Question nobody has asked yet

[fairweatherfan06]

If the rumors are true and Lamar Odom really is not going back to the Lakers and goes to Miami/Portland or elsewhere.  Who gets his minutes on the Lakers now or who do they go after for those minutes? (disclaimer: I in no way believe they have interest in BBD)

From my standpoint I see a good starting lineup but a bench featuring Adam Morrison, Vujacic, and Jordan Farmar, that's not a particularly scary bench, especially considering how the Spurs have reloaded and Dallas doesn't look so bad either....

[Roy Hobbs]

I'm trying not too much to think about it until it actually happens.  You're right, though, the Lakers would be pretty thin.  Luke Walton would see increased minutes.  Other than that, there are a bunch of question marks.

[celticinorlando]

if la loses odom they are in trouble...they don't have much left to go out and get anyone

[Prof. Clutch]

By this logic, even with Odom they are pretty thin.  It's great to have a good sixth man, but that alone won't do it.  Especially in the playoffs when the shortened rotation because so crucial to the success of the team.

But who knows what will happen...also didn't somebody else step up for them this past season?  Was it Shannon Brown?  He wasn't on the aforementioned list and is somebody they could look to for more bench support.

[nickagneta]

If they lose Odom that is still a good starting 5 in Kobe, Artest, Gasol, Bynum, and Fisher. Their bench will be weak but they will still go deep, deep into the playoffs. If they lose Artest, Kobe or Gasol to in jury, they probably don't get out of the second round.


Boy that sounds familiar!!

[CoachCowens]

If they lose Odom that is still a good starting 5 in Kobe, Artest, Gasol, Bynum, and Fisher. Their bench will be weak but they will still go deep, deep into the playoffs. If they lose Artest, Kobe or Gasol to in jury, they probably don't get out of the second round.


Boy that sounds familiar!!

Bynum is overrated and Fisher is a year older. Without Odom i don't see them getting far.
The lakers will have have a big 3 like the Celtics, but the drop off after that big 3 is huge compared to the C's. 

[Roy Hobbs]

By this logic, even with Odom they are pretty thin.  It's great to have a good sixth man, but that alone won't do it.  Especially in the playoffs when the shortened rotation because so crucial to the success of the team.

But who knows what will happen...also didn't somebody else step up for them this past season?  Was it Shannon Brown?  He wasn't on the aforementioned list and is somebody they could look to for more bench support.

I think you're underrating the importance of Odom; he averaged 32 minutes per game in the playoffs.  If he's gone from the Lakers, it will be a fairly significant loss.

(Ariza averaged 31.4 minutes.  Artest alone wouldn't make up for the loss of both.)

[winsomme]

LA absolutely has to get Odom back. I can't believe they are dragging their feet on this. He was essential to them winning both the WCF and the Finals.

somewhere during the WCF a light bulb went on for him and he realized that he could post up and be a big problem for DEN. He carried that confidence into the ORL series and really became the X-factor for LA. He was a total pain to Lewis on the defensive end and just seemed to find spots all over the floor on the offensive end...

I don't think LA wins it all last season without Odom.

[winsomme]

By this logic, even with Odom they are pretty thin.  It's great to have a good sixth man, but that alone won't do it.  Especially in the playoffs when the shortened rotation because so crucial to the success of the team.

But who knows what will happen...also didn't somebody else step up for them this past season?  Was it Shannon Brown?  He wasn't on the aforementioned list and is somebody they could look to for more bench support.

I think you're underrating the importance of Odom; he averaged 32 minutes per game in the playoffs.  If he's gone from the Lakers, it will be a fairly significant loss.

(Ariza averaged 31.4 minutes.  Artest alone wouldn't make up for the loss of both.)

minutes aside, both Ariza and Odom made plays...all throughout the playoffs. I think Artest is going to have to work his behind off just to replace the contribution of one of those guys not to mention both...

don't get me wrong, Artest is one tough player and he will be good for them next season, but they simply can't let Odom walk IMO.

[wil]

I'm trying not too much to think about it until it actually happens.  You're right, though, the Lakers would be pretty thin.  Luke Walton would see increased minutes.  Other than that, there are a bunch of question marks.

Yea, i'll believe they lose Odom when it happens.  they must know that they absolutely HAVE to have him back, and Odom must know that LA is the best place for him.  I can't see either side wanting to walk away.  I'm not even thinking about this possibility until it actually happens.  (if, by some strange event it does happen...then i'll be estatic)

[footey]

Can't see Odom going anywhere but Lakers.  Too much for them to lose.  He is a talented, versatile 6th man who really stepped up in play-offs last season.

[Redz]

They can just trade Morrison and a bag of balls to Memphis for Rudy Gay or something.

[Prof. Clutch]

I think you're underrating the importance of Odom; he averaged 32 minutes per game in the playoffs.  If he's gone from the Lakers, it will be a fairly significant loss.

(Ariza averaged 31.4 minutes.  Artest alone wouldn't make up for the loss of both.)

Perhaps it was the way that I phrased it, but I what I was trying to say was that this thread made me realize that even if the Lakers retain Odom their bench is not incredibly impressive.  I am in complete agreement with you about the importance of Odom, and I also agree that Artest can't make up for both his and Ariza's loss.

What I attempted to express, albeit poorly I guess, was that I just hadn't thought about the Lakers bench before, and now when you look at it, there is a short list of players they can depend on.  Farmar, Vujacic, (maybe) Brown.  But who else?  Who else will come in and take the stress of their starters?  As I said before, especially in playoff time when the benches are shortened and you go to your solid guys, the Lakers might start to find problems when they turn to their bench without Odom (and possibly with him.)

Basically, I agree with you Roy, it would be a significant loss.  And I believe that even with him, they might have bench problems.  I just didn't say it clearly.

[Aaron]

Whoa, you guys are waaaaaaaaaaay off.

Odom is a joke.  The Lakers don't need him.

In fact -- and Mitch Kupchak, I hope you're paying attention -- I got an inside tip that Zach Randolph is about to blow up!  I did a little after-hours trade machine work to see how the Lakers could get their hands on him (that one's free of charge, Mitch), and it's simple:

Gasol for Randolph, straight up. 

You pull off that trade, Mitch, and let Odom walk off into the sunset... another parade in Laker town next year.  Guaranteed.

Trust me!

[Prof. Clutch]

They can just trade Morrison and a bag of balls to Memphis for Rudy Gay or something.

Forget Morrison, Memphis might be willing to do that deal just for the bag of balls.  I've heard they've got great upside potential.  Chris Wallace loves upside potential.