until lamar teamed up with kobe back in 2005, i thought he was a very very good player. since then, i think the coach and the team and the pressure of LA has held him back. I would be interested to see him in a new environment. Remember his series vs New Orleans in 2004? He was great
Because Boone has proven he can play, and SWat hasn't. But don't want to trade SWat either, at this point, unless the return is something that will possibly significantly improve the Nets future.
The Lakers are in win-now mode. They see the Hornets and the Blazers building powerhouses which will be legit title contenders in the next decade. Then they see the Jazz and Rockets who are contenders this season and could remain contenders for the next few years. They know Kobe won't play legendary basketball forever, and that his prime will end eventually. Why trade a valuable contributor such as Odom AND Ariza for a scrub, a guy who won't give them anything Ariza can't give them in Simmons and Williams, who isn't anywhere near Odom's level offensively and is kind of a project? The only way the Lakers will trade Odom would be in a trade for a proven player, like AK47 or Marion. They need to have as much firepower as possible in order to protect their status as contenders until Kobe's prime ends.
