Lamar Odom Reportedly Meets with Lakers About Potential Return to LA

For the first time in a long time, there is basketball-related news to report on embattled free agent Lamar Odom.

According to TMZ, Odom has been working on a return with his former employer, the Los Angeles Lakers:

Our sources tell us Lamar met with Laker execs Monday afternoon to discuss terms of a possible return. We're told things went well -- though nothing's been signed -- and that Lamar's first choice has always been to return to the Lakers.

The last time Odom suited up for the Purple and Gold, he secured Sixth Man of the Year honors while posting a career-best 19.4 player efficiency rating during the 2010-11 season. A versatile big man, he's capable of changing games on both ends of the floor and anywhere in between.

But that's assuming he's at his best.

His basketball reputation was battered over the last two seasons.

Miffed by his inclusion in a trade that would have sent Chris Paul to the Lakers, Odom demanded a trade and was eventually dealt to the Dallas Mavericks prior to the start of the 2011-12 season. In Dallas, he posted career lows across the board before abruptly leaving the franchise prior to the end of the regular season.



He spent last season with the Los Angeles Clippers. While he managed to play all 82 games, his scoring was lower than it had ever been (4.0), and his field-goal percentage stayed beneath 40 for the second straight season.

Off the floor, Odom's reputation has been tarnished even more.

In August, he was stopped for suspicion of DUI. This came just days after ESPN reported that Odom's friends were trying to get him help for a drug problem. A rehab stint followed shortly thereafter, but People reported that he was in and out of the facility in about 24 hours.

A source close to the situation told Jen Heger of Radar Online in late August that the Lakers would welcome Odom bac...

About the Author