I'm looking at these teams going after Hedo, Ariza and Artest. I'm wondering what's happening with Lamar Odom, isn't he better than all of those guys? Doesn't he make ALOT more sense for Portland and Toronto than Hedo? How come there's not even rumor of an offer coming for him? I guess it means that LA has already locked him up and is just waiting for the right time to announce it. Sure hope he got more than Hedo's going to get because he is a better overall player.
because they know if LA is going to break the bank for anyone that its Odom, he is more indispensable to the team than ariza is. Remember they went to the finals vs Boston 2 seasons ago without Ariza Ariza isnt that critical to the teams success Odom is and if it means losing Ariza to keep Odom than thats what the lakers will do. It would be stupid if the lakers kept Ariza at the expense of odom
[Let me preface this by saying I agree with this statement, BUT....] Isn't it amazing that a player like Ariza, that's been underrated his entire career and basically won that Denver series with his defense alone, is now considered overrated during free agency yet a bum like Odom that's half-assed it his entire career that embodies the very word "overrated" is now considered an "underrated" free agent? It's strange the way player values work. It makes sense, but then again it doesn't.
Odom was traded for Shaq, Ariza was traded for Brian Cook. So Odom was over rated and Ariza under, that doesn't mean Ariza is better than Odom
I've always thought Odom pretty much sucked. He did come up big in the playoffs on occasion, but as is way he would really go MIA far too often for a player with his skills. The head is just not right on that dude.
not completely true odom caron butler and briant grant were for shaq and maurice evans and cook were for ariza and for the record i believe maurice evans give you exactly the same thing ariza does, ariza is a longer defender but evans the stronger one and evans is a much better offensive player
Transaction histories aside. I'm merely remarking upon the spectacle of a role player basically showing up a would-be star. It would be like if Battier and Artest were FA's in the same year, yet Battier was more vital to the team's success yet teams were afraid to pony up because they see Battier's limitations and know that Artest is more naturally talented so he gets the benefit of the doubt. It's the right thing to do, but then again it's not.
A 6'7 swingman that primarily shoots the open shot and defends the perimeter are easier to find then a 6'10 multi-talented forward that can shoot with 3pt range/drive/dish/post up/defend inside and outside.
So both these guys are very similar and both are available this season. Who would sign between Marion and Odom?? I'm not too sure which one I would go for. Probably Marion.
That's the value of Lamar Odom. When Odom comes up big, it is almost impossible to beat lakers. If he didnt, the lakers still have Kobe and Gasol!
There was a thread about how a couple of teams wanted to clear cap space to make Odom an offer. It won't happen, but that's as much talk as I've heard about Artest. As for Hedo, he is much more attainable than Odom is. Odom can be well paid to play for the champion. Turkoglu will cost Orlando a fortune in luxury tax if he stays.
if i was a team theres no way i'd give odom an offer. there's just no telling what kind of game he brings every game. some nights he looks great, some nights you don't even notice him.
