NBA free agents hit the market on July 1st. A week later, players we’re able to sign the dotted line. Several guys found new homes rather quickly in Hedo Turkoglu (TOR), Ben Gordon (DET), Ron Artest (LAL), Trevor Ariza (HOU) and Rasheed Wallace (BOS). But the big name that still looms out there is Lamar Odom. Nearly a month into the free agent off-season, Odom is still searching for a home. It’s kind of strange too since he is quite presumably the biggest name in this class.
It bothers me that the the media makes it sound as if Odom will never be a Laker again. This is where he has found a home for the past five years. This is where he has matured the most since getting kicked out of UNLV, bypassing Rhode Island after one year, and bouncing around with three NBA teams. It wasn’t long ago that I read an article in Sports Illustrated titled: “Kobe may be the star of the show, but the beating heart of the Lakers is the ebullient Lamar Odom.” That’s when I found out how much Odom loved the west coast. But momentarily it sounds as if he wants out.
Now Odom to me is a guy who should play above and beyond what he does. He’s the definition of “inconsistent: containing contradictory elements.” One night you’ll get 17 points out of him, but the next he’ll scramble for three. To say the least, he doesn’t necessarily give quality minutes.
That changed in this year’s NBA Finals. Odom was a key reason as to why the Lakers won their fourth title since year 2000. He was everyone on the court, hitting the big shots when needed. Getting the big steal. And the erratic production? That wasn’t the case in the five-game series, contributing 11, 19, 11, 9, and 17. He’s just the perfect type of NBA player you want to create in a lab, long, strong, versatile and quick. Nobody around is really like him.
From the sounds of it, he’s at odds with the Lakers. Odom is only 30 this year, and just to put an offer on the table and be safe, L.A. said $27 million over three years. Lamar bounced around, mulled it, talked with the Miami Heat, and then L.A. retracted. The joyous part of being a free agent is searching and considering. New things aren’t necessarily bad. My question is: Lamar, why not run with that money? In today’s economy, who’s to say another team matches the offer. And besides that, you’re a role player in purple and gold mostly coming off the bench. You’re not asked to take all the weight and put it on your shoulders. On a new team, you would.
If the Lakers wish to repeat in 2009-10, it will mount on the next few days as to whether Lamar commits or not. A big piece of the puzzle with Ariza already left, and that’s a big enough gap to fill. He was their next and coming. To count on Artest to fill the void of two players gone would be a lot to ask for from a uncontrolled guy. Kobe Bryant came out to say the Lakers need Lamar back. The times ticking though, and to me Lamar is crazy to not be back with the best rotation in the game.
The NFL has a big problem on their hands thanks to Michael Crabtree. The No. 10 pick in April’s Draft is holding out for the San Francisco 49ers and I’m starting to question his priorities in life.