Free Agency: Lamar Odom

[The Skyhook]

I'm also one of the people that believes Lamar would be having a better season if he was still in LA. Maybe not the type of season he had last year but I still think he would have been productive.

As for next year if he wanted top come back to the Lakars I would welcome him back with open arms. If the Lakers end up trading Pau Gasol in the offseason then Lamar Odom would be one hell of a replacement for Gasol. He knows how to play with the guys on this team so the fitting in process wouldn't be as tough for him.

If we don't end up trading Gasol and still decide to bring in Lamar then the Lakers would have their dominant front court yet again. Lamar would help reduce the minutes of both Pau and Bynum. He would also bring the bench back to life. This current team as is would have been scarey good if it had Lamar on it playing the way we know he is capable of playing.

[hermes]

no x 1000

that ship has sailed and is sinking- jumping on it now is just a bad move

[semi-sentient]

Why not amnesty Artest?

We don't have anyone to replace his defense. He's useless on offense, but he can still defend, and that has quite a bit of value given who the other contenders are (OKC, MIA). Matt Barnes is adequate, but I like him off the bench because of his energy, and there is no way that he can handle guys like Durant and LeBron, at least not as well as Artest.

Unless Ebanks steps up his game and provides the same level of defense, I don't see us using the amnesty on Artest anytime soon.

Steve Blake, however, is completely useless at this point. We have several players on the team who can bring the ball up the floor, dish it off, then run under the basket to the opposite corner waiting for a spot-up 3 opportunity (Goudelock and Morris, for example).

Besides that, Odom and Artest are close friends, so if we brought him back that gives management another reason to hang onto him.

[Jajwanda]

MWP can be replaced on the defensive end by far quicker defenders. Even against LeBron I'd prefer a guy like Pietrus who can stay in front of LeBron.

[poorboy]

MWP can be replaced on the defensive end by far quicker defenders. Even against LeBron I'd prefer a guy like Pietrus who can stay in front of LeBron.

Its not his quickness or lack thereof that makes him a special defender. He has some of the strongest hands to go along with his upper and lower body strenth. Also, watch how he plays defense on his toes and the way he cuts off angles. He really has mastered the art of playing defense. Ill take him over a younger guy with foot speed any day of the week.

[WCDYNASTY]

I could easily see Lamar Odom coming back as a free agent... especially if either Gasol or Bynum are traded during the off-season... I hope he comes back either way

[semi-sentient]

MWP can be replaced on the defensive end by far quicker defenders. Even against LeBron I'd prefer a guy like Pietrus who can stay in front of LeBron.

While I haven't paid much attention to Pietrus in Boston, LeBron has traditionally dominated him, including 2009 when he brutalized him (mostly on him in single coverage, but still). Then Kobe got in his ass in the Finals. Artest has done a good job on LeBron over the years, including holding him to .500 TS% this season while guarding him. You can't ask for much more than that, and at a minimum you know he'll play mind games with the opposition to throw them off their game. That's a big plus against mental midgets like LeBron.

Having said that, I didn't realize he was available this off-season so that might be worth pursuing if Artest isn't getting it done for us. We have 2 games left against OKC so I'll be very interested in seeing how he does against Durant.

I was really hoping that Ebanks would come along this year but that just hasn't been the case.

[semi-sentient]

I could easily see Lamar Odom coming back as a free agent... especially if either Gasol or Bynum are traded during the off-season... I hope he comes back either way

I don't think that needs to happen. Jordan Hill, Troy Murphy, and Derrick Caracter are making a combined $4.5 mil, so we can let them all walk and pursue Odom. McRoberts is signed through 2012-13, I believe, so he's going to hang around another season.

[stunnar0b]

We need to pick up beasley in the offseasn. im down to bring back odom for the min as long as it doesnt **** our chances with beasley.

[XXIV]

We need to pick up beasley in the offseasn. im down to bring back odom for the min as long as it doesnt **** our chances with beasley.

Chances of signing Beasley outright in the offseason are very minimal. I just don't see him signing for the mini-MLE.

[Wile E. Coyote]

You know what. I like Lamar. He's like a kid in an adult body though. He needs to have his hand held, apparently, and Kobe was able to do that for years. I can almost guarantee that he'd be more than just dead weight if he were still playing with the Lakers.

I do think he'll be back.

[kblo247]

I don't know if it having his hand held as much as someone he trusts when things pile up in his head to talk to without it getting out in public. Kobe was that guy in LA. Riley was that guy in Miami. He owns homes in both places . He will sign in one of those places and both have the mini MLE to offer him

[PineTreez]

You give it up when the guy is one of the best PFs in the history of the franchise, which he statistically is.

Odom and Fisher will both return next summer. They will meet at stable with Kobe, Mitch, Jim, Jerry, and Jeanie and pop outles and break bread as their plan worked. The two loyal soldiers acted as Trojan horses perfectly to derail OKC and Dallas. They each even got buyout money and practiced their minutes being limited without hurting the team. Lamar will come back for the mini MLE and 3rd big role as we let Hill and Murphy go. Derek will come back for the vet min and to be Ramon's backup as we amnesty Blake.

Then it shall all be clear. We **** stern and the league from day one. We wanted them to veto the Paul deal, so we could trick Dallas into breaking up their core and using their TPE and pick for odom. We wanted to find a young stud pg while keeping Pau. Lamar did us the solid. How else do you think Pau suddenly knows all Dirks steps? He almost let it slip when he said "you guys got your hand full" to the Mavs players, but we did damage control through the Kardashians publicist kobe was accused of banging.

Derek is now doing his part. He got Houston to pay him his money. He gets to watch Westbrook, Durant, harden, and their habits up close. He gets to plant a seed that Brooks has no idea what winning is about, he also gets to adjust his body so he can know how to be an effective 10-15 minute backup pg.

Both left their homes and did nit sell them. Both kept their jerseys in the closet. Don't be fooled they still bleed forum blue and gold and will do what it takes to make sure we stay on top. Even if it means wasting a half year in another city. They made the deal, they will laugh, and they will retire Lakers.

You can't possibly be serious.

[Slava]

He could actually fit very well in NY if they trade away Amare and NJ might offer him good money as well and both are hometown teams.

He could singlehandedly make our 2nd unit relevant though.

[Speedlot]

You give it up when the guy is one of the best PFs in the history of the franchise, which he statistically is.

Odom and Fisher will both return next summer. They will meet at stable with Kobe, Mitch, Jim, Jerry, and Jeanie and pop outles and break bread as their plan worked. The two loyal soldiers acted as Trojan horses perfectly to derail OKC and Dallas. They each even got buyout money and practiced their minutes being limited without hurting the team. Lamar will come back for the mini MLE and 3rd big role as we let Hill and Murphy go. Derek will come back for the vet min and to be Ramon's backup as we amnesty Blake.

Then it shall all be clear. We **** stern and the league from day one. We wanted them to veto the Paul deal, so we could trick Dallas into breaking up their core and using their TPE and pick for odom. We wanted to find a young stud pg while keeping Pau. Lamar did us the solid. How else do you think Pau suddenly knows all Dirks steps? He almost let it slip when he said "you guys got your hand full" to the Mavs players, but we did damage control through the Kardashians publicist kobe was accused of banging.

Derek is now doing his part. He got Houston to pay him his money. He gets to watch Westbrook, Durant, harden, and their habits up close. He gets to plant a seed that Brooks has no idea what winning is about, he also gets to adjust his body so he can know how to be an effective 10-15 minute backup pg.

Both left their homes and did nit sell them. Both kept their jerseys in the closet. Don't be fooled they still bleed forum blue and gold and will do what it takes to make sure we stay on top. Even if it means wasting a half year in another city. They made the deal, they will laugh, and they will retire Lakers.

You can't possibly be serious.

I'll sell your my sarcasm detector mr. ball boy. You want?

[laduane1]

Lakers need to cut more players to save money.

[Jetset]

Lakers need to cut more players to save money.

If you don't stop posting negatively everywhere you go, I swear.

[Mamba Venom]

Heat or Clippers.

A bridge has been burnt.