Mark Cuban and Lamar Odom Reportedly Involved in Halftime Confrontation

The Dallas Mavericks and forward Lamar Odom officially parted ways on Monday, and while many thought that it was just the culmination of a bad season to go along with Odom's unhappiness, it could have been something different altogether that led to the decision to part ways with last season's Sixth Man of the Year.

ESPN's Marc Stein and Tim MacMahon are reporting that Odom and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban got into an angry verbal exchange in the visitors' locker room in Memphis during Saturday night's loss to the Grizzlies:

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Sources told ESPNDallas.com that the heated words were "the culmination" of an exasperating weekend that convinced team officials to initiate discussions on Easter Sunday that led to the parties agreeing to part ways for the rest of the season.

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MacMahon's sources also claim that the heated confrontation was the result of Cuban asking Odom if he was "in or out."

Those sources also claim Odom reacted angrily to the question and did not take his seat on the Mavs bench for the second half until after the third quarter began, which ultimately surprised some that he even came out of the locker room at all.

Cuban declined to comment on the situation.

ESPN had reported on Monday that the two sides had agreed for Odom to leave the team immediately without being released. That also leaves open the option for Dallas to trade him in June after the playoffs end.

Dallas is still on the hook for the remainder of Odom's $8.9 million salary for the season.