Odom more valuable than Bynum? <RealGM article>

[Slava]

Kobe Bryant tried to trade Andrew Bynum and even himself, but the way in which he tried to trade Lamar Odom for Jermaine O'Neal could have been the biggest mistake of all.

The Lakers and Kobe need to do an about-turn in considering Odom's future in Los Angeles. On Sunday, Odom didn't score in the 30's like Pau Gasol and Kobe, but he was their most valuable player and it is he, not Kobe or Gasol who stirs the Lakers' drink.

Between brilliant touch passes and coast-to-coast finishes on defensive rebounds, Odom was not as typically understated in his brilliance as he so often is because of his unique versatility. He is the perfect connector between Bryant and Gasol and the most lethal 'third-best' player in the game right now.

Also he ends the article like this...

Despite making $13.248 million, Odom 'deserved' to make $15.368 million, and Mitch Kupchak appears hesitant to talk extension with him this summer.

Sadly, Odom will be low balled or shopped, and the neo-dynasty dreams being prematurely talked about in Los Angeles may not be sustained without Odom's straw.

Upgrading Odom's caddy value

[Verbal]

umm...

What's your opinion of this, j-far?

[Kreuk]

LOL RealGM must have seen my thread "This Team is Too Talented..."

I wonder if posters will tell RealGM they should retire or take the community offline...

[Erik Eleven]

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Keep this roster together. Why is it assumed that we have to pick between Odom and Bynum? Depending on how far this team goes this year, chances are that Buss will open up the big wallet. Just put Sun Yue on the bench next season and his jersey sales will pay for the lux tax. Done.

[dockingsched]

i'm having trouble seeing how you arrive at your title based on that piece.

[Slava]

i'm having trouble seeing how you arrive at your title based on that piece.

Kobe Bryant tried to trade Andrew Bynum and even himself, but the way in which he tried to trade Lamar Odom for Jermaine O'Neal could have been the biggest mistake of all.

[Slava]

umm...

What's your opinion of this, j-far?

Well, it depends on what we do in the playoffs. If we are able to win it all without Bynum, I wouldn't be averse to make him expendable to fill another void on the roster. Like a good solid semi-star PG and other pieces from the draft lottery.

You know what I mean!

[dockingsched]

-= original quote snipped =-

not really seeing it. using the quote u responded with, the title could have just as easly been "odom more valuable than kobe?".

the comment about lamar for JO being the biggest mistake could easily just be about how hurt JO has been, how much lamar has stepped up, and how cheaply the lakers got gasol.

[Slava]

not really seeing it. using the quote u responded with, the title could have just as easly been "odom more valuable than kobe?".

the comment about lamar for JO being the biggest mistake could easily just be about how hurt JO has been, how much lamar has stepped up, and how cheaply the lakers got gasol.

My idea after reading that paragraph was that trading Bynum would have been a less hazardous proposition to trading Odom at that time.

Re: Odom more valuable than Kobe, yes that is also a way of putting it but it'd have caused a semi riot on this board.

[TonyMontana]

-= original quote snipped =-
Re: Odom more valuable than Kobe, yes that is also a way of putting it but it'd have caused a semi riot on this board.

Except for B-Scott ..........

But I do agree with EE on this one I think Buss will open up his wallet to keep both of these players , hopefully keep this team together for contention for the next few years that's if we make it to the Finals .

[snaquille oatmeal]

-= original quote snipped =-



Except for B-Scott ..........

But I do agree with EE on this one I think Buss will open up his wallet to keep both of these players , hopefully keep this team together for contention for the next few years that's if we make it to the Finals .

he wrote the article

[Chubby Chaser]

Odom is blossoming as a 3rd/4th option. I agree he is a valuable piece to this team. But you do not pay your 3rd or 4th option 13 million. If buss does it then more power to him. But in all honesty, Odom is probably going to have to take a paycut to stay on this team.

[rhp1990]

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Keep this roster together. Why is it assumed that we have to pick between Odom and Bynum? Depending on how far this team goes this year, chances are that Buss will open up the big wallet. Just put Sun Yue on the bench next season and his jersey sales will pay for the lux tax. Done.

And the 16 playoff games the Lakers will play in to win the championship should help out the lux tax too.

[hermes]

i don't think they should choose between the two either, keep them both

[Lost Angel]

i dont care if Mitch is hesitant. its Jerry Buss who pays the bills around here, and he's proved that he will pay as long as he's winning titles.

[milesfides]

Well, between Bynum and Odom, yeah, Odom's more valuable... because Bynum's hurt. Mbenga and Coby Karl are more valuable right now too.

In all seriousness, I didn't understand the article at all because it was argued primarily with something called an FIC stat, which I've never even heard of before. That the author used that score to assert Odom is a better postseason player than Kobe? Um...no.

But a big chunk of his article was about game 1, in which Kobe played like crap. Does he think game 1 was an accurate assessment of the players? Well, game 2, how did Kobe play? How did Odom play? It's a bit silly, isn't it, to make so much out of one game? I mean, 49 points versus 4 points, might as well drop Odom into a meatgrinder and serve him for lunch.

We all know that Odom improved a lot, regardless of his game 2 stinker. But to imply that Odom is somehow a better playoff performer than Kobe, that he was more responsible for our season's success than Kobe, and that Odom is more important to our team than Bynum (in the large picture) is just difficult to support. To do so, one would have to rely on a weird stats system (FIC), engage in selective bias (make a big deal about one game), and drop hyperbole, e.g., claiming Odom is the "most lethal third-best player in the game".

I don't know about you, but 4 points, 4 rebounds, is not exactly deadly. Would Tony Parker put up such meager numbers in the playoffs? Ray Allen? Barbosa? Shaq? Peja? Caron Butler? Jameer Nelson?

I love Odom, I'm not even that upset about his production last night. Phil Jackson moved Odom more on the perimeter, as a guard rather than a forward, to allow Kobe more scoring opportunities. He didn't have a good game, but he didn't have a ship-his-ass-out game either, regardless of what the stats say. He played defense, moved the ball, and you know what? Last night, that was good enough, because other people got it going (Kobe and Luke).

Don't need to exaggerate Odom's play or importance for people to appreciate him. Those who watch, know.

[bruno sundov]

Odom's D is great, as long as he can tackle people!

[Gerald3Wallace]

Odom's D is great, as long as he can tackle people!

still crying?

[bruno sundov]

^^^]
Just making a point. yeah sweeping the Lakers this year is really something to cry about?

That stuff won't fly over here, bud. Warning issued for trolling.

EE

[Dexmor]

The perfect sf for this team would be RJ but he is owed to much money. They should stop starting Radman though. He is not the answer either. The real answer is to trade Odom for Artest.