SB Nation Los Angeles - Lamar Odom Rumors: Versatile Mavericks Forward Might Welcome Return To LAhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48949/la-fave.png2012-03-06T13:09:35-08:00http://losangeles.sbnation.com/rss/stream/26138042012-03-06T13:09:35-08:002012-03-06T13:09:35-08:00Lamar Odom Refutes Los Angeles Rumors
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<p>The Los Angeles bug is strong in <span>Lamar Odom</span>. Odom played eleven of his first twelve seasons in the NBA in LA. He started off with the <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Clippers</a> and had four productive campaigns, although the final two were cut brutally short with injuries. Odom was then traded to the <a href="https://www.hothothoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Heat</a> for a year and was <span>Dwyane Wade's</span> cohort in crime before being dealt to the <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Lakers</a> in the Shaquille O'Neal trade. Since then, Odom has been <span>Kobe Bryant's</span> main batterymate for the past seven seasons, culminating in two NBA championships.</p>
<p>It makes sense that Odom would be fond of Los Angeles, and it makes further sense that he'd be interested in a return after his time with the <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dallas Mavericks</a> is done. Odom refutes those original rumors, though. <a href="http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/03/05/3786447/odom-says-meeting-with-carlisle.html" target="_blank">Dwain Price of the Star-Telegram reports</a>.</p>
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<p>Odom said he never asked the Mavs to buy out his contract so he could play for the Los Angeles Clippers. He also said he's happy with the Mavericks, and doesn't know how some of the wild rumors got started.</p>
<p>"Some of the rumors were untrue and that's something you have no control over," Odom said, "It's just like you're not here for eight days in a row, or however many days, and people stop seeing you and start talking."</p>
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<br>Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/03/05/3786447/odom-says-meeting-with-carlisle.html#storylink=cpy</div>
<p>Regardless of whether Odom is interested in a return or not, rumors will persist as long as he stays in his basketball funk. The Mavericks need much more from Odom, and they aren't getting it right now. Dallas needs to somehow get more out of him and release the Los Angeles Odom that was so dangerous for NBA teams to deal with at his best.</p>
<p><b style="font-style: italic;">To discuss the possibility of Odom on an LA team,<a href="http://www.silverscreenandroll.com" target="_blank"> hit up Silver Screen and Roll</a> to talk with Laker fans, or <a href="http://www.clipsnation.com" target="_blank">go to Clips Nation</a> to talk about the issue with Clipper fans. To talk about Odom with Mavericks fans,</b><b><i> <a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">go to Mavs Moneyball.</a></i></b></p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/los-angeles-clippers/2012/3/6/2849786/lamar-odom-lakers-clippers-mavericks-nba-rumors-2012Avinash Kunnath2012-03-06T03:30:13-08:002012-03-06T03:30:13-08:00Lamar Odom Rumors: Former Laker Forward Wants To Return To Los Angeles
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<img alt="Mar 3, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Lamar Odom (7) during the game against the Utah Jazz at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/R9C1Oq1TF7R0ZzHi2cyTZjP0UoE=/1x0:999x665/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/5802484/20120229_mje_se2_353.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mar 3, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Lamar Odom (7) during the game against the Utah Jazz at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Could Lamar Odom join up with the Los Angeles Clippers or the Los Angeles Lakers after he finishes his time with the Dallas Mavericks? </p> <p><span>Lamar Odom</span> has spent his entire basketball career on the coastline. He started in the NBA with the <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Clippers</a> before being dealt to the <a href="https://www.hothothoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Heat</a>, then was there for a short time before spending seven solid seasons with the <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Lakers</a>. However, after almost being dealt this offseason in the near <span>Chris Paul</span> trade, Odom asked to be moved, and he was granted his trade to the <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dallas Mavericks</a>.</p>
<p>Odom could've been a versatile piece toward another title run for Dallas, but he's fast looking like <i>persona non grata </i>given his current struggles. Odom is suffering through career lows with Dallas, and the Mavericks organization is getting tired of his woes.</p>
<p>It seems Odom may have left Los Angeles, but his heart is still there in some respects.<a href="http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:7644325" target="_blank"> Ric Bucher of ESPN has this report</a> that indicates that Odom is ready to head back to Hollywood at his earliest possible convenience.</p>
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<p>It makes sense. Odom has always been a moody player, and he seems to have had his heart set on retiring as a Laker. The fact that Los Angeles was willing to deal him so casually hurt him, but in the end he still would rather finish his career back in LA, probably with the Clippers (unlikely to be the Lakers). We'll have to see what path he ends up choosing, and whether he can learn to embrace Dallas.<i><b><br></b></i></p>
<p><i><b>To talk about the Odom situation, <a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com" target="_blank">talk with Mavs Moneyball</a> (Mavericks fans),<a href="http://www.silverscreenandroll.com" target="_blank"> Silver Screen and Roll</a> (Lakers fans) and <a href="http://www.clipsnation.com" target="_blank">Clips Nation</a> (Clippers fans). </b></i></p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/los-angeles-clippers/2012/3/6/2848485/lamar-odom-clippers-lakers-mavs-nba-rumors-2012Avinash Kunnath