IMO Lakers resign Odom, and will eventually pay him his 10 mil. If they don't, that Ron Artest signing will be all for none, imo.

I believe this to be the case as well. Lamar has the leverage here and he knows the Lakers need him. When he is on his game and ready to play, the Lakers are virtually unbeatable (at least this past season they were).

Artest is an all around better player than Odom.

 

Artest tries hard all the time and is focused. Odom is WAY more talented. When he plays hard he is a top 40 player in this league.

Honestly Odom has very little leverage. It well known he wants to stay in LA or by a beach. There are only 3 teams that can sign him to the type of money he wants. LA and Portland are 2 but I forget the other one. He really doesn't have to many options.

No, they won't be better...there's a chance they could be better depending on Andrew Bynum's health and progress.

 

The big factor with Dallas and Miami is that Odom won't have to pay state taxes there...in LA Odom will be paying 10.3%.

 

To put it simply, an 8.07 million dollar offer from Miami or Dallas would be the equivalent of the 9 million dollars LA was prepared to pay him.

Something to consider...

 

Lamar said he likes the beach. I say Miami is where he'll be if a deal with LA doesn't get done...

 

 

Yeah, but neither Miami or Dallas can afford to give him a penny more over the 5.8 million mid level exception. He loses more money by not playing for the Lakers. He will be making a huge mistake.

An interesting question to debate....If Odom goes elsewhere, are the Lakers really better next season? Sure they added Artest, but lose both Odom and Ariza. Does Artest coming outweigh the losses of both?

 

It's not so much about being better, it's about being better than everyone else next year. I think they will still have the tools to repeat next year as Kobe will be extremely well rested after getting a summer off. Gasol will also be well rested as he played in the Olympics last year as well. Bynum will be a year older and if he can stay healthy will be a huge help and Artest is every bit as good if not better than Odom.

 

At this point I am not worried, but like most of you I still think Odom comes back which would easily make them the preseason best team on paper.

 

Without Odom, they are still capable of being the best team at the end of the year, but they aren't the preseason best team on paper.

Yeah, but neither Miami or Dallas can afford to give him a penny more over the 5.8 million mid level exception. He loses more money by not playing for the Lakers. He will be making a huge mistake.

 

Florida and Texas don't have state income tax, so he really wouldn't be getting that much less money. 9 Million dollars is going to get taxed pretty heavily in California. I still think he goes back to the Lakers though.

Florida and Texas don't have state income tax, so he really wouldn't be getting that much less money. 9 Million dollars is going to get taxed pretty heavily in California. I still think he goes back to the Lakers though.

 

10.3%

 

A 9 million dollar contract in LA, would be 8.07 after California state taxes. That's roughly 2.3 million more dollars to stay in LA.

 

I still think he ends up in LA unless Portland or somebody just blows him away with a big offer and overpays.

It's not so much about being better, it's about being better than everyone else next year. I think they will still have the tools to repeat next year as Kobe will be extremely well rested after getting a summer off. Gasol will also be well rested as he played in the Olympics last year as well. Bynum will be a year older and if he can stay healthy will be a huge help and Artest is every bit as good if not better than Odom.

 

At this point I am not worried, but like most of you I still think Odom comes back which would easily make them the preseason best team on paper.

 

Without Odom, they are still capable of being the best team at the end of the year, but they aren't the preseason best team on paper.

 

 

I'm pretty sure everyone else will be just as well rested, and if you're going by that logic then you can say that every team other than LA and Orlando should be more well rested because they were knocked out earlier.

I'm pretty sure everyone else will be just as well rested, and if you're going by that logic then you can say that every team other than LA and Orlando should be more well rested because they were knocked out earlier.

 

Nope, what I am trying to say is that he will have a lot more in his tank next year in May and June than he had in his tank this year. He had played 200+ games in the last year and a half between goingto the Finals against the Celtics, the Olyympics, and then back to the Finals again.....with virtually no rest......and still led the Lakers to a championship. Pau Gasol did the same thing. I like the Lakers chances with a well rested Kobe and Pau. They won't be as fatigued come May next year. Kobe isn't 22 anymore. Once you get to 30+, you need all the rest you can get.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4334968

 

Could this mean that the Blazers possibly persue Odom?

I'll be surprised if he doesn't come back to the Lakers.:scared:

I'm pretty sure everyone else will be just as well rested, and if you're going by that logic then you can say that every team other than LA and Orlando should be more well rested because they were knocked out earlier.

 

I think the point is more that Kobe has played non-stop basketball for the last two or three years...at his age, that's a lot of wear and tear. I think he wore down as the playoffs advanced. I expect a summer off to really help him by allowing him some down time to heal, rest and recover...also, mentally the strain and drain of playing all the time has to be tough.

I think the point is more that Kobe has played non-stop basketball for the last two or three years...at his age, that's a lot of wear and tear. I think he wore down as the playoffs advanced. I expect a summer off to really help him by allowing him some down time to heal, rest and recover...also, mentally the strain and drain of playing all the time has to be tough.

 

The point I was trying to make using different words. Thank you.

I think the point is more that Kobe has played non-stop basketball for the last two or three years...at his age, that's a lot of wear and tear. I think he wore down as the playoffs advanced. I expect a summer off to really help him by allowing him some down time to heal, rest and recover...also, mentally the strain and drain of playing all the time has to be tough.

 

That's a lot better...

That's a lot better...

 

Whatever......if you have been paying attention, then you already know all that Kobe has been doing(playing in Olympic qualifiers, losing in the NBA Finals, bringing home a Gold Medal, winning the NBA Championship)in the last 3 years without a break has been physically taxing and he actually gets some time off to rest his aging body. You know what's going on......