The Los Angeles Clippers are bringing home a player that they shipped away many years ago. Lamar Odom is going to be in a Clipper uniform again, but this time his role will be very different. The Clips need veteran help to go with their young talent, but there is some risk associated with Lamar Odom. Will he be one of those missing pieces that are needed to build a championship squad? Or will he have another unhappy end like he experienced in Dallas?
The good
At his best, Lamar Odom is an extremely versatile player that can play a number of different positions. He can play small forward, do some work in the paint, and even run some point. Odom also gives the Clippers another veteran big man that can help support Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. Lamar may be getting older, but he still has the potential to be a major contributor.
The risk
Of course, there are some downsides to Lamar. He is older, and at some point every player's skills will diminish. In addition, Odom has the reputation of being a "sensitive" person. In other words, if he is excited about being with the Clippers, he may be a great asset. However, if he has a poor attitude about being traded, he may struggle with motivation. Hopefully he will feel wanted by the Clippers and be inspired to be a key contributor.
Depth at the point
It is tough to see Mo Williams go, as he was a solid player for the Clippers. However, Los Angeles does have depth at the point guard position with Chris Paul and the emergence of Eric Bledsoe. Therefore, they can probably afford to let one of their point guard go, particularly if they bring Chauncey Billups back in the middle of the season. Overall, I am not convinced that this trade will turn out, but sometimes you have to take risks if you are going to build a champion.
Sources:
The author grew up in Seattle and now lives in Los Angeles, where he waits patiently for the Sonics to return to the Pacific Northwest. In the meantime, he roots for the Clippers to become a winning franchise, and perhaps even the most popular team in their own city. You can follow him on Twitter @tpheifer.
More from this contributor:
The Top Five Worst Logos in the NFL
Worst #1 NBA Draft Picks of All Time
My First Trip to Yankee Stadium
