More people might be wondering how Khloe Kardashian feels about Dallas than what Lamar Odom means for the defending champs. But that's just the way it is when it comes to Odom.
So let's ask the question: How does Khloe feel about this?
Just kidding. I meant the other question.
The Mavericks needed to replace the size they lost with Tyson Chandler signing with the Knicks and while Brendan Haywood is a serviceable replacement -- especially in terms of what he's already being paid -- Odom gives the Mavs a jolt of size, which is something they definitely needed.
I mean, just imagine the options Rick Carlisle has now. Odom and Dirk together in the frontcourt, Odom at small forward, Odom running point forward with Jason Kidd off the ball and two other guards or just Odom at the 5 and Dirk at the 4.
It was a bit curious to me that the Lakers would be so willing to unload Odom to the team that swept them out of the playoffs last season, especially when the deal helps their foe in a lot of ways. Because look at what Odom gives Dallas: A big body to rebound and defend the size in the West -- i.e., the Lakers with Gasol and Bynum (or Dwight Howard) -- but also another offensive weapon that can play inside and out.
How do you defend the Mavs with both Odom and Dirk together? That's got to be one of the more unique pairings that anyone in the league could deploy. Dirk's off-balance jumpers, Odom's passing and ball-handling -- two unconventional players playing in a very dynamic offensive system with a point guard like Jason Kidd passing them the ball. That could be some poetic offense.
A big question is, is this enough to make the Mavs contenders to repeat? Chandler meant so very much to them in terms of protecting the paint and Odom isn't replacing that. He's more giving them a little more offensive versatility while also a little bump in size. If we were just comparing Odom to losing Chandler, there's no comparison. The Mavs lost more than they gained.
But Odom isn't there to replace Chandler. He's there to give the Mavs a new look. It's more about Haywood and what he brings. Because if he's capable of turning in a season like he had in Washginton before signing a big deal with Dallas, you're looking at a Mavs team that's similar to last season except they've just added Lamar Odom. Sounds like an upgrade to me.
And what did they have to give up? Just a trade exception that they got a few hours earlier from the Chandler deal. Dan Gilbert has had the trade exception the Cavs got in their sign-and-trade with Miami for LeBron. Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson turned theirs into Lamar Odom and it only took about 12 hours.
Maybe it was part of a master plan, or maybe it's just coincidence, but partly because of Mark Cuban's noise-making, the Mavericks just landed themselves a pretty nice piece for very little. Are they still championship material? It's a different look now because Odom is going to change them a lot. Without him, they'd be more of the same with Haywood trying to do his best Tyson Chandler impersonation. Now, they've got a fresh, versatile face that might make them as dangerous as they've ever been offensively.
