HOW ONE MAN IS HANGING AN ENTIRE LEAGUE IN THE BALANCE
July 30th, 2009 | by clarkpojo |
This is Lamar Odom after a referee told him that concessions were out of twizzlers.
In Utah the biggest offseason story is Carlos Boozer’s nationwide personal sales pitch, but in all honesty, Boozer’s status is at a standstill. As of right now, Boozer is a Jazzman and will most likely be a Jazzman for game one of the upcoming season. Maybe it is time to just ignore the whole Boozer story for now. But only 700 miles down the road is a drama that will have a conclusion in the next week or two, and unlike the Boozer saga, this drama’s outcome will effect the entire league.
Just to summarize the Lamar Odom and Los Angeles Lakers soap opera, Odom wants to stay with the defending champions, but he wants a 4 or 5 year contract at $10 + million a year, but the Lakers only offered $30 million over 3 years or $36 over 4 years. So Odom tried to find another team to give him an offer and give him leverage to bump his asking price. The Miami Heat, with some encouragement from Dwyane Wade, offered Lamar Odom the full Mid-Level Exception, $36 million over 5 years, or really $40 million over 5 years when you consider Miami’s tax breaks. A week ago, I don’t think Odom was considering the Miami offer seriously, but after the Lakers held firm and lowered their earlier offer, Odom has got to be truly considering the Miami deal. And so the world turns and any day, the headline about Odom’s offseason decision will come. And right now, it is the biggest and most important story in the NBA.
Why Odom’s decision is important to the Lakers and most of the league
If Odom returns to the Lakers, they are unquestionably the favorites to win the NBA championship in 2010. In fact, I would estimate that the Lakers have a 50% chance to make the finals and a 40% chance to win the title if Odom returns, which are high odds with 6 or so title contenders next season. But if Miami lures Odom away, the Lakers drop into the lower tier of the league and might not even be the best team in the Western Conference. They would drop back with or behind San Antonio after the offseason the Spurs have had. Odom gives the Lakers versatility and length and is a terrific insurance policy for the erratic, at best, play of Andrew Bynum. This is all true. With Odom, the Lakers are THE favorite. Without him, they are one of the 6 contenders. This is why I am so puzzled that Jerry Buss and the Lakers are playing hardball and why I am keeping my fingers crossed that Odom takes the Miami deal.
Why Odom’s decision affects the Jazz and the Heat
If Boozer wants to get traded to the Heat, he should hope and pray that Odom chooses to go to the Heat. If the Heat can talk Odom into joining the team, then they will push harder to acquire Carlos Boozer, since they will want to win now and show Wade that they are serious about contending. Right now, the Heat don’t want to offer anything more than Udonis Haslem and Dorell Wright in order to acquire Boozer, but if they get Odom, they would probably be more willing to offer Michael Beasley for Boozer’s services. We already know that the Jazz have turned Miami down for Haslem, but you have to think they would at least consider trading Boozer for Beasley and change. In my opinion, the only way that Boozer is traded before the season starts, is if Odom signs with the Heat and not the Lakers. It is so amazing that a self proclaimed candyholic is such a big domino that needs to fall.
So if you really, really want the Jazz to trade Carlos Boozer, I suggest that you start sending Lamar Odom emails, lobbying him to join the Heat. You can reach him at willplayforsweets@gmail.com.
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