Lamar Odom For Shawn Marion?
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The trade speculation will continue throughout the Summer until Lamar Odom finally gets traded, if he gets traded at all. It’s been a tough road for him always being involved in trade talks however he should look at it as a copmliment. Every team is interested in acquiring his services, even at the $15 million he is owed this upcoming season.
One may argue that other teams are looking for expiring contracts, but I would argue otherwise, Lamar is a very versatile player and in the right spot can do a lot of damage. Unfortunately, from what we’ve seen from him over the years, is that he is too inconsistent to rely on for going deep into the playoffs.
Every player in the NBA has a minimum that you can require from them. For some of those player the bar is set to solid defense and solid free throw shooting, even an off night of shooting from the field. For Lamar, we just never know, as one of the best rebounders out there and most able 6’10″ ball handler in the league, the parts of his game that are questionable are his shooting and his heart.
Apparently though, not everyone questions Lamar Odom. His old team, the Miami Heat actually happen to like him a lot. “I love L.O. as a person and, of course, as a player,” Wade said. “We had one year together. I wish we could have had more.
“It’s a guy who I’ve always said it’s a possibility when he left that he can maybe come back. … A player like that, we would love to have a chance to get because he’s so versatile.”
How would Miami get Lamar Odom? A swap of expiring contracts. The Los Angeles Lakers would have to send Lamar Odom, and probably a 2nd round pick or something to that effect to the Miami Heat for Shawn Marion. For the Heat the move makes sense because resigning Marion is unlikely, at least in my opinion, and Lamar Odom can be retained for a lot less money next season.
For the Lakers the deal makes incredible sense as the shooting guard, power forward, and center positions are all filled with starters that will no be replaced. The point guard position can be easily filled as the triangle offense requires a solid shooter to drop the ball at the right time form beyond the three point line. The small forward position will showcase Trevor Ariza next season, but obviously a guy like Shawn Marion is far superior in the starting line up. Also, the defensive precense of Marion would be of great assistance for the Lakers.
The question remains however, would you rather have Shawn Marion or Ron Artest and Kenny Thomas?
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September 16th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
I personally like the idea of Marion in purple/gold. Imagine last year’s finals where he could have defended Paul Pierce while Kobe locked up on Ray-Ray. Not saying he would have shut Pierce down, but Paul would have had to work harder than he did with Odom/Radmanovic. Plus, Marion would be a beast on the break and the offensive boards, and with so much attention given to Kobe and Gasol, he would backdooring and alley-ooping to death. Yes, there is the attitude problem and if he couldn’t deal with the Nash/Stoudamire pecking order, than how will he deal with the Kobe/Gasol at the top of the chain. I say take a chance, because despite Odom’s flashes of brilliance and skill (how many guys 6’10″ can handle & dish like he does), we need a more athletic, harder-nosed player at the 3 – and that is Marion.