Dallas Mavericks: Lamar Odom Not Trying to Just Get Paid

Don't be so quick to judge Lamar Odom.

There's a large majority of us as readers and fans that aren't always complete professionals in our own work field, so finger pointing isn't right and neither is viewing Odom in hindsight. 

But since we do, let's look at the situation between Odom and the Mavericks for what it really is on the outside looking in.

Los Angeles and Dallas aren't only physically miles apart. Culturally, they are worlds apart and if you've been to both cities, you know it doesn't even feel like the same planet.

The southern humbleness and hospitality in comparison to the facade-fueled perfectness of Hollywood probably wasn't the problem for Odom.

It's that professional basketball is a business and yes, in Odom's 12 years in the league, he's never really felt that way. This is a man that started his career playing in Los Angeles, went to Miami and came back to Los Angeles.

Miami and Los Angeles could be fraternal twins while Dallas is both cities polar opposite. 

Odom loved Los Angeles and how dare the Lakers, specifically Mitch Kupchak, trade him to a city like New Orleans for a player like Chris Paul?

What were they thinking?

Unfortunately, that's where we, including Odom, as everyday people don't see the beauty in life and forget to fully think things out. 

We forget to be professional. 

Without any of the dramatic feelings involved and as a business move, Odom should've understood that he was a viable commodity on the NBA trade market. 

In a professional environment, as an above-average employee with a hot resume, other companies are going to want you.

The professional environment of NBA basketball is no different and why Odom didn't acknowledge it this way isn't known.   

Maybe Odom really wasn't all there after the tragedies he endured over the course of the summer and the original trade involving Paul not only hurt, but completely blindsided him.

Odom reacted in the wrong way after the veto. But ask yourself this—when's the last time you experienced two deaths in a matter of months and then were asked to take the same job with a different company and move to a new state and city tomorrow? 

Probably never.   

Pau Gasol going to Houston and Odom going to New Orleans was really over as quickly as it started.

Instead of letting anger get in the way, Odom should've played it like Gasol and been content with the fact that he was still  going to be apart of the Lakers.

Whew.

But of course like most professionals that forget and become unprofessional, Odom let anger and pride step in the way and demanded a trade.

It all seems a whirlwind now. 

From the moment he was asked to come off the bench by Phil Jackson a few years ago with the Lakers until this unpleasant for us, and even more dreadful for him, time in Dallas, Odom has had a timeline that is better than most NBA players whole careers.

Sixth Man of the Year last season and two championship rings are accomplishments only most NBA players can dream about and the hot topic now seems to be in counting another man's money, which is absolutely corny.

Whether or not Odom should give back or actually earned any of the $8 million plus with the Mavericks is overrated. Most of us don't have pockets as deep as Dallas owner Mark Cuban and vouching for his bank account with words like "cheated" and "robbed" are intriguing coming from the casual fans. 

It's understood, though, that they feel slighted because from a fan standpoint, that type of money is truly fathomed. 

Let's be honest though, if the average basketball fan made $8 thousand plus in a working month and didn't perform up to par at their respectful employers, that fan probably wouldn't feel they should give a dime back and really wouldn't think twice about it.

So again, the judgement shouldn't be so quick with Odom as he seems to be a real human being here. 

An emotional person that wasn't fully invested for personal reasons. 

The timing for all this is dramatically bad and unfortunately, Odom didn't bow out for the remainder of the season after his hiatus around the All-Star break. It seems like he tried to do the right thing in fulfilling his contract and just couldn't get it right personally.

Everybody makes mistakes and it's not always as easy as simply toughening up in hard times no matter what your profession or income.

And on the note of income, with all the money that Odom has made in his career and his new found Kardashian-wealth, it's completely asinine to believe Odom was simply trying to collect a check.

You've seen the condos him and Khloe were trying to buy in Dallas on the show, haven't you?