball now.  I would take Upshaw over Wood. Over Turner. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8zfKVm24VQ

[Beat LA]

Looks like someone is late to the party, lol .

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Hop on to the back, triboy. I'll be driving this bandwagon to New York and I'm glad I'm getting someone who's going to ride along.

I've said all this time that from where we are picking, he's one if not the only one with star potential. The red flags are indeed something to work with, but we are in a very unique situation in which we can take a gamble on a kid since we still have plenty of chips to cash if we lose the gamble, but if we win, we'll take the house with us.

Upshaw's basement should EASY be Festus Ezeli. A guy who will get 10 minutes and be a bothersome big who will clog the lane, use his length to bother some 2nd unit shots and give the starting Center a good breather. That's his worst case scenario (of course I'm talking on court). At best, you'll get as close if not another Hassan Whiteside, double double Center, averaging 2-3 blocks per game with solid inside game.

We absolutely should pick him if he's there at #16. Why settle for safe, potential role players when we can get a potential starter and a star, and just work with the baggage and make sure we got a group who's willing to help him along the way. I'd cry if we don't take him at #16 and he's available. I really would. 

[Tr1boy]

The issue now is how many teams ahead of us are willing to the take the risk also

If Upshaw had little to no baggage, finished out last season, we could be talking about a top 7 pick player.  Upshaw has more of a balanced game than Okafor, WCS.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

The issue now is how many teams ahead of us are willing to the take the risk also

If Upshaw had little to no baggage, finished out last season, we could be talking about a top 7 pick player.  Upshaw has more balanced game than Okafor, WCS.

That's what I'm saying. That's why you pick him at #16. I'd go as far as say we move up as long as we don't give major assets at around 11-13 and just snag him there.

The drug thing is indeed an issue, but that's a gamble we should be willing to take.

[Tr1boy]

The issue now is how many teams ahead of us are willing to the take the risk also

If Upshaw had little to no baggage, finished out last season, we could be talking about a top 7 pick player.  Upshaw has more balanced game than Okafor, WCS.

That's what I'm saying. That's why you pick him at #16. I'd go as far as say we move up as long as we don't give major assets at around 11-13 and just snag him there.

The drug thing is indeed an issue, but that's a gamble we should be willing to take.

-If the Pistons, Bobcats or Pacers take the risk, we are out of luck.  Pistons hit the lotto with Drummond and prob think they can do the same with Upshaw.  Upshaw and Drummond frontcourt would be scary. Block everything

-Charlotte can't rely on the aching Al Jefferson.  Biyombo is a role player. 

-Pacers want a more mobile center than Hibbert. 

[BRC-14]

Character issues always intrigue me. I think the environment around this team is good enough to help him out though. Definitely worth a try, a lot of teams take risks and often times have them pay off. I am ready for that to the happen with the Celtics compared to taking a "safe" pick and have them not end up producing anything.

Plus doing some quick research on his court production, the guy looks like a stud.

[Tr1boy]

worst case we pick someone else with the 16 (maybe even reach for Wood), if not Booker, RHJ, Anderson are safe guesses.

At 28 maybe take a risk on a guy like Christmas

At 33 you still got a chance to pick a good rebounder/rim protector in Jordan Mickey

We need to get some kind of rim protection this season. If not upshaw with a guy like Christmas or Mickey

[konkmv]

To high... use 16 to get turner and pick with 28 upshaw

[Tr1boy]

To high... use 16 to get turner and pick with 28 upshaw

haha serious?

Upshaw is like a lock for top 20 in my books

[Roy H.]

My general philosophy is, say no to knuckleheads. I don't know what steps he's taken to clean up his act, though.

[Irish Stew]

Yes, definitely. Unfortunately, like others have said, there is a distinct possibility that he may not last to even 16, much less 28.

[SHAQATTACK]

I'd say YES....as of this moment.

If .........DA can not trade up for WCS and Kamansky is gone.


Upshaw has skills .......but the Larry Sanders drama has me a tad concerned. 

Gut feeling says go for it though .....

Maybe the best play Celtics can do draft night.

[outflip50]

I have no doubt that I would take him at 16 and possibly move up to take him

1) A college kid develops a drug problem, is anyone honestly surprised that this happens?
2) going in to past teams and their fans, you consistently hear the same things, good kid, great talent, great teammate.
3) After the second time of being booted off a team, he checks himself in to rehab and finishes rehab and immediately starts working out, loses weight and adds a 3 to his game.
4) labeling him as a "headcase" is completely unfounded and speculation. There is a big difference between a headcase (Cousins) and a college kid that gets a drug addiction.

Meanwhile people keep saying lets take a 15 million dollar chance for a true headcase (Cousins) but don't take a chance on a college kid that had a drug problem for a million.

I am all aboard the Upshaw train

[Roy H.]

4) labeling him as a "headcase" is completely unfounded and speculation. There is a big difference between a headcase (Cousins) and a college kid that gets a drug addiction.

Indeed.  Cousins has never had legal problems, and he's never had a drug issue.  He's never been kicked off a team.  He's dominated at both the NCAA and NBA level.  He's greatly improved his game in every area, and is considered to be a team leader.  He was universally lauded for his play on Team USA.  If he's a "headcase", we could use about 12 of them on the Celtics.

Upshaw got disciplined numerous times at Fresno State, before they finally decided that the hassle wasn't worth it.  He not only was a drug user, but he was uncoachable. 

He then moved on to Washington, where he gave all kinds of lip service to how he had matured, how he had sought help for his drug addiction, etc.  A few months later, he was booted off the team.

He's now been clean for, at most, four months.  He's again giving teams all kinds of lip service about how he's changed.

The distance between an All-NBA player like Cousins and a druggie two-time loser like Upshaw is unfathomable.