Lamar Odom: Buyout Rumors Won't Bring Fallen Star Back to Lakers

Amid rumors that the Dallas Mavericks might buy out Lamar Odom's contract, owner Mark Cuban has been adamant that the team will see the fallen star's struggles through.

Mark Cuban told ESPNDallas.com's Tim MacMahon via email Monday night, per ESPN:

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"We haven't discussed a buyout and we wouldn't do a buyout. No chance that happens at all. We want to help Lamar work through any personal issues and expect him to be a valuable contributor to the Mavs this season. Players go through challenges from time to time and we try to be (an) organization that fully supports our players when things are challenging for them. We will do the same for Lamar."

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Odom, who left the team on Wednesday to attend to his ill father in Los Angeles, hasn't had the season the Mavericks would expect from the reigning Sixth Man of the Year. He's averaging 7.7 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 35 percent from the field in 21 minutes per game.

With the Lakers, Odom was an invaluable piece, a gear in the machine that was Phil Jackson's triangle offense. He won two championships with Los Angeles in 2009 and 2010 and has career averages of 14.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists.

But it's hard to envision the Mavericks letting Odom go, particularly if it gives their Western Conference foes a chance to nab him.

Coach Rick Carlisle told ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM's "Galloway & Co." on Friday that he was optimistic Odom would get things together on the hardwood:

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"I think we're closer than we've ever been to him playing well. We've just got to stay the course and stay positive about it. The guy's too good of a player and...he has two bad games in a row and everybody's ready to jump again, but I'm not going there.

"I'm looking forward to getting him back after the break, and we're going to get right back at it."

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There's reason to believe the Mavericks will buy out Odom's contract given his struggles, but there's no point in giving up on him right now. The Mavericks are a weaker team than they were last season and they don't want Odom going to a contender and making their life more difficult if he turns things around.

You would have to believe the Lakers would jump at the chance to add Odom, but they likely won't get a chance to do so.