Mike Krzyewski doesn't rule out Lamar Odom for the Summer Olympic team

DALLAS - The Dallas Mavericks' presence on the U.S. men's basketball team in London will likely be limited to trainer Casey Smith.

That won't move the needle, but remember that Smith was the trainer for the U.S. national team when Tyson Chandler was on that team two summers ago. It was Smith who worked with Chandler, and was able to see first hand that the center was completely healthy. Without Smith's presence, the Mavs may not have traded for Chandler. Without Chandler, there is no Mavs' NBA title.

The only other guy from the Mavs who could potentially be on this 2012 U.S. Olympic team is Lamar Odom, who now is no longer with the Mavs because he quit. Or was cut. Sorry.

Even though Lam Lam hasn't played in a couple of months when the Mavs dumped him, and an argument can be made he never really played at all during the 2011-'12 NBA season, he remains in the pool of candidates to represent the U.S. in men's basketball at the 2012 Games in London.

The Kardashians in London ... pass the barf bag.

I asked U.S. men's coach Mike Krzyewski if Lam Lam was still on the table, and the answer is very much that Odom is among the pool of 18 players considered for a final spot.

"Definitely; Lamar has been a part of our pool. Guys that have competed they earn equity," Coach K said. "Lamar was our second leading scorer in Istanbul. We would not have won the World Championships without him. I think, for most players, there are certain bumps and certain things happen throughout their career. They aren't playing well, they are hurt, and we'll get a chance to determine his status when we start training camp. He is a part of our pool and we have a great relationship with Lamar."

The final cut down to 12 players will be July 7.

If Odom makes the team, which given his height, verstality and international experience there is a good chance he will, we will be able to see just how much he tanked it with the Mavs.

 

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Lamar Odom explains himself, sort of, in 140 characters or less

I miss Lamar Odom. He provided so much material.

Just in case you don't follow former Dallas Mavericks forward Lamar Odom's Twitter account, @RealLamarOdom, the man has finally returned to the world of 140 characters or less.

Beginning on May 3, Odom has Tweeted: 

"being the best basketball player i can possibly be will allow 2 become the next P.Diddy . i know whats fly! Dis the Year . ThecomeBackKid!"

"puffs designs name is Sean John. i want the people 2 pick mine! Joseph LaMar or Joseph London. miss that Court ! Olympics here we come USA!"

" it was hard 4 me 2 get the picture of my cuz who at 24 was shot in the head"

OK, so by this we can deduce LamLam:

a. Wants to design his own line of clothing
b. Wants to play for Team USA in the Summer Olympics in London
c. Was really bothered by his cousin's death
d. Plans on a comeback to the NBA
e. Is not "All In" with the Dallas Mavericks' playoff theme

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Why isn't he practicing?! Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo hits the White House party?

Less than a month into parenthood, new dad Tony Romo and his wife, Candice, managed to get away for a weekend of fun and attended the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington D.C. 

Couple things on this ...

It's nice to see Tony not have his hat on backwards for this event.

Thank God he isn't on the golf course. Because his golfing explains why he has only one playoff win.

There is no correlation between Tony Romo attending an offseason party in April and the Dallas Cowboys winning a game, or a Super Bowl.

This isn't a trip to Cabo the week before the playoffs.  

 

 

 

 

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That was fun: Mavericks break up with the Kardashians & Lamar Odom

This is a developing story, but this morning according to ESPN's Marc Stein, the Dallas Mavericks and Lamar Odom have parted ways.

Can't say this is a huge shock, considering how much Mavs coach Rick Carlisle appeared to be visibly tired of this player, what a giant distraction Odom had become and how shockingly little he produced. I thought the Mavs would hang on to Odom merely to have his contract to trade in the coming off season.

Odom was so bad the team couldn't wait to try the addition by subtraction method.

In 50 games this season Odom averages 20.5 minutes, 6.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.9 steals. Remember, it was just last year he was the NBA's 6th Man of the Year. This is easily the worst season of his career. Odom played just four minutes against the Grizzles on Saturday night.

Somewhere, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak is smiling. He knew what he was doing when he dumped Odom on the defending NBA champs for a first-round pick.

Odom never wanted to be here and his game and body language screamed it from the time he arrived. It never changed.

Carlisle was clearly sick of this guy, and you can't blame him. Since the failed D-League experiment last month, Carlisle said he wanted to see Odom play like his pants were on fire. Odom just played like he was exstinguished.

The bummer is no more Khloe at the games.

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Mavericks need to quit whining about Lamar Odom questions and just deal with it

DALLAS - Follow this rather familiar equation: Team X acquires Player Y who has a history of "interesting" behavior that causes the media to follow and ask questions. A lot of them.

After a certain period of time, Team X grows annoyed with said questions about Player Y and wants to "just focus on ball."

In this case, Team X is the Dallas Mavericks and Player Y is Lamar Odom.

After the Mavs' win against the Rockets on Tuesday night at the American Airlines Center, I asked Mavs coach Rick Carlisle if he was tired of the Lamar questions, of which there have been a lot.

Rick Carlisle: "Yeah. We're gonna shut that down pretty soon."

ME: "He's a story. You had to realize these questions were going to come when you acquired him."

Rick Carlisle: "It's time to let him play ball and be a ball player and play his game."

As a man who has been an NBA coach for a long time, and worked for ESPN as an analyst for a brief period, Carlisle understands the media as well as any person in the game. So does his boss. They had to know this was coming. Lamar did.

Even after the game Odom said, "That's part of being Lamar."

Is this is a media creation? Partially, yes. And so is the NBA, just like the Kardashians. They both exist to provide entertainment and serve as a distraction for millions of people all over the world. Lamar is part of a reality TV show, and is a member of America's No. 1 reality TV family. He has been a story since he was in high school in New York City. It's always been a something with Lamar Odom. 

You knew this when he agreed to take him away from the Lakers for nothing. Now you don't like it? Tough.

The Mavericks are not the first team to acquire a veteran and then grow tired of the questions surrounding him.

The Rangers in 2002 acquired outfielder Carl Everett, whose reputation was far worse than Odom's. The team started to lose, Everett started to chirp, and the Rangers and their manager quickly grew tired of it.
Bill Parcells hated the questions and the drama that surrounded Terrell Owens when the Cowboys acquired him in 2006. 

When you acquire a Lamar Odom-type talent you accept the circus/reality TV risk he brings. It's not as if this was some secret. In this media culture, Lamar Odom is a story. Rather than try to play Dallas Mavericks propoganda prime minister and "shut that down", just deal with it.

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