Keeping Odom

The Lakers keeping Lamar Odom after his flirting with Miami is a huge move for a repeat for LA. Odom's play off numbers are ppg 12.3 RPG 9.10 APG 1.8 EFF +18. His numbers are are a great advantage to the Lakers as well as his size and versatility. The triple threat of LA with Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom make Los Angeles a more dangerous team. This is not even to mention Kobe Bryant, the best player on the planet or the acquisition of Ron Artest. The contract Odom received was $32.8 Million over 4 years with the Lakers holding a team option in year 4. The Lakers are a much better team with Odom than without him. The loss of Odom would have been a major blow to the Laker lineup and could have potentially cost them the chance of a repeat. With Odom, they have a much better shot at a repeat and are now the team to beat. The Celtics just got better with the signing of Rasheed Wallace and are now better with KG back from injury that plagued them last season and cost them from advancing to the Finals. Odom has a great potential to rebound and either start or come off of the bench as the sixth man and be a threat to spark the Lakers bench play as he did last season. Miami tried hard, but Odom is right where he wants to be, in contention for another championship or maybe two more. Time will tell.