The main thing that Lakers fans are thinking this offseason is whether or not the Lakers are going to trade Lamar Odom. I was one of the fans that thought getting Artest for Odom would be a dream deal, but that is no longer an option. The only people that the Lakers could get for Odom now are Josh Howard, Ben Gordon, Tayshaun Prince, Shawn Marion, a bunch of picks and a veteran, and maybe Josh Smith. The only trades that would be good out of those would be for Josh Smith, Shawn Marion, or Tayshaun Prince (but only if the Pistons throw in someone decent or a 1st round pick to go along with him). But the smartest move might be to not trade him at all. If the Lakers had Bynum on Perkins and Odom on Pierce the Finals would have been a lot different. Pierce wouldn't be able to guard Odom on offense and Odom is quick enough, long enough, good enough, and tall enough to be able to stop Pierce on defense. The Celtics would have had trouble guarding Bynum, Pau, and Odom on the inside when they only have Garnett and Perkins. They wouldn't be able to go tall like the Lakers because that would require them either putting Allen or Pierce on the bench, or putting Allen at PG and Rondo on the bench which would make them have no ball handlers on the court so the Lakers could steal the ball easily. If Bynum averaged around 16 ppg, 12 rpg, 2 bpg and Pau averaged around 17 ppg, 8 rpg, 3 apg and Odom averaged around 12 ppg, 10 rpg, 4 apg then the Lakers would have the best frontline in the NBA, to go along with one of the best backcourts and benches in the NBA. The Lakers have 2 open roster spots available and with those they should sign a veteran PF who is good at defense and re-sign DJ Mbenga. With so much help Kobe will only need to score around 25 ppg, which will allow him to focus on becoming the best perimeter defender in the league. Fisher, Kobe, and Bynum are already good defensively, and with Odom being really tall for his position he will be good defensively unless he really doesn't try. Pau is decent defensively, but with the rest of the starting lineup good at defense and him not being the center of the defense no one will notice as much. I think that trading Odom would get rid of one of the biggest advantages that they will have next season. Odom will be a free agent next offseason, and Kobe could opt out. Odom is only worth around 7-9 million per year, and Kobe wants to win a championship and the only way for them to keep this team together would be for the Kobe to take a paycut which I think he would do. If Bynum has a good season he will demanding the max, or close to it. The Lakers haters think that there will only be 1 year of this team, but with the right moves it is very possible for the Lakers to keep the team together. If they can trade Luke and Radmanovic for some picks, or a veteran then they will have an even better chance of keeping the team together. Even after signing Kareem Rush the Sixers still need some shooters, so trading Radmanovic to them could be an option. So I don't think the Lakers should trade Odom, unless the big lineup turns out to be a bust. I also think that the Lakers should start Farmar to see how he does and because Fisher is getting older (and it would also minus the amount of time that Sasha and Farmar are in the same backcourt together).
The Lakers lineup (depth chart) next year could be:
PG- Jordan Farmar - Derek Fisher - Dwayne Mitchell / Coby Karl
SG- Kobe Bryant - Sasha Vujacic - Dwayne Mitchell / Coby Karl
SF- Lamar Odom - Trevor Ariza - Kobe Bryant - Luke Walton / Vladimir Radmanovic
There would be a feeling of emptiness by trading him and not knowing what could have transpired with the Bynum-Gasol-Odom frontline. So it's more than likely that the Lakers will hang on to him at least until the Feb '09 trade deadline. But if the Lakers are still tops in the conference by midseason, I doubt Kupchak deals him.
The one thing Odom has going for him that I appreciate is his knack for rebounding. If Lamar really wants to gain respect from his peers and his fans, he needs to work on aspects of his game that needs improvement this summer. If I was Lamar's manager, I'd call him up every morning at 7 am to go to the gym and practice shooting nothing but 17-22 foot jumpers. About a thousand a day.
And then I'd have him shoot about 250 free throws a day with his eyes closed and another 250 with his eyes open. Eventually, free throw shooting would become second nature to him.
All I've gotta say is this... lefties are supposed to be great shooters (Chris Mullin, Michael Redd, Derek Fisher, etc). As a lefty myself, I can say that "the stroke" is a natural god given ability. There's no excuse why Odom should be a 65% shooter from the line.
Lakers need to keep Lamar. LA is as tough on him as New Yorkers are on Eli Manning. Don't get me wrong- I'm not comparing players, I'm comparing the fan base. Lamar is a guy that played a role last year. He's going to continue to evolve when Bynum comes back and quite frankly, LA needs him if they are going to compete with Portland this year (ok, ok, ok... I just said that for shizzles). Seriously, I've never understood the trade bait unless they could get greater value in a role player. In my humble, rusty opinion- Mitch did a good job of doing nothing on this one. Keep him and be happy. Geez.
They should't trade just for the sake of moving him. There are a few names left that are intriguing, namely Josh Smith and Tayshaun Prince.
If it's not an upgrade, what's the point?
Lamar knows the offense, he just needs a fire lit under him and to show some heart.
His contract is expiring, so something will present itself before the trade deadline, if it favors the Lakers, go for it. If not, stand pat.
I basically agree with those who say don't trade him unless you can upgrade and by upgrade to me is someone who will stay focused and play some defense and can hit an outside shot now and then.
You suggest Odom can average 10 boards a game and that's not going to happen. Nor does it need to with Bynum and Pau but at the same time, Odom is a liability with his over the top too expensive contract expiring and if you don't move him, then you lose him for nothing. There is no way on earth that they will resign Odom, not with Kobe extending, Bynum contract, Gasol Contract, Walton and Rad at 6 million each and Sasha at 5 million. They can't afford to resign Odom regardless of what you think about him. He'll be moved I will bet a nickel on.
I would love to have Marion but again, more money than the Lakers can afford.
I was an Artest hopeful but now I think maybe Tayshaun Prince would be the best of what is affordable but I don't even know if he's realistically available?
I just think they need to improve the defense, be able to hit the three on a fairly consistent basis and do something about Rad. That guy is worthless.
Ok, so if Tayshaun Prince's $9 million per year or Marion's $17 million are too much of a stretch for the Lakers' salary cap situation, that means L.A. would have to either unload VladRad or Luke in order to make room or acquire someone of value in the $5-7 million range in the event Odom walks. Or the third option, which is to sign Lamar to an extremely low salary, which I feel he would not take.
Now that Artest is in Houston, does that mean the bargain priced Shane Battier will be available next year?
The great thing about the Lakers is the versatility their roster presents. If Odom leaves L.A., the Lakers are already preparing themselves with a little tactical planning.
Why is it that the Lakers' offseason moves thus far have involved nothing but shooting guards (Sasha, Mitchell, Crawford) when their most obvious need is at PF, SF, or backup center?
Don't be surprised if Kobe slides to the three in the near future.
Again I don't know if Prince is even available. If he is and something could be done with a trade for Odom couldn't the Lakers handle the 9 million a lot better than 15 million? I understand the cap would have to be evened out for the one season but doesn't Detroit have some expiring contracts?
I don't see Odoms rebounding average dropping by much, Pau doesnt look to rebound unless he has to. I see Paus average dropping this year also, something like 18 - 5 - 2 to 4 assists a game.
I see Odom's rebounds dropping playing SF because as a PF he defended people playing close to the lane for the most part. Playing SF he's chasing all around the outside and the corner three's so he won't be in position to rebound as often and there are 10-12 rebounds a game going to Bynum that Odom had opportunity for playing PF without Bynum and the much less defensively agressive Gasol playing center. If Odom stays with the Lakers he will average 7-7.5 this year is my projection.
Laker fans including myself were mislead about LAmar truly being on the trading block, LA wanted Artest but wasn't willing to part with Odom yet. Artest ended up being traded for pretty much nothing, and as much as I hate to say it, maybe that was the right move. Lamar is going to get at least half a season to finaly get his head together, I doubt it happens but still in my opinion as horrible as Lamar was in the finals both game 1 and game 4 were winnable so with Bynum why should they not be good enough this year? I am sure some trades will come available midseason anyways who knows maybe we will steal Sean Marion at the deadline.
Sagg good point I dont even believe next year will be Lamar's year, but really we could just let him come off the books after next season. Really there is no way to keep Bynum, Kobe, Pau and Bynum even though I do not believe Lamar is a star level player the NBA is not set to allow teams to pay four players star level money unless you want to pay out the #### for it.
Last edited by banmeplease on August 5th at 11:52 PM.
I am a die-hard Lakers fan. I write a lot of blogs for foxsports. I know a lot of stuff about basketball and have been named "The Basketball Oracle" by my family because of my basketball knowledge. I'm a huge Kobe Bryant fan and think he is the best in the game today. L.A. Lakers - 08-09 NBA Champs!!!
