<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Odom said he "definitely" hopes to stay, saying: "This is a team I want to retire with." And after the death of his infant son last summer and then injuries this season, Odom expects next season could be his breakthrough."When I do come back in shape and physically fit and focused, I don't think there should be anything that's going to stop me," he said</div>http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/sport...cle_1681700.phpI still think we should keep Lamar, but trade Bynum if the right deal comes along. One thing that LO showed me this season, was his heart. He showed his willingness to play under tremendous stress and pain(injuries) just for the good of the team, the Lakers. There is no doubt in my mind that he would have been an all-star this past year if it were not for injuries. Bynum also expressed his aspirations to be an all-star in the future but the kid has a way to go.
Good I'm proud of Lamar and I'm glad hes staying he played many games to fight off his injury and since hes having surgery on his shoulder hopefully when the season starts it will be his breakthrough season.. :dribble:
He was amazing at the begining of the reg. season, if he can get back to that then I really do think he can help the lakers in a big way.
If they have a chance to keep him, them keep him. But if he is needed in the trade with KG, then I say trade him. He's a great player, but he will never be that big tuff guy the Laker's are looking for, and need.
Player's that they'll breakout "next " season every year - ship him out. I wish he had of said he's happy to go but, cos it would have made it easier to get him gone. He is the chip they should be bargaining with - him and Bynum.
I'm sorry Lamar, but guess what, it's not up to you. The Lakers front office well do what it thinks is right, this isn't in your hands. It's not college where you can opt to stay another season, or jump in to the NBA. So we will see what happens.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I hope Dom stays I'd hate to see him go unless the deal was for KG</div>You'd need a little bit more than Lamar Odom to get Kevin Garnett
I really hope LO stays, this year he's had injuries, but lets not forget thats not all he had to play thorugh, I mean his infant child died, and then he was mugged...If he stays healthy all next season he could be a big difference IMO.
Im so freaking puzzled at why the Lakers want to keep Andrew Bynum. I agree he has so much potential. You guys stick to him as if he were freaking Michael Jordan. If the right deal comes up, deal his ass out of here. Like at the trade deadline when you guys had Jason Kidd right in your hands. Everybody is like he has amazing upside, and will be great future. Except the thing is, the Lakers still have to worry about now. Kobe's going to be like 35 before these guys ever get into playoff contention again.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RaptorFan#1 @ May 8 2007, 01:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Im so freaking puzzled at why the Lakers want to keep Andrew Bynum. I agree he has so much potential. You guys stick to him as if he were freaking Michael Jordan. If the right deal comes up, deal his ass out of here. Like at the trade deadline when you guys had Jason Kidd right in your hands. Everybody is like he has amazing upside, and will be great future. Except the thing is, the Lakers still have to worry about now. Kobe's going to be like 35 before these guys ever get into playoff contention again.</div>That is the dumbest post I have EVER read at this site. Why get a 34 year old for a 19 year old, with alot of potential? And PLAYOFF contention? Um, we made the playoffs the past 2 years in a row......
If the Lakers want to take it to the next level, bring in a star, and contend with Kobe in his prime... Odom has to go. It's that simple, IMO. Andrew Bynum and the sh*tty contracts of Brown/Mihm/etc. won't get you anything. It's gonna have to start with Odom/Bynum and then fillers/picks if you want to bring in a guy like Jermaine, KG, etc. Who knows what the asking price will actually be, anyway, or who will be available. I think Jermaine is the closest thing to being a "sure thing" when it comes to availability this summer. KG is too loyal, who knows with him, and Gasol may have a nice reason to stay if the ping pong balls bounce Memphis' way. Getting a star caliber player in LA won't be as easy as you guys think, but if it is going to happen, Lamar is as good as gone.
I really don't think anyone cares what Odom says. If they get a shot at getting a real player they'll ditch Odom. If not, he stays. He's not unmovable.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KobeBryant_24 @ May 8 2007, 04:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>That is the dumbest post I have EVER read at this site. Why get a 34 year old for a 19 year old, with alot of potential? And PLAYOFF contention? Um, we made the playoffs the past 2 years in a row......</div>Making the playoffs is not contention. And as long as you guys keep getting the 6th, 7th and 8th seeds your not getting passed the first round. And Yeah you make perfect sense as well. Andrew bynum will obviously get the Lakers more places than Kidd. My bad.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RaptorFan#1 @ May 8 2007, 03:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Making the playoffs is not contention. And as long as you guys keep getting the 6th, 7th and 8th seeds your not getting passed the first round. And Yeah you make perfect sense as well. Andrew bynum will obviously get the Lakers more places than Kidd. My bad.</div>Know, that is called an NBA Championship contender when your in the playoffs......
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RaptorFan#1 @ May 8 2007, 06:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Making the playoffs is not contention. And as long as you guys keep getting the 6th, 7th and 8th seeds your not getting passed the first round. And Yeah you make perfect sense as well. Andrew bynum will obviously get the Lakers more places than Kidd. My bad.</div> In his defense, you did say playoff contention. "Playoff contention" means contending for a playoff spot. EDIT: Also, they wouldn't have won anything if they did make a move for Kidd. Sure, they would have made a run and been more exciting, but they wouldn't have won anything. With Kidd, you have a 2-3 year window to make something happen.
I like LO. I'd like to see him stay but, if him being a part of a deal can bring us some good and *lasting* success then make the deal. Don't trade him for some quick fix though, it's not worth letting him and Bynum go so we can be good for 2 years.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ May 8 2007, 06:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>In his defense, you did say playoff contention. "Playoff contention" means contending for a playoff spot.EDIT: Also, they wouldn't have won anything if they did make a move for Kidd. Sure, they would have made a run and been more exciting, but they wouldn't have won anything. With Kidd, you have a 2-3 year window to make something happen.</div> Are you telling me even now or in the future Andrew Bynum will ever fuel a Lakers playoff push? I doubt.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RaptorFan#1 @ May 8 2007, 04:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Are you telling me even now or in the future Andrew Bynum will ever fuel a Lakers playoff push? I doubt.</div>That's not what he was saying. He meant that even if we traded Bynum for Kidd, it would not have made a significant difference as far as how successful we are in the post season. Like he said, we would have made a run and been more exciting but nothing more. At least if we keep Bynum, we will get more offers (like this summer) and the fact that he's still the youngest player in the NBA with all the potential he has makes him more valuable. At least in the long run. Why do you think NJ was willing to trade their all-star point guard (and leader) that's a triple-double machine for a young 19 year-old center? For the same reason the Lakers kept him. Now they just have more options as of what to do with him.I honestly think at one point in his career, Bynum will become an all-star. He might only end up having a career like let's say Jamal Magloire...but the kid still has potential to be great.
