[bears9]

HONOLULU -- Lamar Odom's name was spit-balled around the Lakers' office, and many others in the league, in trade talks throughout the off-season.

Maybe he was on his way to Indiana in a four-team deal that would deliver Kevin Garnett to Los Angeles. Maybe he was heading to the Pacers for Jermaine O'Neal. More recently, perhaps he was going to Phoenix for Shawn Marion
Instead, come Monday morning, he found himself with the Lakers for another season, his fourth since coming over from Miami in the Shaquille O'Neal trade.

Odom will miss most, if not all, of the exhibition season as he recovers from mid-May shoulder surgery, giving him plenty of time to think about what could have been . . . and what is now.

"I kind of expected it because we lost two years in a row in the first round to the same team," Odom said of the persistent trade talks. "This is an organization that plays for championships. Of course, when you go out there [and play] hurt, it hurts a little bit, but it's part of the business as well.

"I don't want to be traded, This is where I'd like to end my career. L.A. is L.A., and it's also my second home."

The Lakers were impressed when Odom successfully fought through a torn labrum in his left shoulder toward the end of last season, finishing with a career playoff-high 33 points in Game 5 against Phoenix.

It could have pushed him into a buoyant off-season, but his shoulder ultimately required surgery, Kobe Bryant began asking for new teammates, and Odom's name started popping up on office whiteboards throughout the league because he and Andrew Bynum were the Lakers' most tradable assets.

Nothing was done.

[azrael492]

he may be the only one that is happy he stayed. He is a decent player. He could be a role player on a contending team, but I don't think he is a building block for a championship.