Lamar Odom, a versatile power forward who has won two NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers, may be headed for a return despite leaving in messy fashion after the 2010-2011 season, according to reports.
Since leaving the Lakers Odom has struggled mightily to regain the form that made him an All-Star and invaluable member of two Lakers titles. He averaged 6.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game in Dallas before being sent home by the team.
A return to L.A. didn't help much; Odom played in 82 games for the Clippers last season but only got 19.7 minutes a night, averaging just four points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists a game.
In his final season in Los Angeles, Odom was scoring 14.4 points a game, grabbing 8.7 rebounds and three assists. Odom is still only 33 years old, and thanks to the departure of Dwight Howard the Lakers are in desperate need of big man depth.
Currently the Lakers frontcourt consists of Pau Gasol and Jordan Hill as the starting power forward and center, Duke rookie Ryan Kelly and veteran reserve Robert Sacre as backups.
The departure of Howard is far-reaching, even if injuries limited him to one of his worst seasons in the NBA. Despite underachieving, Howard still managed 17.1 points, 12.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. He also shot 58 percent from the field, and recorded 3.3 offensive boards a night.
The reports of the Lakers interest were from ESPNLosAngeles.com reporter Ramona Shelburne, who wrote that it has "been hard to determine how high [the] interest level is on either side thus far."
Other unrestricted free agent big men on the market include Chris Wilcox, Mareese Speights, Chris Kaman, Tyler Hansbrough, and Elton Brand. The Lakers can also consider bringing back Antawn Jamison, although he does not offer much in terms of size in the post, defense or rebounding.
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