The Finals are barely over, but the LA Times is already discussing the possibility of the Lakers moving Lamar Odom to avoid a substantial luxury tax over the next three or four years. He is due to make $14.6 million next season, which is the final year of his contract.
Odom was in their package for Gasol until Memphis owner Michael Heisley took him out, asking for lesser players who afforded more cap relief. Odom then surprised everyone, meshing smoothly with Gasol to give the Lakers twin towers who were wizards with the ball and, according to San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich, the NBA’s best passing team.
If the Lakers had gone on to win a title, with all the good feeling that went with it, they might have given Odom the extension that he’s now seeking.
Since they didn’t win a title, with the Finals highlighting Odom’s limitations in what could be seen as a preview of next season, they’ll surely shop him this off-season.
Unless Andrew Bynum’s knee injury is more serious than reported, there isn’t going to be much room for Odom when the young center returns. With Pau Gasol playing power forward (which is a stretch in itself), Odom would have to play small forward. He’s capable, but he’s not a good enough shooter to space the court in L.A.’s triangle offense. With a frontline of Bynum, Gasol and Odom, the Lakers would have three guys that can’t consistently hit a jumper from 12-15 feet, and that’s not good.
However, I’m not sure moving Odom is the answer. The Lakers would need to take on enough salary to make the trade work under NBA rules, so they would have to find a trade partner that is willing to give up something (like a first round pick or a good young player) and has enough expiring salary to match Odom’s big contract. Regardless, they are on the hook for his salary this season, so why not keep him? He’d do well in a role of the bench (though there’s not telling if his ego could handle it) and he would provide nice insurance if either Bynum or Gasol went down. They would always have the option of completing a sign-and-trade next summer if an interested team didn’t have the salary cap space to sign him directly.
Whatever the Lakers do with Odom, the franchise needs to address the small forward position. Vladimir Radmanovic is a horrible defender and Luke Walton can’t shoot, so the team’s only real option in the playoffs was to move Kobe to small forward and play Sasha Vujacic at off guard. Once Vujacic’s jumper stopped falling, the Lakers were in a pickle.
If the Lakers do move Odom, they need to find a sweet shooting small forward that can play defense. If Trevor Ariza can continue to improve his range, he might be that guy, but he only shot 28% from long range last season, so he has a ways to go.
