Is Portland/Utah Stupid??? Lamar Odom still available

[heyvik]

Can someone please explain why more teams aren't going after Lamar Odom? I think that he is a difference maker for the Lakers and would be huge loss for them. Why did Portland opt to sign an undersized (6'8")Millsap to an Offer sheet instead of Odom? IMO, Odom has a greater skillset, 2" inches height difference, able to play SF/PF and being on Portland would weaken the West's Best team? Maybe the Pistons are gearing up for to make him an offer?

[GKC]

I'm asking the same thing of Portland. His reboundign at the 3 would solve LMA's lack thereof at the 4

He built a rep of, not lazy, but doesn't always have the best motor. I still want people to take him to cripple the lakers depth.

[rondofan9]

i was thinking the same thing id take Odom over Millsap anyday Losing odom would kill the lakers the guy is one of the toughest players to guard in the league while i cant stand him im praying someone signs him.

[GKC]

i was thinking the same thing id take Odom over Millsap anyday Losing odom would kill the lakers the guy is one of the toughest players to guard in the league while i cant stand him im praying someone signs him.

Not to mention, the road to the finals in the west probably goes through the lakers. As the trailblazers, wouldn't you want to take a competitive edge out of them? And you know Lamar Odom have some pretty big games against LA

[D Dub]

totally agree.  I went on a Portland board and asked the same question, everyone seems to have their minds made up that Millsap will improve the team.


It's like they are all afraid to admit their GM is having a horrible offseason.  They are really going to be screwed when Utah trades Boozer and matches their offer.  Waiting that process out will likely cost them Odom, who should have been their 1st target all along.

Portland will then be in the unenviable position of being the only contender with cap space, and having struck out on each and every one of the impact forwards in this forward-rich market.

At the end of the day, they'll probably have to settle for Glen Davis.  Ya think Prichard is regretting not trading Raef last year when he was the best assett in the league?  Terrible management by KP, imho.

[Fafnir]

i was thinking the same thing id take Odom over Millsap anyday Losing odom would kill the lakers the guy is one of the toughest players to guard in the league while i cant stand him im praying someone signs him.

Not to mention, the road to the finals in the west probably goes through the lakers. As the trailblazers, wouldn't you want to take a competitive edge out of them? And you know Lamar Odom have some pretty big games against LA

They can't offer Odom enough money with their limited cap space to pry him from LA. He'd just use their offer to pry an extra million or two from LA. Portland probably doesn't care to be used as a negotiating tool.

[Fafnir]

totally agree.  I went on a Portland board and asked the same question, everyone seems to have their minds made up that Millsap will improve the team.


It's like they are all afraid to admit their GM is having a horrible offseason.  They are really going to be screwed when Utah trades Boozer and matches their offer.  Waiting that process out will likely cost them Odom, who should have been their 1st target all along.

Portland will then be in the unenviable position of being the only contender with cap space, and having struck out on each and every one of the impact forwards in this forward-rich market.

At the end of the day, they'll probably have to settle for Glen Davis.  Ya think Prichard is regretting not trading Raef last year when he was the best assett in the league?  Terrible management by KP, imho.

Why do you think they'd lose the chance to sign Odom. LA is only offering Odom 7 million per year right now and he'd love for another team to sweeten the pot with a higher offer.

[heyvik]

Can a Blazer fan please tell me how is Millsap better than Odom?

[D Dub]

totally agree.  I went on a Portland board and asked the same question, everyone seems to have their minds made up that Millsap will improve the team.


It's like they are all afraid to admit their GM is having a horrible offseason.  They are really going to be screwed when Utah trades Boozer and matches their offer.  Waiting that process out will likely cost them Odom, who should have been their 1st target all along.

Portland will then be in the unenviable position of being the only contender with cap space, and having struck out on each and every one of the impact forwards in this forward-rich market.

At the end of the day, they'll probably have to settle for Glen Davis.  Ya think Prichard is regretting not trading Raef last year when he was the best assett in the league?  Terrible management by KP, imho.

Why do you think they'd lose the chance to sign Odom. LA is only offering Odom 7 million per year right now and he'd love for another team to sweeten the pot with a higher offer.

Well, Utah has a week to match the offer for Millsap.  And they look to be positioning to do so (by moving Boozer).

Portland having to wait all week for that to develop could be all the time LA needs to get a deal done on Odom.  Mitch K. has to know Portland will come calling if (when) the Millsap thing falls through.  My feeling is LA gets Odom locked up this week before any of that can transpire.  

[D Dub]

Can a Blazer fan please tell me how is Millsap better than Odom?

you can read all about it here:
http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=926389&start=45

Apparently Millsap doesn't smoke as much bud as Odom, so he's the better fit.....

[paintitgreen]

Wow, Odom is being wildly overrated in this thread.

Odom finally pulled it together (sort of) after a full career of not living up to his ability. Why would anybody trust him with any sort of big money offer? He's ridiculously unreliable and inconsistent, he's soft as grapes, and he doesn't work hard or care. We want Portland to go after him because it weakens the Lakers - but does it strengthen the Blazers as much as a tough, young, hard-working power forward would? No, it doesn't. Millsap is a very good player. And he works. Odom is a more talented player, who doesn't work and is older.

Portland doesn't (at least in their mind) have a 2 year championship window they're trying to hit - they're looking at having the best possible 5 to 10 year window. Odom doesn't help that. This is probably the last semi-big free agent they can add for the next half decade, since they'll have to give out long term deals to Roy and Aldridge next summer and possibly Oden after that. For a team whose recent history includes mail-in jobs and criminal behavior by the likes of Zach Randolph, Darius Miles, Ruben Patterson and yes, Rasheed Wallace (not criminal behavior, but mail-in jobs for sure), they're not going to give that contract to a jerkoff like Odom. They want to wrap somebody up long term - you're not gonna give long term money to Odom. And if you guys would, you'd have buyer's remorse within three months.

Portland hasn't had a good offseason, but placing Turkoglu and Millsap above Odom is far from a bad decision.

[cdif911]

maybe the teams feel that Odom gets in the way of their summer 2010 plans?

[D Dub]

Wow, Odom is being wildly overrated in this thread.

Odom finally pulled it together (sort of) after a full career of not living up to his ability. Why would anybody trust him with any sort of big money offer? He's ridiculously unreliable and inconsistent, he's soft as grapes, and he doesn't work hard or care. We want Portland to go after him because it weakens the Lakers - but does it strengthen the Blazers as much as a tough, young, hard-working power forward would? No, it doesn't. Millsap is a very good player. And he works. Odom is a more talented player, who doesn't work and is older.

Portland doesn't (at least in their mind) have a 2 year championship window they're trying to hit - they're looking at having the best possible 5 to 10 year window. Odom doesn't help that. This is probably the last semi-big free agent they can add for the next half decade, since they'll have to give out long term deals to Roy and Aldridge next summer and possibly Oden after that. For a team whose recent history includes mail-in jobs and criminal behavior by the likes of Zach Randolph, Darius Miles, Ruben Patterson and yes, Rasheed Wallace (not criminal behavior, but mail-in jobs for sure), they're not going to give that contract to a jerkoff like Odom. They want to wrap somebody up long term - you're not gonna give long term money to Odom. And if you guys would, you'd have buyer's remorse within three months.

Portland hasn't had a good offseason, but placing Turkoglu and Millsap above Odom is far from a bad decision.

I'd rather have Odom for 9 million than Millsap for 8 million.

Millsap made the most of his contract year on account of Boozer going down, but is still a career backup.  He shouldn't be making more than the MLE, and will be impossible to trade if he gets this 4yr/ 32 million dollar deal that's being reported. 

That just doesn't seem like a step forward for Portland.  At least signing Odom gives them a greater chance to beat LA... 

[paintitgreen]

I would agree that giving this offer to Millsap is pretty much a panic move. They're desperate to get somebody. Maybe that's not the best decision.

However, not giving the money to Odom in a desperation offer is a good decision. If they did that, they would regret it.

And what's more, if Millsap gets matched, then they weakened the Jazz's resources considerably, and can still give an offer to Odom if they are really and truly desperate.

[Mr October]

I'd take Odom over Millsap in a heartbeat. As much as people complain about Odom's inconsistency, his peak is worth it.

He fluctuates from good (say 9 pts, 7 reb in 29 minutes, and a couple mental lapses), to dominant - tearing through defenses with his speed, size and versatility (going 8-10, with 25 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 blocks). He gives most (non garnett) teams major headaches when he is on.

Millsap is good, but will never be a dominator... especially in the post season. What did he do against LA? 11 and 8? Big deal. Thats lower end Odom material. By the way, in that series, Odom put up 17 and 11 while shooting 62% from the field.

On top of this, if you are Portland, wouldn't you want to stick it to the Lakers? Your big rival?