NBA - Sports Rumors

Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:22 am EDT

Lakers could play Odom at guard in 2009

By Joe Zedalis

Lamar Odom

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New season, new Los Angeles Lakers? The Lakers could feature a completely different makeup next season, Coach Phil Jackson said Friday.

"If and when [Andrew Bynum] is back, which we anticipate, it will be a different team entirely," Jackson said.

The shifting probably will involve players sliding into new roles, rather than a full-out hunt in the free-agent market this summer. It will include juggling a loaded frontcourt and Lamar Odom possibly moving from power forward to small forward.

"It's a real issue," Jackson said. "We think we can do it. We think people will have to sacrifice."

General Manager Mitch Kupchak said the team would be creative in its rotation next year, and one option was for Odom to play guard and Kobe Bryant to move up to small forward.

"It could be the longest and biggest frontcourt in the NBA in many, many years," Kupchak said.

"It is a team that would be very talented, very long and versatile, and I think training camp would be an important time to test out what [Jackson] has done during the summer."

Source: Los Angeles TimesNew Window

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1085 Comments

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  1. PAUL F
    1. Posted by PAUL F Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:14 pm EDT

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    yeah, and Bynum will be point guard......gimme a break
  2. showtime7
    2. Posted by showtime7 Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:51 pm EDT

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    oh but yes!!! watch for them boys in 2009 - 2014
  3. chris m
    3. Posted by chris m Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:00 pm EDT

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    next years starters look like this- pg - Farmar, sg - Odom, sf - Bryant, pf - Gasol, and c - Bynum
  4. starscream4789
    4. Posted by starscream4789 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:39 pm EDT

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    I hope the Lakers would trade Walton for SharpShooter!
    C- Bynum
    PF- Gasol
    SF- Odom
    SG- Bryant
    PG- Fisher
  5. chris m
    5. Posted by chris m Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:00 pm EDT

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    id rather trade odom and vulajic for someone like baron davis or maybe watching the draft go after ben gordon
  6. Datuca
    6. Posted by Datuca Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    I am a lakers fans but looking at the celtics and spurs series it is obvious that they need a good perimeter defender. Pierce torched them, Manu would have done the same if he was healthy and spurs would have won. Also, (don't want to jinx it) why is everyone assuming bynum will be healthy all season next year and even if he is, he has no playoff experience beyond first round. People are counting out spurs, hornets and even jazz next year and assuming lakers will reach the finals. They won't unless they make some changes. They need a consistent shooter and a perimeter defender. they also have to start with farmar and make fisher come off the bench. Whenever rondo was healthy, he blew past him. Imagine what would CP do to him?
  7. levy
    7. Posted by levy Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:57 pm EDT

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    I have posted a comment prior to game 3, lakers will go knowhere if kobe and phil will not unload glassfull of success and fill a new one. its so horrifying to see a player act as if he is the king. basketball is a t-e-a-m game. kobe & lakers, what have you done to shaq? phil, what were your sarcastic comments to shaq going to phoenix? you set aside the legacy of the man for lakers. is it karma? lakers is now a hostage & at the mercy of one... are you sleeping?
  8. Tand T
    8. Posted by Tand T Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:14 pm EDT

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    WHAT odom will be traded no ? about it he is history with the lakers
  9. Joseph Roland Carreon
    9. Posted by Joseph Roland Carreon Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:40 pm EDT

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    get camby and artest
  10. Optimus Prime
    10. Posted by Optimus Prime Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:07 pm EDT

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    go celtics
  11. Terrance M
    11. Posted by Terrance M Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:59 pm EDT

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    trade odom for artest dump radmonovich
    dump mihm
    sign a shooter and wiin the title definitely re-sign turiaf and sashi
  12. Hector T
    12. Posted by Hector T Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:17 pm EDT

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    He (Odom) is multi-talented, a great ball handler & passer and could play every position, plus we don't have to rely on him to score, so I don't know how this would hurt LA. His biggest problem is consistency, but sorry fellow Laker fans we are better with him than without him and I don't know who would bring us better value via a trade.
  13. cliff f
    13. Posted by cliff f Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:47 pm EDT

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    You can play Odum at any position and get the same results: an inconsistant player. The Lakers are not a shoe in for next year. They got lucky they didn't run into CP3 and the Hornets or they wouldn't even of made the finals.
    They need some changes based on what we saw in the finals. My thoughts:
    Trade Gasol for Antwon Jamison.
    Trade Odum for Ron Artest.
  14. Oliver
    14. Posted by Oliver Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:33 pm EDT

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    No way should Ron Artest be on the Lakers. That guy is just a troublemaker waiting to explode. The Lakers need more interior toughness and then the Lakers have a good shot at getting the Championship next year,
  15. the Voice of Reason
    15. Posted by the Voice of Reason Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:36 pm EDT

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    he's not a guard, trade him for another Kobe lackey.
  16. Montgomery C
    16. Posted by Montgomery C Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:25 pm EDT

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    Just a thought to throw out there, even though due to cap space is unlikely to happen, if they were to sign the free agent jamison there line up would be the biggest and probably the most talented starting five in the NBA.
    Running
    C-Bynum
    PF-Gasol
    SF-Jamison
    SG-Odom
    PG-Bryant
    This being said I can't stand the lakers and this is only trying to continue the odom at guard theory
  17. Danno
    17. Posted by Danno Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:49 pm EDT

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    #15....trade Gasol for Antwon Jamison??? You have got to be kidding. Ron Artest is a free agent, too. No trade necessary. Playing Odom at guard seems ludicrous to me. He showed late in the playoffs that he can't drive without charging. The triangle didn't work at all against the Celtics. Kobe got doubled and no one else could do it. Fish can't take the lane and also can't defend any faster guards. I like the ideas of packaging a couple guys for a Baron Davis. I think Odom will always be inconsistent and that needs to be worked into the equation. Artest is getting older and hopefully more mature. He would be a great add to the mix. He's worth the gamble. We know Luke can't play that small forward part. We need better defense and that's Artest.
  18. flobert
    18. Posted by flobert Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:08 pm EDT

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    Trade that non shooter walton and odom and get artest !!!!!!! get some help on the bench, get rid of mihm, walton and get a shooter.
  19. flobert
    19. Posted by flobert Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:08 pm EDT

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    Play odom at guard and where are you going to play fisher ? power forward, what a joke .
  20. BUSTER
    20. Posted by BUSTER Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:58 pm EDT

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    Sure will be good for you guys to get rid of Vlade from the Starting line up. Putting Lamar in his place will not hurt you guys one bit. Just be an upgrade. You guys will be alot better in Every way with Bynum and Pau in the paint. Still you guys should get another Defender and threat like artest, or baron. Getting rid of Vlade, Luke, Farmar, Maybe.
  21. Hitman
    21. Posted by Hitman Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:48 pm EDT

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    That's stretching it a bit, don't you think?
  22. mcol
    22. Posted by mcol Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:08 pm EDT

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    trade walton,odom mihm. get corey maggette.! whats your opinion lakers funs?
  23. kalabi
    23. Posted by kalabi Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:57 pm EDT

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    Hello Lakers fans and haters, can you guys relax.....give the Lakers a break....is not end of the world...for my opinion Lakers, will be fine next season....NBA is a big big money maker...and they know what there doing....I gaurantee Boston versus Lakers again next year....And Lakers will win this time around!!!!No need to trade anybody.......Remember Gasol and Bynum didn't play together yet....and Gasol play only half way of the season....So Relax...do something and enjoy your summer...see you guys in June.....
    MABUHAY LAKERS FUNS....
  24. fu
    24. Posted by fu Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:49 pm EDT

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    Hey playa, the last 5 years haven't seen the season MVP win the ring, so give kobe a break and learn your spellings.
  25. Mr. Yankee
    25. Posted by Mr. Yankee Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:17 pm EDT

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    everyone is forgetting about ariza as our perimeter defender...when healthy he is a shut down defender and he showed glimpses during his limited pt in the finals. Just like post #24 said...If Odom takes Vlad's spot in the starting lineup thats an upgrade at both ends of the floor, no question.
    Bynum
    Gasol
    Odom
    KB24.com
    Farmar

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