Lamar Odom Proved Worth in NBA Playoffs

Lakers forward Lamar Odom proved his value in helping the Lakers win the NBA championship in five games and will be an unrestricted free agaent this summer. Odom produced a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds in the series clincher against the Orlando Magic and finished the last year of a six-year, $63-million deal the Miami Heat signed him to in 2003. Odom earned $11.4 million in base salary this season and may have to take a pay cut if the Lakers are to keep Odom and fellow free agent Trevor Ariza. Odom has spent his last five years in the NBA playing for the Lakers and has lived in L.A. for nine of his 10 years playing for the NBA.

When asked if he would still like to be a Laker next season and in the future Odom answered, “I would like to. But I’ve got to do what’s best for my family, what’s best for the organization, for myself. All those things are involved when you’re an unrestricted free agent. I hope I can land back there.” Lamar averaged 12.3 points, third best on the team, and 9.1 rebounds, second best on the team, during playoffs and averaged 32 minutes per game (mainly because Andrew Bynum was often in foul trouble or not playing well). During the Finals Odom averaged 13.4 points, third best on the team, and 7.8 rebounds, second best. Read the full article at the LATimes.com.

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