So, Lamar Odom is going to the New Orleans Hornets in a deal involving Chris Paul landing with the Los Angeles Lakers, Pau Gasol heading to the Houston Rockets and Luis Scola getting with the Hornets. No, wait, none of that is happening. For “basketball reasons,” apparently.
Now poor Odom himself (last season going for 14.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.31 stocks) doesn’t know what’s up, but right now he’s asking a couple of philosophical questions. And like all such good queries, this one just leads to more questions…
Posted Mr. Kardashian on Facebook at about 10.45pm EST last night (their time): “When a team trades u and it doesn’t go down? Now what?”
Here’s what: Odom’s next recorded response seems to have been, according to Orange County Register sportswriter Mike Bresnahan, to lock himself out temporarily. Odom reportedly just might skip first day of Lakers training camp because “You don’t want to go no place you’re not wanted.”
Hmmm … that makes things interesting now, dunnit? Hasn’t Odom suddenly lowered his trade value by intimating that what BiE’ll call “team chemistry problems” might result as a consequence of the failed acquisition? Won’t the Lakers pretty much now have to deal their most tradeable asset at any price?
Also, the ratings on the latest season of “Khloe and Lamar” are already up.
As for Gasol (18.8 points, 10.2 boards, 2.18 stocks per game in 2010-11), also slated to be involved in the blockbuster deal … well, one of the big league’s more devoted tweeters hasn’t virtually weighed in on anything since Wednesday. ¿Que pasa, Pau?
Here’s Bresnahan again (look away now, Laker backers): “…Source close 2 Pau said he was ‘devastated’ by original trade. Not sure how he is now.”
Yeesh. A shortened preseason, new coach, totally different system. Kobe’s creakier and creakier knees, Derek Fisher’s advancing age. At least two disgruntled players – one of whom is a top 20 NBAer and should be among the top 30 or so in the big league in terms of preparedness thanks to his training with FC Barcelona – coming into 2011-12; three if you include Andrew Bynum, which you probably should.
Interesting time to be a Lakers fan…
