Why isn't anybody talking about Lamar Odom?

[50 cent]

I think Odom should be the Spurs #1 prospect this offseason. I'd be fine with Rasheed, but Odom would be the perfect compliment to round out this team.

I know the Lakers don't want to let him go, but they might not have a choice. Odom is a UFA. Maybe he is tired of coming off the bench behind Gasol, Ariza and Bynum and wants to start on a Championship caliber team.

How It Could Actually Happen:
The biggest thing that gives the Spurs a glimmer of hope is the Lakers salary situation.

The Lakers currently have $76.8 million on the books for 2009-2010.

Kobe: 23.0M
Gasol: 16.4M
Bynum: 12.5M
Morrison: 5.3M
Fisher: 5.0M
Sasah: 5.0M
Luke Walton: 4.8M
Farmar: 2.0M
Mbenga: 1.0M
Powell: 1.0M
Yue: 1.0M

The luxury tax threshold is estimated to be around $70M this coming season so the Lakers are already $6.5 million over the dollar for dollar luxury tax threshold. I don't see anyway the Lakers can cut any salary because they have already tried to rid themselves of Sasha's awful contract and nobody wants it. Adam Morrison's contract is a total joke.

This $76M is without Odom, Ariza, or Shannon Brown being signed. I've got to think that Ariza is priority #1 for the Lakers because of his age and his production this offseason. Let's say that Portland or Detroit could come out and offer Ariza $7M/yr to start. Ariza has said that he prefers to stay in L.A and so he tells the Lakers that he wants to stay, but is getting ~$7M from other teams and that he will stay if they match. If the Lakers match the offer, it will actually cost them $14M ($7M in salary and $7M in lux tax) a year taking their salary cap amount up to $83.7M without Odom and Brown.

Shannon Brown showed some flashes and is a young guy that L.A. would like to resign. Let's say that Brown gets $3.3M a year and L.A. decides he is worth it (he certainly is if Morrison and Sasha are worth $5M). This takes L.A.'s salary up to $87M for the year without resigning Odom.

If the luxury tax threshold is $70M, then that would put the Lakers payroll at $104M after luxury tax payments without Odom!

Keep in mind that Odom is a UFA. Let's say the Spurs come to Odom and offer him a 5/$32M contract. Can L.A. really match that and pay twice that much in luxury tax for a backup PF? If so, their salary totals would be up to around $93M pre-lux tax which would actually cost them $116M.

Buss has shown no precedent whatsoever to spend that kind of money. Maybe he does because these guys are the defending champs, but that's a lot of coin. Even if Ariza only commands MLE type money, Buss is looking paying $110 M to keep this team in tact.


Odom on the Spurs:
Now, think of how versatile Odom is and how well he would fit on this Spurs team. He can play and guard 3 different positions on the court and would be a perfect compliment to Duncan in the post. He is a good rebounder and can even bring the ball up the court.

Odom would allow the Spurs to play small ball or play big by moving down to SF.

Small ball: Tony/Mason/Manu/Jefferson/Odom

Normal ball: Tony/Manu/Jefferson/Odom/Duncan

Big: Manu/Jefferson/Odom/Duncan/Blair (or Rasho for the LLE)

The possibilities are limitless with Manu and Odom being able to bring the ball up the court.

Finally, the biggest bonus of all - it would kill the Lakers. When Odom plays well, the Lakers are unstoppable. Odom always seems to play well against us.

Is 5 years, $33M too much? Probably, but it's worth kicking L.A. in the junk for and really causing them a hard time to extend a similar offer.

I know the odds are not good because L.A. would probably overpay him out of principle alone, but remember, Odom is a UFA, not restricted. If he wants to walk, he can walk. If the Spurs offer more years and the ability next to start next to Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, and Jefferson, maybe he defects.

It's worth a phone call at the minimum.

Imagine this:

Parker/Hill
Manu/Mason/McClinton
Jefferson/Finley/Hairston
Odom/Bonner/Gist
Duncan/Rasho/Blair

That is pretty freaking salty and allows us some major versatility that teams would have a hard time matching.

[Duncan2177]

I think Odom should be the Spurs #1 prospect this offseason. I'd be fine with Rasheed, but Odom would be the perfect compliment to round out this team.

I know the Lakers don't want to let him go, but they might not have a choice. Odom is a UFA. Maybe he is tired of coming off the bench behind Gasol, Ariza and Bynum and wants to start on a Championship caliber team.

How It Could Actually Happen:
The biggest thing that gives the Spurs a glimmer of hope is the Lakers salary situation.

The Lakers currently have $76.8 million on the books for 2009-2010.

Kobe: 23.0M
Gasol: 16.4M
Bynum: 12.5M
Morrison: 5.3M
Fisher: 5.0M
Sasah: 5.0M
Luke Walton: 4.8M
Farmar: 2.0M
Mbenga: 1.0M
Powell: 1.0M
Yue: 1.0M

The luxury tax threshold is estimated to be around $70M this coming season so the Lakers are already $6.5 million over the dollar for dollar luxury tax threshold. I don't see anyway the Lakers can cut any salary because they have already tried to rid themselves of Sasha's awful contract and nobody wants it. Adam Morrison's contract is a total joke.

This $76M is without Odom, Ariza, or Shannon Brown being signed. I've got to think that Ariza is priority #1 for the Lakers because of his age and his production this offseason. Ariza is a RFA. It's possible that Portland or Detroit could come out and offer Ariza $7M/yr to start. Let's say Ariza signs the offer sheet for $7M with one of these teams. If the Lakers match the offer, it will actually cost them $14M ($7M in salary and $7M in lux tax) a year taking their salary cap amount up to $83.7M without Odom and Brown.

Shannon Brown showed some flashes and is a young guy that L.A. would like to resign. Let's say that Brown gets $3.3M a year and L.A. decides he is worth it (he certainly is if Morrison and Sasha are worth $5M). This takes L.A.'s salary up to $87M for the year without resigning Odom.

If the luxury tax threshold is $70M, then that would put the Lakers payroll at $104M after luxury tax payments without Odom!

Keep in mind that Odom is a UFA. Let's say the Spurs come to Odom and offer him a 5/$32M contract. Can L.A. really match that and pay twice that much in luxury tax for a backup PF? If so, their salary totals would be up to around $93M pre-lux tax which would actually cost them $116M.

Buss has shown no precedent whatsoever to spend that kind of money. Maybe he does because these guys are the defending champs, but that's a lot of coin. Even if Ariza only commands MLE type money, Buss is looking paying $110 M to keep this team in tact.


Odom on the Spurs:
Now, think of how versatile Odom is and how well he would fit on this Spurs team. He can play and guard 3 different positions on the court and would be a perfect compliment to Duncan in the post. He is a good rebounder and can even bring the ball up the court.

Odom would allow the Spurs to play small ball or play big by moving down to SF.

Small ball: Tony/Mason/Manu/Jefferson/Odom

Normal ball: Tony/Manu/Jefferson/Odom/Duncan

Big: Manu/Jefferson/Odom/Duncan/Blair (or Rasho for the LLE)

The possibilities are limitless with Manu and Odom being able to bring the ball up the court.

Finally, the biggest bonus of all - it would kill the Lakers. When Odom plays well, the Lakers are unstoppable. Odom always seems to play well against us.

Is 5 years, $33M too much? Probably, but it's worth kicking L.A. in the junk for and really causing them a hard time to extend a similar offer.

I know the odds are not good because L.A. would probably overpay him out of principle alone, but remember, Odom is a UFA, not restricted. If he wants to walk, he can walk. If the Spurs offer more years and the ability next to start next to Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, and Jefferson, maybe he defects.

It's worth a phone call at the minimum.

Imagine this:

Parker/Hill
Manu/Mason/McClinton
Jefferson/Finley/Hairston
Odom/Bonner/Gist
Duncan/Rasho/Blair

That is pretty freaking salty and allows us some major versatility that teams would have a hard time matching.

Because we already have a small foward in Jefferson and Odom is not a bigman,The spurs #1 prospect right now is finding a bigman.

[montgod]

because we already have a small foward in jefferson and odom is not a bigman,the spurs #1 prospect right now is finding a bigman.

+1

[Ice009]

I'm not even going to read your post.

Do you realize all we can offer Odom is the MLE???

The Lakers will have no problem matching that, in fact if we did that I'd say the Lakers would be saying we did them a favor allowing them to get him that cheap .

[coyotes_geek]

Makes perfect sense. Everyone knows those small time lakers can't throw around money like we do here in San Antonio. Who the does Jerry Buss think he is? Peter Holt?

[2pac]

Because we already have a small foward in Jefferson and Odom is not a bigman,The spurs #1 prospect right now is finding a bigman.

Good point
ESPN Says he is a PF

Odom averaged 8.2rpgin 29 MPG
Rasheed Wallace averaged 7.2 rpg in 32MPG.
Odom and Rasheed both averaged 1.3 bpg.

[50 cent]

Odom is most certainly a PF. He guards PFs better than he does SFs and can play any position on offense.

Duncan needs to slide to the 5 anyway. Duncan has a lost a step and has a harder time guarding the quicker PFs in the league, while Odom does a nice job of doing so (see his D on Rashard Lewis).

Duncan does well on the Shaqs and Dampiers of the world.

Odom is 6'10 which certainly qualifies as a PF.

Pop has already mentioned that there are more 4s out there that they like in FA than any other position.

After getting Blair, I think the Spurs are more willing to look at somebody like Odom to play the 4 position since we have a banger to compliment his style of play.

[timvp]

You can't get him with the MLE.

[lefty]

We do talk about LO when he shows up.



Which is twice a year

[2pac]

I'm not even going to read your post.

Then you are a dumbass. Buss could be at $104mm just resigning Shannon Brown and Ariza, before he even touches Odom.

Way to form an opinion before you have learned about the subject, dumbass.

[50 cent]

The Lakers will have no problem matching that, in fact if we did that I'd say the Lakers would be saying we did them a favor allowing them to get him that cheap .

That might be a good point if Lamar Odom was a RFA, but he's unrestricted.

The Lakers don't have any right to match an offer. Odom signs whereever he signs and that's the end of that.

[50 cent]

You can't get him with the MLE.

So LJ, reading my analysis of their salary cap situation, do you really think the Lakers are going to pay Odom $8-10M a year and also try to sign Ariza for the minimum of the MLE?

I just can't see the Lakers willing to spend $115-125M to keep Ariza and Odom.

[Trainwreck2100]

too pricey,move along

[50 cent]

too pricey,move along

You guys keep saying that, but who's going to give him more money?

Detroit, OKC, Portland?

I don't think any of those teams are interested. As mentioned above, the Lakers aren't really in a position to offer him a ton of money.

Again, I don't think it's very likely, but it's certainly possible that he is attainable with MLE money if you give him enough years.

[Ice009]

That might be a good point if Lamar Odom was a RFA, but he's unrestricted.

The Lakers don't have any right to match an offer. Odom signs whereever he signs and that's the end of that.

lol yeah whatever. The basic point of my post is that we can't get him for the MLE. That's the exact same thing Timvp said. Sure he is unrestricted, but for the MLE I'm pretty sure he would chose the Lakers.

[50 cent]

lol yeah whatever. The basic point of my post is that we can't get him for the MLE. That's the exact same thing Timvp said. Sure he is unrestriced, but for the MLE I'm pretty sure he would chose the Lakers.

You said that the Lakers can easily match. If you took the time to read my post instead of being a dumbass, you would realize that they can't just easily match if they want to keep Ariza too.

I'm asking who you think is going to offer Odom more than the MLE.

Educate yourself on L.A.'s crappy salary cap situation and then come back and let me know before you just assume they are going to spend $25 million more in luxury tax than they ever have shown to do in the past.

[Ice009]

You guys keep saying that, but who's going to give him more money?

Detroit, OKC, Portland?

I don't think any of those teams are interested. As mentioned above, the Lakers aren't really in a position to offer him a ton of money.

Again, I don't think it's very likely, but it's certainly possible that he is attainable with MLE money if you give him enough years.

He could sign with the Lakers for the MLE and ask for an opt out clause after 3 seasons or so to go after more money if he wants then. If he's going to take a cheaper deal to stay with the Lakers it would be in his best interest to put a few clauses in like No trade clause and an Opt out clause.

[Ice009]

You said that the Lakers can easily match. If you took the time to read my post instead of being a dumbass, you would realize that they can't just easily match if they want to keep Ariza too.

I'm asking who you think is going to offer Odom more than the MLE.

Educate yourself on L.A.'s crappy salary cap situation and then come back and let me know before you just assume they are going to spend $25 million more in luxury tax than they ever have shown to do in the past.

I know he's a free agent. That's just the way I worded it, incorrect on my part as I knew he was unrestricted.

AGAIN my basic point is for the MLE exception he would not choose the Spurs over the Lakers if they offered him the same contract.

The only way I think that he doesn't go back to the Lakers is if they don't want him back. Are you saying the Lakers are just going to let him walk for a MLE type contract to another team?

[SouthTexasRancher]

Then you are a dumbass. Buss could be at $104mm just resigning Shannon Brown and Ariza, before he even touches Odom.

Way to form an opinion before you have learned about the subject, dumbass.

Dr. Buss keeps more than $104 million in his glove box and another $104 million in his top desk drawer just for the fun of it. If Phil wants Odom so they can try for a repeat (which ain't gonna happen) then Jerry OK's the Odom deal. And if Buss runs out of his $Billion$ then he can borrow a $Billion or two from Magic. Odom will be a Laker this coming season.

[50 cent]

He could sign with the Lakers for the MLE and ask for an opt out clause after 3 seasons or so to go after more money if he wants then. If he's going to take a cheaper deal to stay with the Lakers it would be in his best interest to put a few clauses in like No trade clause and an Opt out clause.

I know you didn't bother reading my OP, but what if Odom would prefer to start instead of coming off the bench behind Bynum, Gasol, and Ariza?

Odom could do the same thing here - sign for the MLE and ask for a player option in his 2nd or 3rd year.

I know S.A. is total hole compared to L.A. which makes this unlikely, but it certainly a possibility and shouldn't just be discarded because somebody told you it's "too pricey".

It's not too pricey if he can't get anymore elsewhere and this is the best place for him to put himself in a position to get more money in 2-3 years by being a starter on a Championship contending team.

[DrHouse]

Dr. Buss keeps more than $104 million in his glove box and another $104 million in his top desk drawer just for the fun of it. If Phil wants Odom so they can try for a repeat (which ain't gonna happen) then Jerry OK's the Odom deal. And if Buss runs out of his $Billion$ then he can borrow a $Billion or two from Magic. Odom will be a Laker this coming season.

God damn you write just like the white trash you are. Don't you have a sister you should be ing?

Anyways all this pie in the sky talk about Odom and Ariza getting offered big bucks is just that. Nobody is going to pay Ariza $7mil, that's ing ridiculous. At best he gets a little over the MLE. And Odom's situation is even worse considering his age, nobody in their right mind would s out a huge contract to him after he's already won a championship. Especially with 2010 coming around the corner.

[Ice009]

I know you didn't bother reading my OP, but what if Odom would prefer to start instead of coming off the bench behind Bynum, Gasol, and Ariza?

Odom could do the same thing here - sign for the MLE and ask for a player option in his 2nd or 3rd year.

I know S.A. is total hole compared to L.A. which makes this unlikely, but it certainly a possibility and shouldn't just be discarded because somebody told you it's "too pricey".

It's not too pricey if he can't get anymore elsewhere and this is the best place for him to put himself in a position to get more money in 2-3 years by being a starter on a Championship contending team.

He'd probably ask for those same clauses here like you said. If he does that then I'd say the Spurs wouldn't want him if they can't trade him.

Also, the Spurs are the Lakers rival I seriously doubt LA will let him come to the Spurs. They would probably offer him more money just to keep him away from the Spurs.

[50 cent]

Dr. Buss keeps more than $104 million in his glove box and another $104 million in his top desk drawer just for the fun of it. If Phil wants Odom so they can try for a repeat (which ain't gonna happen) then Jerry OK's the Odom deal. And if Buss runs out of his $Billion$ then he can borrow a $Billion or two from Magic. Odom will be a Laker this coming season.

Dr. Buss is only worth $380M.

I swear, most of you just spout off a bunch of non-sense and don't have a ing clue what you are talking about. Google is your friend.

Link to NBA Owners Net worth

[SouthTexasRancher]

God damn you write just like the white trash you are. Don't you have a sister you should be ing?

Anyways all this pie in the sky talk about Odom and Ariza getting offered big bucks is just that. Nobody is going to pay Ariza $7mil, that's ing ridiculous. At best he gets a little over the MLE. And Odom's situation is even worse considering his age, nobody in their right mind would s out a huge contract to him after he's already won a championship. Especially with 2010 coming around the corner.

Ahhh, I see Nurse Doublewide Trailer Up On Cinder Blocks is at the gay bar posting again. Get out of the bathroom and have someone drive you home. What a pervert.

[50 cent]

And Odom's situation is even worse considering his age, nobody in their right mind would s out a huge contract to him after he's already won a championship. Especially with 2010 coming around the corner.

Odom is 29. Most people consider that to be a player's prime. You're trying to make it sound like he's 36 or something.

And the Spurs have pretty much already given up on the 2010 plan, so they're ready to spend this season.