Kupchak non-committal on extension for Odom

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Los Angeles Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak said the team would like to re-sign restricted free agents Sasha Vujacic and Ronny Turiaf, although he hedged somewhat when asked if Lamar Odom would receive a contract extension this summer. Odom, 28, has one more season and $14.1 million left on his contract.

"We want to see how we perform in the playoffs, what the market is like this summer, and most important, how successful our team will be in the playoffs," Kupchak said.

Source: Los Angeles Times

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1. Posted by Matt A Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:38 pm EDT
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Go Lakers!
2. Posted by Tim M Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:23 pm EDT
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He will have to take a pay cut, since the Lakers are so far over the cap.
3. Posted by mark i Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:08 pm EDT
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I'd like to keep Sasha but he'll likely leave--he'll be overpaid by a bad team like Charlotte or Seattle. Turiaf will likely stay. Lamar's got one year left and there's no cheap free agents who could easily a replace one of the league's better (not best) all-around ballers who can play 4 positions. Keep him.
4. Posted by karl c Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:54 pm EDT
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you wanna win, take less dough. That's the laker way... a good way.
5. Posted by djzerone Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:45 pm EDT
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Paycut. We already overpayed for his underproduction thus far.
6. Posted by TedB Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:59 pm EDT
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He's Lamar, wildly talented, wildly inconsistent. Would be extremely hard to replace all he can do even if they need to sign him for the same price, Look what $12-15 million gets you in the NBA these days: ZachRandolph, Ben Gordon, Luol Deng and Andre Iguodola turning down $10-12 million for 5 years after accomplishing nothing. Who would the Lakers trade him for?
7. Posted by Older_than_Moses_Shaq Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:56 pm EDT
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So much ability. So little fire. About time Lamar has somebody like Kupchack let him know about the facts of NBA life. Use it or lose it.
8. Posted by jon Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:54 pm EDT
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Get Atlanta to sign and trade Smith. Lakers would average 10+ blocks a game.
9. Posted by cturk85 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:32 pm EDT
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He's got the talent, we've all seen him power dunk done the lane before. Keep him, but homies got to take a pay cut
10. Posted by j d Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:14 pm EDT
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Kupchak has grown so much as a GM. He has really engineered this current team post Jerry West era. I think Kupchak is a "value oriented" GM so I believe his stance on Odom is the correct one. Other GM's know this to be true with Odoms inconsistency and I argue; lack of awareness at key moments in a game. Besides Bynum could give the Lakers what Odom is supposed to give them but very consistently. With Gasol and Bynum in the middle, I would do a sign and trade Odom, Mimn to get a premier small forward or a guard. IMHO
11. Posted by A Yahoo! User Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:49 pm EDT
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That's a wise decision you need to solidify that bench, as for odom well if they do decide to trade him in the offseason i just hope they can someone good i just hope that mitch doesn't turn out to be a one hit wonder with the aquisition of pau. They need to make sure they get a top free agent if they can't acheive that then they should simply wash their hands of it and stick with odom.
12. Posted by Hawk Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:17 pm EDT
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"Paycut. We already overpayed for his underproduction thus far."
I'm sorry. How many double doubles does he have? Are you nuts?
13. Posted by Diggler S Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:43 pm EDT
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wait after the playoffs and decide. with Gasol in he has proved to be a great 3/4 combo. the ideal test will be when Bynum is in the mix. Wow - Bynum@5 - Gasol@4 - Odom@3 - Kobe@2 and Farmar@1.
Can you imagine?
14. Posted by steven k Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:43 pm EDT
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I like Odom despite his inconsistencies. But let's face it, it's gonna be hard for him to guard faster 3's. I know that's his natural position but he's not a thin 22 year old now. He's transformed into a solid 4. I hope he'll take a paycut to stay with the lakers but I don't count on it. The lakers are already stacked with small forwards anyway.
15. Posted by Nick M Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:52 pm EDT
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Lamar is a GREAT PLAYER. He is just not a great #2 on a team. He looks for his teamates first. With Bynum and gasol being the #2 he becomes a consistant and dangerous #3! There isn't really any other player out there that can replace lamar. Shawn marion? He makes more then lamar does and he plays for the money. Wait until next year when your team is healthy, he will be at the small forward and you will see him play and live up to his potential. Lamar is truley a player that could reinvent magic johnson. He doesn't have that fire to take the lead though, thats alright on the lakers though.
As for turiaf. YOU MUST!!! Resign turiaf. He has consistant play and he has more energy then any other player in the league, even more then KG and Iverson combined! Not to mention he's the nicest guy you'll meet! As for sasha? Im afraid he'll be gone. He is too one dimensional. All he is, is a pure 3 point shooter. Which isn't a bad thing, and even isn't that bad of a shooter. He's a dangerous deep threat but lakers will need to free up some room. Also turiaf is a steal, he makes less then $1 million a year!
Players that won't be on the lakers next year, DJ congo, Chris Mihm, Ira newble, Sasha vujacic and possibly walton or vlad rad will be traded.
16. Posted by J C don't hate Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:30 pm EDT
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When he is a 3 not a 4 position he is one of the best in that position.
Great rebounder his stats don't lie.
He makes everything look so easy because he is that good.
I know this you let him go the Lakers will be an OK team not a great team.
Bynum is not that good "not yet" it is going to take a while 2 years maybe.
Wrong answer Kupchak
17. Posted by Troy Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:21 pm EDT
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They need to try and keep odom, sasha, and turiaf (especially). Turiaf is a hard type of player to find. Sasha is a good backup for Kobe, and I think he'll stay if an offer is made to him since he likes L.A. so much and he is really good friends with Pao Gasol. I've always liked Odom and I really hope they sign him. He is so versatile and he fits great with everyone healthy.
18. Posted by youknowyouseeme Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:57 pm EDT
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absolutely no way you lose odom. the lakers are known to pay value & reward players that have played for small contracts (rick fox) for staying to WIN. He won't get a max extention because the Lakers WILL max out Bynum but Gasol is not an issue yet. sasha is a fluke this season like luke was last season (hmmmm both happen to be contract years). I would not not resign sasha but package him with luke & for a CONSISTANT small fwd. Coby Karl would provide offense off the bench without a problem as he IS the best pure shooter on the team. Lakers would still have a solid top 5-8 (teams) bench.
19. Posted by Gassy Garry Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT
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i think he is doing the right thing by waiting. i love odom but he tends to choke under pressure. that's not to say the guy isn't one heck of a player.
20. Posted by TERROR SQUAD Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:43 pm EDT
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If Lamar doesnt mesh well and struggles guarding true SFs then he has to go and we need to find someone who can truly play the SF position. Contrary to what everyone thinks Lamar is actually better suited at PF because he is tall and he doesnt have enough quickness to stay with SFs oh and his jumper is BROKE. If he struggles then the Lakers should go after a SF who is quicker and still a competant rebounder, but most importantly a SF who can defend and hit the open jumper, we'll already have a big lineup with Bynum and Pau so Lamar is expendable if he struggles at SF. I dont know whos out there maybe Mike Miller, Iguodala, Artest etc who ever.
21. Posted by Com-Pee-Ta Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:08 pm EDT
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Smart move... Gotta make the boy earn his keep.... Consistenly!!!
I think Lamar is here to stay though... He's been playing solid basketball ever since he has come to grips with the loss of his son and monther. His spirit and energy has been positive since then and that translates onto the baketball court.
Plus he knows his roll and fits in well with the system so it'd be a waste to trade him... I think Kupchak is not guaranteeing anything to keep Lamar focused and motivated!
22. Posted by youknowyouseeme Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:57 pm EDT
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to #21...in reference to losing sasha you have coby k in which the ENTIRE laker team (& Phil J.) has said he is the best pure shooter on the team. odom is a good defender & all around b-player. scoring is not the problem with the lakers it's defense. once the middle gets back healthy that should not be an issue. much rather have odom than another head case in artest (we already have kobe!). odom is too unselfish to be a #2 scorer. he fits in just fine where he is now!
23. Posted by avg323 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:46 pm EDT
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you can tell whats gonna happen next year by just looking at lamar's pic..LOL
and that face will be on every lakers' faces after they exit the playoffs winning nothing.. AGAIN??!!!! LOL
24. Posted by youknowyouseeme Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:57 pm EDT
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well put #24
25. Posted by Larry M Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:56 pm EDT
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Bordigol you little weasel hiding over here ?