Lamar Offers To Come off Bench

[Kobe>Jordan>God]

I could see this working.

When Bynum is out resting, Pau moves to center and Odom goes in at PF (or SF).
When Pau is out of the game, Odom plays PF/SF.

So there would be plently of minutes for Odom in this rotation.

[Verbal]

Nice bulimic avatar, Kobe>Jordan>God.

[Tesla]

I'd love to resign Odom in the 8-10million range per year (average) over the next 3-5 years. I've been up and down about Lamar, but as a 4th option glue guy, he's top notch. If only we didn't have Vlad/Lukes contract, the signing would be fine from a finacially standpoint even with a Bynum max. Stil Bynum's max would go into effect after next year, making the same payout next year if we were to resign Odom, then You have Radmanovic as an 6.8million dollar expiring that year that we would be set to pay Bynum his max or whatever his contract up bends eing (probably somewhere near max). So say by the deadline next year, someone would probably trade there 09/10 expirings for a 1 1/2 year rental of Radmanovic to see if he can possibly be a decent asset.

So... In 2009/10 It would be very similar to today (the payout), assuming Odom takes a tad of a pay cut to about 8-10million per year, that would offset the rise of all the other contracts (Kobes, Gasols, etc), but we would end up paying a bit more.

In 2010/11 if we were able to get Radmans contract off the books... you would see something like...
Kobe: 24mill (assuming he doesn't opt out, in which case it would still be a similar amount of $$)
Gasol: 17mill
Bynum: 13mill
Odom: 9mill
Walton: 5mill
Vujacic: 5mill
Farmar: ?
Ariza: ?
Fish: ?
Back ups: ?

That would be 73million in guarenteed contracts or so that year. Giving us 9million less than our payroll right now. You assume 3-4mill for Fish, possibly 5 for Farmar or Ariza (you probably end up losing one or both), then a million or two in random backups/rookies your looking at a similar cost to this year for the Lakers. We really would just need to trade Radmanovic as soon as possible, probably could do it midseason next year, but wouldnt be certain - which in that case, Radmanovic would cost the Lakers somewhere around 12million dollars. If you also somehow can get rid of Walton, we get a possible MLE signing or the re-signing of our players in Fish and Farmar.

Resigning Odom might not cost the Lakers as much as we think, but it certainly would give them a lot less flexibility, and a risk... but if he fits in well, accepts around that 8-10million range, the Lakers would be in okay range in luxury tax/spending as long as they can get rid of Radmanovic.

[Tesla]

As far as Odom fitting in.. thats what will be focused on the first half of the season. ,resign him, trade him or let him expire is decided upon the first half of this season... IMO it will probably end up being expiring/resigning.

I think Odom was like a 37% 3PT shooter at decent volume in the 05-06 season, and I remember him hitting a number of clutch jumpers against the Suns in that 7 game series. Game 2 coming to mind. I think Odom has enough talent to be a good enough jump shooter, especially if he gives us more oppurtunities/possessions with rebounds/hustle defense. He could certainly work out. Pippen wasn't the greatest 3point shooter, but he ended up being respected out there enough. Actually Pippens best season is pretty much the same as Odoms; 37.4% to 37.2%. He could certainly work out, and always gives us different looks when we are resting some of our key guys. In the Finals it may only be 4-8 minutes where our key guys are getting rest on the bench, but its nice to have that back up option for those 15-30minutes (assuming you take out one at a time) or with foul trouble etc.

[dockingsched]

not sure if i'm reading it wrong, but it looks like u say that bynum's new contract won't go into effect til 10/11. that would be the case if he plays on a qualifying offer in 09/10 and is an unrestricted free agent in the 2010 offseason. if the lakers extend bynum this or next offseason like they should, his contract will start in 09/10, the same season the new contract u propose for lamar would start.

[Tesla]

not sure if i'm reading it wrong, but it looks like u say that bynum's new contract won't go into effect til 10/11. that would be the case if he plays on a qualifying offer in 09/10 and is an unrestricted free agent in the 2010 offseason. if the lakers extend bynum this or next offseason like they should, his contract will start in 09/10, the same season the new contract u propose for lamar would start.

Ahhh... Yeah, I messed up. I'm not exactly the best at this contract stuff. Well yeah, that changes my theory a bit, hehe.

[Chubby Chaser]

Not sure if I'm a fan of Lamar coming off the bench. I can see why we would do it defensively if we start Ariza in his place instead. But one of the main reasons we were so successful last year was Sasha and his green light mentality. A good sixth man is someone that once inserted in the game brings both energy hussle and scoring. This is exactly what Sasha provided for us coming off the bench. He came in and shook things up by raining threes at will. Same thing as Manu. When he comes in for the Spurs he changes the game with his relentless scoring and energy. These are qualities that Lamar doesn't possess in his game. He's a player that likes to let the game come to him, and feel it out. I have a feeling that if Lamar becomes our sixth man, he's going to try and be more aggressive and look for his shot immediately when he comes in and that's just not his style of play. Also, he and Pau had tremendous chemistry last year that was so infectious I don't know if I want to mess with that.