Kupchak non-committal on extension for Odom

[pooteeweet]

Los Angeles Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak said the team would like to re-sign restricted free agents Sasha Vujacic and Ronny Turiaf, although he hedged somewhat when asked if Lamar Odom would receive a contract extension this summer. Odom, 28, has one more season and $14.1 million left on his contract.

"We want to see how we perform in the playoffs, what the market is like this summer, and most important, how successful our team will be in the playoffs," Kupchak said.

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rumors/post/Kupchak-non-committal-on-extension-for-Odom?urn=nba,74785

[dockingsched]

lamar is still under contract for next year. seems obvious that this wouldn't be an issue til next offseason.

[pooteeweet]

lamar is still under contract for next year. seems obvious that this wouldn't be an issue til next offseason.

That's why it's called a contract extension, and not resigning a free agent. If Lamar figures into our long-term plans, then we should extend him before he becomes a free agent. Having said that, I agree with Mitch that we should wait to see how Lamar fits in with Bynum and Gasol on the floor before we ink him to more years and money. I was merely posting the news.

[Sedale Threatt]

Thanks for doing so. To keep Lamar or not -- This is likely going to be our biggest internal issue to deal with next season. I respect Mitch's prudence and patience, and also agree that there is no sense throwing a big-dollar extension at him until we get a substantial chunk of games with which to judge how he performs next to Gasol and Bynum (if the two can even stay healthy, that is).

[Kreuk]

sasha + ronny + ariza + farmar + bynum > Odom...

odom is the odd man out...

[KingLakers]

It could be said that Walton, Vlad, and Ariza each individually can make up for Odom if he does leave after next season. Walton has similar playmaking skills, Vlad has the offensive skills, and Ariza has the defensive skills. The only skill that would be lost is Odom's rebounding skills. But then you could say Bynum could makeuo for that as he develops. So maybe in the long run he's not as important as he seems to some people.

[Sedale Threatt]

The thing is, Odom gives you most of that in one package. Put Walton, Radmanovic and Ariza together, a la Frankenstein's monster, and you'd have an All-Star. Separately, and you've got three decent but ultimately flawed players.

[Danny Darko]

I think the idea is that we will get a discount if we don't sign him to an extension and he wants to stay. (assuming he fits with Pau and Drew in the playoffs)

If he doesn't then not extending him means he is a big ol' expiring with talent that we can easily use to fill our needs.

[semi-sentient]

Here's what I think, because everyone cares.

Since we are resigned both Sasha and Ronny, and both are more than capable of playing significant minutes, we'll let Odom walk. IMO, Odom is not a vital part of our success, although he has been a significant contributor as of late. He just makes way too much money as our 4th option, and I'm sure the FO will be looking at getting some relief since we took on Pau's contract.

Anyway, this allows us to have either Ariza or Radman starting in place of Odom, and it also allows Turiaf to play behind Pau instead of Radman, so we maximize utilization of our talent. We won't miss Odom's rebounding when we have both Bynum and Pau in the middle, and there are definite advantages to having either Ariza or Radman start in his place.

With Ariza, we get a better defender/slasher. He won't exactly help space the floor, but neither does Odom. All he needs to do is get his outside shooting up to around 38% and he'll be exactly what we need, noting that as a Laker he's shooting 33% from downtown.

With Radman, we get worse defensively, but we have much better floor spacing because you have to respect Radman's outside shooting.

If it were my choice, I think I'd start Ariza simply because we need to improve defensively. He and Radman can split the minutes down the middle.

[CITYOFANGELSX3]

For a discount yes, at 14 mill per ta ta odom.

[Tommy Trojan]

Why is Mitch even bringing this issue up now?

I can see maybe he wants to motivate Lamar and maybe make him a better player, but Lamar has been playing his best ball in his Laker career.

So I do not really get it

[snaquille oatmeal]

Why is Mitch even bringing this issue up now?

I can see maybe he wants to motivate Lamar and maybe make him a better player, but Lamar has been playing his best ball in his Laker career.

So I do not really get it

I don't think Mitch brought the issue up, he was asked about it.

[YiYaoYue]

sasha and ronny will probably both go at around 5 mil, but an extension to lamar is like 15 mil for probably 3+ years... if odom doesn't fit then it will be really hard to trade an expensive long contract for a player that lakers would need... so it makes sense to wait and see... and lamar's value might go down as a 3rd-4th string compared to being the 2nd option he was a few years ago. The other issue is bynum's contract if he continues to improve to the level of a 2nd or 3rd option. Also if lamar really wants to stay a lakers (which during trade talks he really didnt want to be traded... i mean the guy smiles every game even when he's screwing the team from a win)... odom might take a paycut to stay with lakers.

[KingLakers]

He has to take a paycut or at least do what KG did in his last few years with the Wolves which was to sign a back loaded extension. But it may be financially impossible considering the coming extensions of Bynum, Farmer, and even Kobe and of course the imminent free agency's of Sasha and Turiaf.

[Dexmor]

I don't know how they could have 4 players with close to max contracts. Bynum-Gasol-Kobe all will have big contracts so Odom will have to take less money like 10 million max and the Lakers are gonna have to get some hometown discounts and or get Sasha and Ronny for cheap or trade him. I can't see 4 players making 75 million alone.
I believe the Lakers should give Odom 4 years 40 million or so espially with all the money they make but will they?

[blix]

Apparently Mitch has not been reading B-Scott's posts.

[Lost Angel]

most of us here already knew this would happen.

extending Lamar Odom right now is a terrible move and leaves the Lakers with little leverage. with the size of his contract (14 mill with one year left-->expiring), he is a valuable commodity come this offseason and next year's trade deadline.

furthermore, we get to see how he meshes with Pau and Bynum. if it doesn't go well we can trade Odom to a team looking to cut costs or add a low risk, high impact player. We can fill needs with his massive contract, and most likely we can get a pick out of it as well.


bad business move to extend Odom as of right now. if we win the title however...

[rhp1990]

let him earn the contract, he'll play hard the whole season next year...

[Kilroy]

This might have more to do with Sasha than with anybody else...

Mitch mentioned our priorities.

Bynum is a givin. Anything less than a max deal is a bonus at this point for him. I think there are plenty of teams that would offer him that if he produces in the playoffs...

Turiaf is also a given. He's solid and deserves a 5M+ deal for a few years but I don't think anybody would offer him a bunch more.

So it all comes down to Sasha... If Sasha tinks he's had a Career-Making year and figures he should get star-money... And I think that may be what he's thinking... Then we may not be able to offer him what he thinks he deserves...

So if Sasha walks for a paycheck, I think we'll work something out with Odom. If Sasha stays for a reasonable extension, then I think we let Odom go.

Maybe...

[raferfenix]

do you guys think there's any chance you trade odom to a team willing to extend him? If you guys are investing in young players this offseason it seems like that could be a possiblity if you get fair value. obviously this is dependent on how he looks with the new frontcourt in the playoffs.

then again, i'm just a suffering bucks fan who's a major odom fan, so i'm probably just having wishful thinking. if he does go on the block i bet we could make a strong package offer for him though.