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The NBA is reverberating with the Pau Gasol trade to the L.A. Lakers. Many think that the addition of Pau Gasol gives the Lakers a chance to go deep into the playoffs, with a good possibility to win the west. It remains to be seen whether the trade will have such a significant impact on the Lakers’ post season play. However, this trade should have major influence on one Lakers player: Lamar Odom.

There is no disputing that Lamar Odom is a good player. However, he has not meshed well with Kobe Bryant. There are times when Lamar Odom disappears on the court and becomes an observer, as Kobe Bryant dominates play. Lamar Odom has not been the second scorer to Kobe Bryant, as the Lakers had envisioned. That does not seem to be Lamar Odom’s game.

Lamar Odom is a ‘pass-first’ type of player. He will look to pass to other players and, sometimes, he will be looking to pass when the shot opportunity presents itself. He will rebound consistently and have a ‘double-double’ games (double figures in scoring and rebounding). Rarely will Lamar Odom lead the team as the top scorer. Now, with the addition of Pau Gasol, he will have less scoring pressure.

Lamar Odom will become a third / fourth option when all the Lakers are healthy. Kobe Bryant will be the prime scorer, with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum adding large numbers to the score sheet. This allows Lamar Odom to rebound and collect assists, which seems more in line with his approach to the game. The scoring pressure will be off Lamar Odom. This is his time to shine.

Sam Smith, from the Chicago Tribune, thinks that Kwame Brown will be released by the Memphis Grizzlies after this season. So perhaps the Kwame Brown story is not completely finished for Lakers fans. That would be ironic.

Catherine Forsythe

Tags: Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers, Lamar Odom, NBA, Pau Gasol, Sam Smith, trade

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