According to the numbers, Odom hasn't played SF since his early Miami days..IIRC, he didn't play SF at all this season, and he definitely didn't when they had both Gasol and Bynum on the floor IIRC..
true, they would only get LO to play PF, but they were gunning for Millsap anyway; signing LO would strengthen their backup PF and weaken one of their main rivals.
According to the numbers, Odom hasn't played SF since his early Miami days..IIRC, he didn't play SF at all this season, and he definitely didn't when they had both Gasol and Bynum on the floor IIRC..
That's another possibility, but a main reason is that Millsap is still a pretty young player..if Odom was younger, this would be a different story..if somebody is throwing 5 years at him, which is what it looks like he wants, he's going to be 34 when that ends..
True. Odom, like Horry, played a lot of 3 until Phil walked into their lives.
BTW, I'm not saying Odom wouldn't make Portland better, he clearly would..I just don't think they would invest all that $ and years on a 29-year old that doesn't really elevate them into an elite team..
What, you think Bynum was playing SF? What numbers are you talking about. Almost all the major sports media outlets refer to him as a small forward. In the Gasol-Bynum-Odom starting line up HE IS THE SMALL FORWARD.
Portland is in a tough position, which I'm sure gets Pritchard throw hissy fits. They have to spend this cap room this summer or it gets absorbed by players they already have next offseason. They barely have any options yet to spend... and most assuredly they want to spend it.
No..I meant I don't think Jackson ever played a lineup with all 3 of them on the floor at the same time..I remember Laker fans always asking for it, but it never happened IIRC..
I'm talking about numbers of how much they play at every position, particularly on 82games.com..he played 0% of the team's minutes at SF this season according to them..
I'm sure he can still play SF, but I don't think he can do it at a high level at his current age and size..I'd much rather have him coming off the bench as the leader..
i don't think Odom has ever liked putting up with Kobe's ego, and that's been made worse by being relegated to a sixth-man role.
throw in Artest now and he is looking at dealing with two of the biggest egos in the league, and he's playing behind both of them. people say that he and Artest are friends, but even if they are, i don't think it changes the dynamic for him very much.
i thought the Artest trade actually made it less likely that he would re-sign with Lakers and i won't be surprised if he goes somewhere else for similar money as what the Lakers were offering. his only problem is that there is such limited cap space around the league.
I don't think that's the issue, Odom is pretty unselfish, and doesn't seem to have an ego in that way..
It must be difficult for him to look at other guys making that much $ though..Bynum is making more $ than him either way, and Odom completely outplayed Bynum in every way during the playoffs..he sees what Morrison, Walton, and Vujacic are making..he deserves the $..
and still, i always though $14.1 mill or whatever he took last season was ridiculous for his value - especially since he posted career lows in points and rebs
Most correct. The Lakers own signings have become their own worst enemies.
Ya, Odom was definitely over payed before, but that was from Miami..
he still has to look at how over payed Bynum, Vujacic, and Walton are from Lakers management..
btw, since we talk about overpaying big men, should we come up with a new name / chant for the case when a team already in luxury tax makes a dumb move by overpaying a backup center who does not average 5 pts a game? (talking about this http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4324941)
it will increase if the lakers dont lose odom
hopefully *itch kupchak doesnt respond by picking up another stud for a discount (like nate)
LO wanted more years. LA is handicapped by Vuja 's contract as well as Luke(I can only pass) Walton's deal. My LAL friends told me 3 years 27 Mill but LO wanted the security of 5 years guaranteed.
He could still end up in LA but if this was SA, Duncan(He already had) would have opted out to take a lower salary to help the team get him more talent. Kobe DID NOT!
Heh... Memphis is going to sign and trade him to Cleveland, in exchange for Ilgauskas. Then we can spend the whole season listening to the commentators pimping LeBron.
He CAN play SF. But he isnt any where near as effective there as he is at PF. Would you want to pay $36M over 4 years for a 30 year old and play him at his weaker position, and probably only get 80% of his full value. Especially with 2 good youngsters to develop in Webster and Batum, assuming they keep them both. I think it would be too big of a risk for Portland, so i wouldnt do it if i were their GM.
But , i hope they do.
Against the Spurs now?.... the Lakers have no chance!
Exactly. That's all Odom has been waiting for.
I think he will end up in Portalnd.
This is a non-issue. The argument is about contract length. Buss is upset now but it'll blow over and Odom will re-sign in the next few days.
I honestly don't understand why Portland hasn't offered Odom the money????
I'm pretty certain Odom will be a Laker, who can the Lakers sign to replace what he brings to them. They know they need him and he knows what is up. Pulling the offer means nothing because they both want each other. Sign and trade is possible but highly unlikely.
Problem being, if the Lakers lose Odom, they'll just swing some ridiculous deal for like James Posey or Batman like they always do.
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