The one-time Sixth Man of the Year has seen a steep fall from grace. Lamar Odom was once a star with the Los Angeles Lakers, but now he is battling on the free agent market for one team to give him a chance at resurrecting a quickly failing basketball career. After an unsuccessful stint with the Dallas Mavericks, Odom went to the Clippers and was inconsistent at best. As other big men prepare to sign elsewhere, Odom's chances at seeing the court in 2013 are getting slimmer by the minute.
On Friday, Greg Oden signed with the Miami Heat. A player that has not seen the court since 2009 signed with a team before Odom did. That is pretty significant of how far his NBA stock has fallen. Now, he is battling players like Antawn Jamison and Al Harrington for the few remaining spots left.
Many wondered why Odom was not the first choice for the Miami Heat. While he may not have had a great stint with the Clippers, he proved to still be productive off the bench and the Heat needed size. Surely they thought the already active and healthy Odom was a better option? However, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel gave a little insight into the signing.
"Word is Lamar's preference is to remain in Los Angeles. But if he is amenable to the minimum, I would have to think Pat Riley would find a place for him in Miami. While he has not been the same player the past two seasons, he still would have values as a utility player, if he is willing to accept such a role," Winderman wrote.
Odom will be forced to accept the league minimum no matter what. With his level of play, that is all the big man is worth to a team. While he is only 34-years-old, his decline in production is a huge red flag. In 2010, Odom averaged 14.4 points per game. In 2012, he put up a disappointing 4.0 points per game. A bounce back feels unlikely.
So, if Odom is adamant on staying in Los Angeles, that leaves the Lakers and Clippers to give him a second look. At this moment, the Clippers are meeting with Jamison about possibly signing with the team. The team has a roster spot, but at this moment they are showing no signs of interest in bring back Odom.
The Lakers also have a roster spot open for the big man. The team appears to be comfortable bringing the old band back together again after signing Jordan Farmar. Odom would be the final piece. However, the Lakers appear to be targeting youth over history, not favoring Odom.
Eventually Odom will get a shot. It might not be in Los Angeles, but it will be a shot. If he is serious about playing, he will take what is given to him.
