The Mavs have acquired Lamar Odom

DALLAS _ The Dallas Mavericks acquired Lamar Odom from the Los Angeles Lakers in a deal created Saturday by the Mavs losing Tyson Chandler to the New York Knicks.

Odom, 32, averaged 14.4 points and 8.7 rebounds while playing all 82 games last year for the Lakers. He is married to reality TV star Khloe Kardashian.

Earlier Saturday, the Mavs traded Chandler to the Knicks as part of a three-team trade which also involved the Washington Wizards. The prize possession the Mavs received from the Knicks in that trade was an $11 million trade exception, which they promptly used to acquire Odom.

The 6-10 Odom could start at small forward for the Mavs, or also step in and play power forward. Last year he became the first Laker player to win the NBA’s coveted Sixth Man Award.

Odom’s acquisition puts the Mavs right back on track to successfully defend their NBA title. Especiaaly if they are able to sign Vince Carter, who is expected to arrive in Dallas on Sunday.

Odom, a 13-year veteran, has career averages of 14.6 points and 8.9 rebounds. He is known as one of the most versatile players in the entire NBA..

The fourth overall pick of the 1999 draft by the LA Clippers, Odom was a key figure on a Laker team that won NBA titles in 2009 and '10.

Originally part of a deal that was going to send Chris Paul to the Lakers and Odom to the New Orleans Hornets, Odom will earn $8.9 million this year with the Mavs holding a team option that will pay him $8.2 million next year. That team option is critical, because it keeps the Mavs flexible enough to stay under the salary cap and be a major player in next summer's free agent market.

-- Dwain Price

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Comments

[jane]

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[The Swami]

pretty decent player. still remains the looming problem at center though. i guess we're putting all our marbles in teh coveted Dalembert "sweepstakes" on that one. or we think Clue Haywood can play more than 15 minutes a game without fouling out on a regular basis (yeah right). sigh.