All the pundits and fans are wringing out their crying towels. Oh, what a tragedy is the Lakers lose Lamar Odom. What a terrible deal it amounts to! Odom and Trevor Ariza for Ron Artest.
It’s just not worth it, they cry. You lose two and get only one in return. But that one player that you get is worth the other two. Why? Because he WANTS to be a Laker. And he doesn’t care about the money.
The other two just wanted their egos stroked. Show me how important I am to this team by putting out some extra loot.
Well, I’m glad Jerry Buss showed Ariza and Odom how improtant they were. He let Ariza go without a second thought and brought in Artest, and he pulled the offer to Odom, who showed his appreciation by actually considering offers from other teams worth far less money.
Buss proved once again that no one is going to hold him hostage even if he has to break up the team. He did it back in 2004 and he will do it again if he has to. And good for him.
So, the pundits cry out all the more. If the Lakers lose Odom now, they get absolutely nothing for him. They could have traded him last year and gotten something.
Well, they didn’t trade him, and the Lakers got something – their 15th NBA Championship. Look at it this way, Laker fans. Jerry Buss and the Lakers rented Lamar Odom for one year for $14 million in order to win the title.
But all that Ariza bought himself with an extended contract was five long years with a non-contender instead of three years with a team that competes for the title every year.
And what do you think Odom will be buying himself in Miami? Even if the Heat can add Carlos Boozer, so what? Dwayne Wade, Carlos Boozer, and Lamar Odom will still be only the fourth or fifth best team in the East.
The Heat may make it through the first round of the playoffs, but that’s it. They are no match for Orlando, Boston or Cleveland.
As for the Lakers, they will still be the top dogs in the West even without Odom. Andrew Bynum will come back stronger. Ron Artest is a competitor and does some of the things that both Ariza and Odom did. And there’s still Derek Fisher, Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant.
Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic had off years. If either one of them regains their competitive form, the Lakers will be stronger. Adam Morrison has looked good in the Summer League and could give the Lakers bench an added lift.
Also, trust Buss and GM Mitch Kupchak to come up with a free agent like a Chris Wilcox who can give Artest and Gasol some added relief.
I don’t think Buss will put the same offer back on the table. Odom, who has been so inconsistent over the past four years even though he was making the big bucks, will have to take less money or walk
But don’t worry, Laker fans. Unlike what you are being told in the media, the only loser hear is Lamar Odom not the Lakers. They will still be playing come next June.
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I think the problem here is that a big part of the reason the Lakers won was their “length” – other teams just could operate effectively against the Lakers size, especially inside. Ariza and Odom are a legit 6-8 and 6-10 respectively and very athletic so they play even bigger. On top of that the Lakers have 3 7′ footers. Ariza and Odom could each guard Orlando’s 6-10 forwards and give them a lot of problems, and Odom could guard the 6-11 Howard. And when either of them came over on a double Howard was lost.
Replacing them with the more conventionally sized Artest and Walton (or Morrison) removes that advantage and suddenly teams no longer have problems operating against us. You’re right that Artest is a superior player to either Odom or Ariza, but for a team concept losing both of them and replacing them with smaller and less athletic guys is going to hurt.
If this is in fact posted & not some tainted media outlet, the most important facts should come out about this trade…
Lamars’s Agent Schwartz is a piece of grap. He single handedly is destroying the Lakers roll into the next championship and he is playing Lamar as a fool.
There are no excuses or benefits to Lamar for leaving the lakers, unless he is the dumbest guy on the court, has his priorities totally screwed up, or as I am beginning to believe each day that Lamar does not sign with the best team in the league, a dynasty for that matter, Lamar simply does not care about the sport itself as much as he cares about some more money…, and not even that much more.
Is Lamar that dumb? I say its hard not to say YES he is.
Why, he stays in L.A., bonus, Stays on the greatest basketball team, bonus, when another championship which some never do, bonus. Maybe this time he can prove is worth even more than he wants now, maybe he can really be consistent and an over-achiever?? Then imagine how god-like he would be.
Schwartz is screwing everything up here.., and its all about his pockets not the game.
This is exactly how music, film entertainment, and good businesses stop progressing.. Greedy middle men / agents only want money, they don’t care about the product or the arts…
Lamar, be a man and make up your mind!!! I challenge you to prove how great you are on the greatest team! Or you can remain a victim and leave to a weaker team with no chance of a winning again. Where is your loyalty, fans want you here in L.A.
Stay at beach brother!!! Rons here too, as a supportive member, here that supportive of you.
Lamar should just stay in LA! Exactly what would he gain from leaving? A few more million.
Why dont we ask Barkley, Payton, Karl Malone, Stockton, etc what they would do? Hes not a player trying to get his first big contract? Hes already paid?
Lakers went out and got his Queens Bridge buddy, every Laker fan is drooling at the thought of a possible 4 peat or at the least another championship and then Mr Schwartz messes up the best team in the league and kills fans all over the world for what? Whats his cut? A few million?
Lamar should just take the offer if extended by Mr. Buss even if less than original and just make shirts through his Rich Soil company saying Keep Odom in LA. I guarntee fans will go out and order it to support him and the Lakers.
Make the shirt accept the next offer if put out! The fans will be happy and buy shirts I guarantee!
Thanks for the comments guys. You all make great points. One thing is definite if Lamar leaves for Miami for essentially the same contract – He’s an absolute moron!