What Is Lamar Odom's Value to the Lakers and Should They Trade Him?

Lamar Odom's role with the Los Angeles Lakers has been extremely fluid over the last two seasons.

After re-signing in Los Angeles following the 2009 championship campaign for four years and $33 million (the final season is a team option), the Lakers once again had the most versatile sixth man in the league as a weapon off of the bench.

Since that time, Odom has appeared in all 82 games in both seasons and has played the role of seamless contributor, flexing between a starting and reserve spot with ease. Capable of filling either forward spot and even playing center in a pinch, Odom's length and athleticism really gives the Lakers a sizable advantage along the front line.

Despite all of the good things that he's done for the team, a lapse in his efforts on the defensive end since re-signing with the team has had some calling for Odom to potentially be shipped out of town.

While he is undoubtedly the team's best and most valuable bargaining chip at the trade table, no deal for Odom should be pursued simply on the grounds of financial relief. The team is over the cap, but addition by subtraction is not an argument to make in Odom's case.

Thus far, we've heard that Odom was offered to the T-Wolves for the second overall pick in the 2011 draft before being ultimately rejected. We've also heard a discussion of potentially swapping Odom to the Sixers for Andre Iguodala and even an attempt to send the forward along with Shannon Brown to Golden State in exchange for Monta Ellis.

Clearly, the Lakers are willing to part with Odom in the right deal. However, they're only going to facilitate a trade to send him out of town if they can improve the team significantly.

Predictably, the team was shut down in their overtures to trade Odom, as none of the three clubs felt that he represented a sizable upgrade over the alternative.

There are legitimate concerns about Odom's ability to flourish outside of the Los Angeles market, and at 31 years old (turning 32 in November), he's at the age where most players typically experience a decline in their overall productivity.

Odom's adaptability paired with a manageable contract should be something that the Lakers embrace rather than try to shed, because he's an awfully important insurance policy behind Ron Artest's up-and-down play and Andrew Bynum's balky knees.

While his efforts may not show up in the box score on a nightly basis, the Lakers shouldn't entertain dealing him anytime soon.