It’s quite astonishing that Lamar Odom still doesn’t have an NBA team for next season, but that situation might not last long, as the Los Angeles Clippers are still looking to add big men to their roster, and might make an approach to the player very soon.
Odom played the first four seasons of his career with the Clippers and made his return last year. But from being one of the more versatile big men in the NBA, the current version of Odom is a lot more subdued, with hardly any offensive contribution (4 points per game last season), as it seems that any passion he had for the game was zapped out of him the moment the Lakers traded him to the Dallas Mavericks.
It doesn’t mean he doesn’t have his uses. He’s still a very good rebounder and a smart player to have coming off the bench for 15-20 minutes a night. He averaged six rebounds per game in 19.7 minutes last season, and the Clippers, who are still looking to add a power forward or a center to fill one of their two remaining roster spots for next season, will probably give Odom a minimum contract in order to comeback.
Odom did make $8.2 million last season, but it’s hard to believe that after the last two years anyone is willing to give him anything more than the veteran’s minimum. He himself, if he actually still wants to be part of the NBA, will gladly take it. The Clippers have DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin in the frontline and seem to be very deep on the outside, but not when it comes to the frontcourt.
Ryan Hollins remains on the team, but he won’t be getting plenty of minutes. Byron Mullens was recently added to the team, but they want more from their bench when it comes to the rest they can give Jordan and Griffin, and for a minimum deal, Odom seems to be the best option remaining to pick up.