New York-native Lamar Odom has decided he wants to add his
hometown team the New York Knicks to the list of basketball cities he has
called home during his NBA career.
Odom still has one year left to his contract with the Dallas
Mavericks at $8.2 million but a team has up to June 29 to buy him out at $2.4
million if they don’t want to pay the whole sum.
The Mavericks are expected to try and deal Odom to another team
before then but if not then they will most likely buy him out, allowing him to
become a free agent.
Sources close to Odom say he is interested in playing in New
York if his contract is bought out but the Knicks may not have room to sign
him. The Knicks are currently awaiting arbitration on whether they will be able
to invoke guard Jeremy Lin’s Early Bird rights when they attempt to re-sign him
this offseason.
There will be no shortage of suitors for Odom’s services
though. Odom has the size and length to play all three frontcourt positions.
And when he’s motivated, he’s a great rebounder, passer and scorer with range
all the way out to the three-point line.
But that was part of the problem for Odom this past season.
Upset that the Los Angeles Lakers included him in the failed Chris Paul trade,
Odom demanded to be traded.
Lakers’ general manager Mitch Kupchak granted his wish and
shipped him off to Dallas. Odom was still visibly distraught about the trade
scenario and some other off-court issues he had experienced last year and ended
up having his worst season of his career statistically.
But Odom has said that all of those off-court distractions are
behind him and he is ready to focus on playing ball again. Odom will add a
versatile skill set as well as championship experience to any team willing to
sign or trade for him.
And if Odom has his choice it will be with the Knicks. A front
court featuring Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler, Amare’ Stoudemire and Odom
would be a scary sight to see. Scary enough to contend for a ring.
Roosevelt Hall is an NFL Blogger for The Sport Mentalist and an NBA Blogger for The Sport Mentalist 2. He is also a Sports Reporter for Pro Sports Lives. He can be contacted at RHall_TPFB@Yahoo.com and be sure to follow him on Twitter @sportmentalist.
Odom would be a good addition if he's really committed to playing. Odom can be very productive when he wants to be but he can also mess a team up if he's not happy.
ReplyDeleteSince he is a new york native,I think he'll play good.