Knicks · Sources: Knicks eye Lamar Odom.. (officially signed 4/16 7:30pm) (page 1)

Sources told ESPN.com that the Knicks, at the behest of new team president Phil Jackson, have been looking into the possibility of signing Odom since the 34-year-old's short stint playing in Spain ended and are weighing whether to go through with adding the Queens native to their roster before the regular season ends.

Among the options the Knicks are considering, sources said, is signing Odom before Wednesday's regular-season finale to a contract that includes a team option for next season. Doing so would enable the Knicks to work with Odom throughout the offseason before deciding if he's ready to play -- physically and mentally -- in time for the start of the 2014-15 season.

The New York Post reported last week that Jackson met with Odom during halftime of a Knicks-Nets game. It was believed the meeting was more personal in nature, but sources told ESPN.com this week that Jackson is interested in pursuing an on-court reunion with the former Laker if Odom convinces the Knicks he's serious about a comeback.

Odom has been in New York since a back injury cut short his stint with Laboral Kutxa Baskonia in the Spanish ACB after just two games.

The Spanish club announced in mid-March that Odom has "finished his present contract" after the player's U.S.-based doctors ruled him unfit to play for at least a month. Odom left Spain for the States with the club's permission to get a second opinion.

Odom signed a two-month contract with Baskonia on Feb. 18. He originally planned to play out the rest of the 2013-14 campaign in Europe before determining whether to attempt an NBA comeback, but Jackson's emergence as the Knicks' shot-caller has put one of Odom's biggest fans in position to help him get his career back on track.

Odom was traded from the Lakers to the Dallas Mavericks after Jackson's final season as Lakers coach in 2010-11 and has since struggled to approach the same level of production he regularly managed under Jackson.

The Clippers and Lakers had expressed interest in signing Odom at various points this season after a tumultuous summer off the floor that included his eventual divorce from reality TV star Khloe Kardashian. But both teams ultimately passed, leading Odom to make his return in Spain.

New Clippers coach Doc Rivers went so far as bringing Odom to the team's practice facility in November for a well-publicized interview to gauge the state of his game and well-being before opting instead to sign a succession of veteran free agents: Stephen Jackson, Hedo Turkoglu, Sasha Vujacic, Glen Davis and Danny Granger.

Odom played for Jackson for five seasons in Los Angeles and was part of two championship teams. But during the 2013 offseason, after spending the 2012-13 season with the Clippers, Odom was arrested on a DUI charge and reportedly suffered from substance-abuse issues.

not a damn downside to it.

yellowboy90 wrote:IF his contract comes with a non-guaranteed 2nd year/team option then it's a good way to help someone you once coached. Given his years in the NBA his 2nd year contract will help in any trades that may happen ala Richardson or Gadz like another poster said.

CrushAlot wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:IF his contract comes with a non-guaranteed 2nd year/team option then it's a good way to help someone you once coached. Given his years in the NBA his 2nd year contract will help in any trades that may happen ala Richardson or Gadz like another poster said.

Berman is saying that his contract comes with a non guaranteed second year team option.

Only makes sense as a contract trade chip, and even then it's an odd decision. We will stink next year (and that's no bad thing since we own our pick)- even if a miracle occurred and a 35 year old Odom magically regained his game after 3 years MIA and a crack issue (which to be honest likely destroyed his game), we don't really need him? What purpose would he serve?

Also if the aim is to maximise cap space in 2015, how does using his non-guaranteed salary in a trade fit in with that? There's no way a team would trade a serviceable player on a one year minimum contract for an expiring/non guaranteed.

smackeddog wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:IF his contract comes with a non-guaranteed 2nd year/team option then it's a good way to help someone you once coached. Given his years in the NBA his 2nd year contract will help in any trades that may happen ala Richardson or Gadz like another poster said.

Berman is saying that his contract comes with a non guaranteed second year team option.

Only makes sense as a contract trade chip, and even then it's an odd decision. We will stink next year (and that's no bad thing since we own our pick)- even if a miracle occurred and a 35 year old Odom magically regained his game after 3 years MIA and a crack issue (which to be honest likely destroyed his game), we don't really need him? What purpose would he serve?

Also if the aim is to maximise cap space in 2015, how does using his non-guaranteed salary in a trade fit in with that? There's no way a team would trade a serviceable player on a one year minimum contract for an expiring/non guaranteed.

I think Phil will be open minded about improving the team. I think he makes moves if they improve the team.

smackeddog wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:IF his contract comes with a non-guaranteed 2nd year/team option then it's a good way to help someone you once coached. Given his years in the NBA his 2nd year contract will help in any trades that may happen ala Richardson or Gadz like another poster said.

Berman is saying that his contract comes with a non guaranteed second year team option.

Only makes sense as a contract trade chip, and even then it's an odd decision. We will stink next year (and that's no bad thing since we own our pick)- even if a miracle occurred and a 35 year old Odom magically regained his game after 3 years MIA and a crack issue (which to be honest likely destroyed his game), we don't really need him? What purpose would he serve?

Also if the aim is to maximise cap space in 2015, how does using his non-guaranteed salary in a trade fit in with that? There's no way a team would trade a serviceable player on a one year minimum contract for an expiring/non guaranteed.

This literally just happened this past trade deadline. The Bucks got Ramon Sessions by trading Gary Neal's bad contract and filler.

http://m.espn.go.com/general/story?story...

holfresh wrote:I guess this means Steve Kerr or the like will be coaching?

In Phil we trust.

After the impact of the veterans last year I have no problem w/ Odom. We need those guys.

dk7th wrote:never liked his game or his character. even if he gets his shyte together i have doubts about how good he will be at teaching the triangle. and if he isn't there for that then what is he going to be there for?

A trade asset to make salaries match. It's smart GMing, close your roster spots at the end of the year with players w/non-guaranteed 2nd year to use in deals. You only pay them "pennies" to be on the books this year then let the next team cut them without it hurting their bottom line.

fishmike wrote:

holfresh wrote:I guess this means Steve Kerr or the like will be coaching?

hes really hated on the Knicks over the years.. I really dislike him, but if he's part of a successful turnaround I will embrace him. Im a flip flopper so I can do that

In Phil we trust.

After the impact of the veterans last year I have no problem w/ Odom. We need those guys.

If it was Kerr I hope he kept his NCAA tourney notes and get some UFAs for the summer or has his eye on buying a 2nd rd pick.