We’re all caught up in what the Lakers could do this season. Let’s stop for a moment and think about what they could do beyond that. In both cases, Jordan Farmar is a major element. Is Lamar Odom? Hmm. Check out my weekly column about the Lakers’ future.
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Posted in: 2007-08 • Jordan Farmar |
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February 25th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
As Kevin alluded to in his column, it may come down to whether the Laker ownership wants to pay LO’s relatively high salary. He certainly would help the Lakers be one of the best teams in the league for another half of a decade — i.e., a starting 5 of Bryant, Gasol, Bynum, Odom and Farmar for the next 5 years (wow). But also as Kevin pointed out, other young players (like Sasha, Ariza and Turiaf) will likely improve over the next few years, and when Walton is fully healthy, he can do a lot of the things LO does. I strongly doubt any one of them by himself will ever be better than LO but keeping 2 or 3 of them on the team may be viewed as more important than keeping LO on the team (at the cost of losing the 2 or 3).
My prediction is that LO will be traded before his contract expires (and I think his stock will actually rise this year and next year because he will have demonstrated by then that he is a really really good complementary player — in other words, he won’t simply be dead-weight like Kwame was this year), and the Lakers will get a couple of good prospects/picks in return, so that they can continue to keep a supply of good, young talent.
February 26th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Awe man it might make sense to trade LO in terms of dollars, but he is such a great guy and it is obvious that the team loves him. As well, maybe he would be willing to take a payc cut in order to remain a part of this new lakers dynasty. Thats what I want.
February 26th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Once you accept the fact that Lamar is never going to be a star but can be a solid contributor with the addition of Pau Gasol and soon (please Lord) Andrew Bynum. L.O. looks to be a solid contributor to the Laker success. As long as he can “let the game come to him” and isn’t required to work too hard he will be a fairly consistant contributor.
With regard to the league fining Phil for his remarks about Forte. What’s wrong with this picture? Any fool can say anything about the president, true or not, without fear of retribution. Let a coach question the work of an official and it costs him 50 to 100 Gs. Freedom of speach does not apply to all Americans apparently.
February 26th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
I think Lamar is a very important piece for the Lakers today and for the next couple of years. It’s not as easy as many might assume to find a guy who can play PF and SF positions and give you 15 points and 10 to 12 rebounds per game. Plus he is a very good ball handler for his size.
One of the reasons Lamar is such a good rebounder is his size and long arms. He is able to get rebounds that Ronny Turiaf or a Ariza would not be able to get even if they were in the same rebounding position.
February 27th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
I have always valued Odom’s contributions tremendously and it is going to be a sad day if/when he leaves the Lakers. Ideally, Odom would take a pay cut in the order of $10 million/year for 2-4 years when his contract expires, but that is simply not going to happen. If Buss feels he can’t afford the salary and luxury tax on four players making $15+ million/year, I am sure trading Odom would not be hard. He is highly sought after and we could get some quality players and/or draft picks for him.