Lamar Odom Traded to Los Angeles Clippers

REUTERS/Mike Stone (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)
Los Angeles Lakers' Lamar Odom (C) is double teamed by Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki (L) of Germany and Tyson Chandler during Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference semi-final basketball playoff in Dallas, Texas May 8, 2011.

By Benge Nsenduluka , Christian Post Contributor

June 29, 2012|11:59 am

Lamar Odom will reportedly be traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, it has been revealed, months after his departure from the Dallas Mavericks.

Odom's agent arranged a deal that sends the 32-year-old NBA veteran, who was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Mavericks in December, to the Clippers. This deal will relieve the Mavericks of paying Odom his $8.2 million salary this season, according to the Associated Press.

Odom, who began his NBA career with the Clippers in 1999, was placed on the Mavericks' inactive list on April 9 for the remainder of last season after posting a series of disappointing stats.

"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 previously 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 defense of their championship."

Odom, who played 50 games during last season, averaged just 6.6 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game, which was a far cry from his better days with the Lakers, where he averaged 16.5 points, 13.4 rebounds (4.9 offensive and 9.5 defensive). In a total of 879 career games, Odom has averaged 14.2 points and 8.6 rebounds.

Some critics attributed Odom's disappointing stats to his reluctance in leaving the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom he had played for since 2004.

After his December trade to the Mavericks, Odom struggled to adapt to his new team and was subsequently placed on the team's inactive list.

Odom and his wife Khloe Kardashian are said to be thrilled about his new position with the L.A. Clippers.

"Lamar wants to return to Los Angeles and the Clippers want him. They just need to work out finances and contractual issues," a source Radar Online. "Khloe wants to be near her own family when she and Lamar start their family and this new job for him will make that all happen so easily."

"She was happy to move to Dallas and would move anywhere for Lamar, but having him on a team in L.A. is a dream come true," the source added.