Memo to the Los Angeles Lakers: Dump Lamar Odom Or Not

C'mon Lakers: It's time to get rid of Lamar Odom.

Lamar has overstayed his welcome in LA with his inconsistent play, and right now fits the mold of the "can't-hurt-you-but-can't-help-you" player who fills box scores but doesn't assert himself as a winner.

Odom can be extremely versatile, but he rarely hits those turn-the-tide buckets or game-breakers that the Lakers need so damn badly.

For the Rhode Island, alum it's a question not so much of skill as of of heart. But given the last two early playoff exits, that seems to a common theme in LA.

Consider that Steve Nash wins MVPs not because his stats are crazy, but because he makes those plays that make coaches scream "YES!"

Odom, on the other hand, will make a great entry pass here or a spectacular block there, but he gets too caught up in rushing the triangle and then relying on second-chance points after a play has dissolved.

So does Kobe, but that's another article.

It's hard to argue the point too strongly right now, when the Lakers, according to several rankings, sit atop the NBA—but cracks always widen, and Odom represents missing pieces to a championship puzzle.

If Mr. Odom could settle into a role—rebound machine, for example—instead of trying to play Mr. Everything, it would give the team more of a stable identity.

Trust me, the Lakers are good. They're a little weak on defense, but they buckle down when they need to. But still there's the confusion of roles in running an already complex offense.

It comes down to this: Who's setting up?  Jordan? Sasha? Luke? Lamar? Kobe?

Odom can handle the ball, but the fact that he can doesn't mean he should.  He's made too many ticky-tack turnovers and on-court miscues—which have spelled points for the other squad and bench time for him. 

Odom may see himself as a Scottie Pippen type, but to play that act with Kobe is fruitless, because Bryant wants to get out of the 1-2 thing he had with Shaq and instead go five-strong.

Odom's talent just doesn't jibe with that philosophy.

It's like Jerry Buss and Phil Jackson got together and said, "If we could get one player who could be like two, and still have money left over, who should we choose?"

Their answer was Lamar.  Wrong answer.

Players like Shawn Marion or Marcus Camby would have been better choices—besides the cost, they play better defense, grab more boards, and have playoff heart.

As a side note, if the Lakers do deal Odom, they should ship off Kwame Brown too, because...

1. He has horrible hands.

2. He would scream if a mouse ran in the locker room

3. He missed two layups that would have given Michael Jordan a triple-double in the last game I ever saw him play.

Anyway, back to Odom: Cut a deal Lakers.  I can't take another night of him and Luke Walton combining for 4-of-21 shooting.