Losing Lamar Odom a Shady Proposition: For the Lakers, There's No Bright Side

How is Lamar Odom still teamless? Specifically, how is Lamar Odom still not signed with the Los Angeles Lakers?

This late in the offseason Odom is still sitting on his butt with an obscure future ahead of him.

Is he going to sign with the Lakers and finally stop all the fuss that has been whirling around lately? Or is he going to sign with another team like the Miami Heat or the Dallas Mavericks?

The end to all of this is still ambiguous; news of Odom has been scarce lately.

Keeping an open mind, who will benefit the most if Lamar actually leaves the Lakers...for good?

The L.A. Lakers or Lamar?

Yes, it's true that Lamar needs the Lakers more than the Lakers need him.

Yes, their is also a good possibility the Lakers can win it all next year.

And yes, Odom will be leaving his best chances in winning another ring if he and his agent chooses to join another team.

It seems like the Lakers get the better end of this deal. Right?!?!

Yes and no. The Lakers are still a top contender without Odom, but what is the bright side in losing Odom?

There is no other player in the market that can match the productivity of Lamar. He averages 15.1 points, 4.2 assist, and 8.2 rebounds per game. Lamar was a double-double machine for the Lakers in two out of the five seasons playing for the club.

Who will fill his shoes: D.J. Mbenga...or Josh Powell?

What happens when Andrew Bynum gets into foul trouble or his injuries become a pattern throughout his career. Who will be his "insurance?"

Who will take on the role as being the leader of the bench, the Lakers' sixth man? Luke Walton, Sasha Vujacic, Shannon Brown, Adam Morrison, or Jordan Farmar?

I have nothing against these players. They are good enough to be playing in the NBA, and they are good enough for me. But let's get serious here. Odom is the better player out of all the players I've listed throughout this article.

There is no replacement for Lamar. No one can truly fill in the void that is left.

In reality, there is no true winner if this deal were to happen. Lamar will be leaving his best chances in winning a championship for less money and the Lakers will not be gaining anything. Instead, they would be losing a great player in Lamar.