Dallas Mavericks Trade Rumors: Lamar Odom Not Going Anywhere Before Deadline

Much has been made of the Lamar Odom experiment in Dallas. Odom has struggled to find his niche with the Mavericks, after coming to the team through an offseason give-away trade after the initial Chris Paul to the Lakers trade failed.

After a dismal 1-9 shooting night in the Mavs' 95-85 win over the New York Knicks Tuesday night, calls for a trade will pick up again, especially in the midst of one of the crazier NBA trade deadlines in recent memory. 

Odom is averaging career lows across the board. His points and rebounds have been cut in half and he is shooting a career low 36 percent from the floor. He's even struggling from the free-throw line, only connecting on 59 percent.

After ESPN's Ric Bucher reported Odom is "desperate" to return to the family and lifestyle he created in LA, rumors have been abuzz about what might happen before the March 15th trade deadline.

Odom isn't going anywhere.

He's too valuable to the team's chances of returning to postseason glory. Even if the Mavericks could move him in a trade to dump salary, pick up a piece to solidify perimeter defense or add some scoring punch, the potential and versatility Odom brings to the table is too high to send away.

An Odom for Steve Nash swap has been discussed across rumor mills in the past few days. While the salaries are close enough to match and that trade seems like a win for both teams, why would Dallas take on an additional 38-year-old point guard that can't play defense? Since they are loaded at guard as they are (Jason Kidd, Rodrigue Beaubois, Dominique Jones, Delonte West), that move doesn't help them shore up their perimeter defense concerns.

As Bucher reported, the Los Angeles Clippers are interested in acquiring Odom. But with no assets to give except second-round draft picks, why would the Mavs be interested in a salary dump with an impending buyout in the summer?

Coach Rick Carlisle and owner Mark Cuban have invested too much time and effort into the Odom experiment to give up now. They both have publicly back him every chance they get, and veteran Mavs understand they don't have the depth or the talent they did during their 2011 title run.

Here are the facts: This is likely a one-year thing for both sides. The $2.4 million buyout will be too attractive for the Mavs not to exercise, especially in the hunt for Dwight Howard and Deron Williams this summer. Odom will be free to return to California as a free agent, where he likely belongs.

When he's on the court right now, however, his head just doesn't seem to be in it.

Don't get me wrong, I understand the mental side of his personal life and basketball psyche have affected his productivity. Death of any family member can be tough to swallow; when you add in a relocation from a city he felt betrayed him, then the pieces are there for a struggle on the court.

But Odom is a professional. He's making $9 million to go out and play for this team, and he owes it to the defending champs to give them a chance to defend their crown. Come on, he's a two-time former champion. He knows what it takes to win.

Like it or not Mavs fans, Odom is still the best option to back-up both Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion, keeping both somewhat fresh for a postseason run.

So far, the Odom experiment is a bust. Upon reflection at the end of this season, right now the scale tips in favor of his time in Dallas being a failure. It's up to him to change that.

He's going to get the chance, since he'll be a in a Maverick uniform past the March 15th deadline.