Dallas Mavericks part company with Lamar Odom – NBA Update
In a startling development, the Dallas Mavericks and Lamar Odom have reached a mutual understanding to sever ties. The forward will has struggled throughout the season with Dallas and the two sides recently came to the conclusion that ending their association is the best way forward.
Odom and the Mavericks will part company immediately. The former NBA Sixth Man of the Year has issued a statement, insisting that the move was a necessary one and thanking the franchise, its players and fans for their support.
"The Mavericks and I have mutually agreed that it's in the best interest of both parties for me to step away from the team," Odom said in a statement to ESPN.com.
"I'm sorry that things didn't work out better for both of us, but I wish the Mavs' organization, my teammates and Dallas fans nothing but continued success in the defence of their championship."
Odom joined the Dallas Mavericks at the start of the current NBA season after several successful years at the Los Angeles Lakers. However, in the off season Los Angeles tried to trade away Odom, without taking the player into confidence. Even though that trade fell apart, the relationship between Odom and the Lakers broke down, leading to his transfer to Dallas.
On paper, Lamar looked like a great acquisition for the Mavericks, but things didn’t work out as hoped on the court. Odom never found his rhythm in a Mavericks shirt and failed to perform to his usual high standards.
As things didn’t improve while the season dragged on, the player and the franchise didn’t see any other way out. The Mavericks plan on listing him as inactive for the rest of the season, while still a part of the roster.
This way they will be able to trade him next season, instead of releasing him outright for nothing. As Lamar cannot play for another club in the remaining season and playoffs, the move makes sense to him as it will give him time to sort things out and focus on the future.
Mavericks will obviously suffer from the loss of a player of his calibre, but Odom’s production has been poor and the Dallas roster is deep enough to cover for him. At least in the eyes of head coach Rick Carlisle.
"We'll adjust. We've got other guys," Carlisle said. "I really feel that we have other guys that are ready to step up. So that's what we'll do."
The NBA World Champions will now place additional burden on veteran Shawn Marion, who has been a mainstay for the side this season, and Vince Carter is expected to move into the small forward slot as cover for him.
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