Lamar Odom: Dallas Mavericks Running out of Patience with Struggling Forward

After being demoted to the Dallas Mavericks' D-League affiliate, the Texas Legends, Lamar Odom has fully received the memo from the organization that he needs to change his ways.

Whether Odom likes it or not, he is a contracted player who plays for the Mavericks. No matter how screwy things are in his head, he needs to give his all for the team that made an effort to get better by acquiring him.

The Mavericks have only been playing him 21 minutes a game, but it's more because of his poor 35 percent shooting and the even-more-mediocre 7.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game averages he posted than anything mental. Not to mention the haphazard defense Odom has played.

Dallas traded for a player who would offer far more than what he has so far.

Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle told ESPN Dallas about the expectations when Odom returns to the team:

"

When he comes back, we're going to find out very quickly where things are at. He's going to have to show us with his actions and attitude that he's in. Mark [Cuban] asks a fundamental question of anybody in our franchise: Are they in or are they not in? Our fans want to know that Lamar's in. Our players want to know that Lamar's in. It's not about how many points he's scoring or rebounds; those things are a factor. Our fans, our players want to see the guy playing like his pants are on fire and we haven't seen that so far and that's got to change.

"

To be perfectly honest, Odom has been mailing in his effort and the Mavericks called him on that. If the notoriously sensitive star wants his chance at NBA glory, he will take this on the chin, pick himself back up and come back to the NBA with a chip on his shoulder.

If Odom wants to turn into a Kardashian and make this into a whole dramatic scene, don’t be surprised if his role is completely reduced or if the star is not flat-out traded.

Dallas can’t wait around for the former Lakers star to get better—the season is too short.

Since Cuban took over the Mavericks, he has instilled from the top down in his organization that he demands hard work. As we saw when Dirk Nowitzki was forced to take time off because of “conditioning” issues, Odom is in the right place to get redemption.

If Odom is going to get better and play like the star he was when he became the 2011 Sixth Man of the Year, he has to do it himself. It’s time to man up.

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