Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Lamar Odom
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Odom’s unpleasant season in Dallas put some tarnish on his value in fantasy. It’s hard to feel buoyant about a player that averaged 6.6 points and 4.2 rebounds in 20 minutes per game. He was not a happy guy last season. After the Lakers attempted to trade him for Chris Paul--a deal nullified by the league--he became unhappy and requested a trade. For whatever reason, he was never comfortable in Dallas. And while you might not like a player who becomes so easily impacted by the business side of the NBA, you also have to know that Odom can be a productive player when he’s feeling right. Odom has been saying all the right things about being a Clipper this offseason. He’ll backup Blake Griffin at power forward and Caron Butler at small forward. And lest you’ve forgotten, Odom thrived as a backup with the Lakers. Whether there’s enough playing time for him to be a nightly fantasy starter is in question, but we do expect a rebound year. As a reserve over his entire career, Odom has averaged 9.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.7 blocks, and 0.7 three-pointers. His ability to contribute stats across the board makes him a great complimentary player in both reality and fantasy.
The Lakers were forced to lean more heavily on Odom last year after Andrew Bynum suffered another injury. The result was a bounce-back campaign from Odom. In his 35 starts, Odom averaged 16.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists. Of course his numbers dropped after Bynum returned to action and pushed him to the bench, as Odom posted averages of 13.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists while playing all 82 games. He also posted his most efficient season ever, finishing with career-best marks in field-goal percentage (53.0) and turnovers (1.7). While he's no longer a threat to average more than one three, steal and block, Odom still provides enough in each of those categories to give a slight boost in value. Now that he's on the Mavericks Odom's role could once again increase to what it was on the Lakers with Bynum hurt, something that boosts his fantasy prospects appreciably.
Odom has been one of the most important players to the Lakers' latest mini-dynasty, but that doesn't translate into fantasy value. When the Lakers are at full strength, Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and Ron Artest are the starting frontcourt, leaving Odom as a supremely-talented sixth man. The arrival of Matt Barnes this season further complicates the playing time puzzle as the Lakers prep to defend another title. If Bynum sustains another injury – which doesn't seem that far out of the realm of possibility – Odom's value gets a significant boost, as the loss of Bynum would likely mean Gasol shifting to center and Odom starting in Gasol's place.
Odom’s decision to re-sign with the Lakers this offseason was great news for LA’s championship hopes, but terrible news for his fantasy outlook. When Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol are both healthy, Odom is forced to come off the bench, and now that Ron Artest is in the fold as a starting small forward that can also play the four position Odom could see his playing time dwindle even further. Odom was statistically almost the exact same producer per 36 minutes last season as he was in 2007-08, but because he played a career-low 29.7 minutes per game his fantasy value fell through the floor. Odom is still one of the most uniquely talented players in the game, combining point guard ball-handling ability with a long 6-10 frame that allows him to crash the boards with the big men. Odom has never been a big point producer, but he is still a nightly double-figure scorer that shoots around 50 percent from the field. Plus, since Bynum has missed large chunks of each of the last two seasons due to knee injuries, Odom is a nice player to have on your fantasy bench as a potential injury replacement that can produce impact stats when called upon.
Odom had a great season, helping the Lakers win the West while posting career-high averages in boards (10.6 per game) and shooting (52.5 percent from the floor) and a career-low in turnovers. But getting Andrew Bynum back on the floor could put a serious dent in Odom’s fantasy value. Like several other top NBA forwards, Odom is really at his best playing the four spot… he certainly has the handle to play on the perimeter, but he doesn’t have the quickness or the jump shot to thrive. With Bynum returning to the middle, the power forward spot will belong to Pau Gasol; Odom will either play at the three or come off the bench, and neither scenario is good for his fantasy numbers. If one of the much-rumored trade scenarios involving Odom finally comes to pass, and he’s moved to a team that will play him at the four, bump up this ranking by five or six slots.
Odom benefited from Kobe Bryant’s early-season absence last year, averaging more than 19 points, 8.5 boards and 5.0 assists in the Lakers’ first 15 games. Odom sprained his knee after that and missed more than a month, but returned from the injury to post good all-around numbers, with increased assists, boards and steals helping to counteract some of the scoring he gave up to a healthy Bryant. Odom also tore his labrum in early March, played through the injury down the stretch and had surgery to repair his shoulder in May – he should be healthy for the start of training camp. With his guard-like ball handling ability in a 6-10 frame, Odom has the talent to put up big numbers on a nightly basis, On the other hand, he has always struggled with consistency and has missed at least 18 games due to injury in four of the last six seasons. This tantalizing mix of talent and risk continues to keep him just outside of the fantasy elite, but still among potential impact players.
Odom is one of the most skilled big men in the NBA, as he handles the ball well enough to be a guard despite being 6-10. His all-around game allows him to contribute to every category with averages of almost 15 points, more than nine rebounds, 5.5 assists, and almost a steal and a block per contest. While he has some trouble from the free throw line (69% FT), he is coming off back-to-back new career highs in field goal percentage with a high-water mark last season of 48%. Playing with Kobe Bryant, arguably the league’s most dynamic offensive player and one who takes such a high percentage of the Lakers’ shots, Odom was only able to get a career-low 11.6 field-goal attempts per game, but those shots were generally wide-open looks. This explains the increase in his field goal shooting, but three-year low in scoring. Odom was more aggressive down the stretch, though, averaging 17 ppg over the final two months of the season and 19 ppg in the playoffs, which could be a sign that he and Bryant have come to the understanding that he needs more shots for the team to do well.
Does Odom have the style for the triangle? He certainly has the able passing to fit very well on the blocks in Phil Jackson's system and rebounds like a power forward, where he may often line up when the Lakers go small. Odom presents size mismatches for small forwards and has better quickness and athleticism than most power forwards. His game soars so often in free form, up-tempo flows that there's some concern he might not have the discipline and focus for the rigid triangle. Of greater concern, is the small labrum tear in his left shoulder that required surgery in April. Be sure to check in on Odom's health in camp.
Some are concerned that Odom is returning to the scene of the crime, so to speak, back in LA, where he never reached his potential as a Clipper before blossoming into an All-Star and Dream Teamer with Miami. We're not concerned. Odom was one of the bright spots in Athens, and we think he will continue to grow and mature with the Lakers this year. With Kobe Bryant, Caron Butler and Vlade Divac, the Lakers have excellent potential to become a high-scoring, fast-breaking and thoroughly entertaining squad... Expect Odom to be at the center of that, and look for him to improve on last year's averages of 17.1 points, 9.7 boards and 4.1 assists. The only concern: tougher competition. In his breakout season in Miami, Odom only needed to face the likes of Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan twice a year.
Odom's off-season move to Miami should prove to be an excellent one for him and the Heat organization. We hold high expectations for Odom and his relationship with Pat Riley. Odom's value will be even higher if he is used at both the guard positions and the forward positions, making him very flexible as a fantasy player. Odom has always had the skills to be a multi-tool player, and this should be the year he steps out of his shell. We don't expect more than 18-20 points a game (if that)with guys like Caron Butler, Eddie Jones and Dwayne Wade all needing their touches, but his all around numbers will be on par with the all stars of the Eastern Conference. Expect Riley to get the most out of his new toy and turn Odom into the complete player we have always said he would become. Our expectations go as high as predicting a possible NBA MIP (most improved player) nomination.
