Lamar Odom's departure from Dallas has been impossible to avoid for the Mavericks this week. Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd were still being asked about it last night, and owner Mark Cuban cited Odom's reality show as a possible factor in the veteran forward's disappointing season in Dallas.
For other teams, however, the Odom drama represents an opportunity rather than a distraction. According to Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group, Odom is on the Warriors' radar as the offseason approaches.
Getting Odom to Golden State would be difficult. He's on a non-guaranteed contract for next season, owed a buyout of $2.4MM on June 29th or $8.2MM if he's on a roster past that point. The Warriors would probably have to acquire Odom via trade, since I doubt he'd be eager to sign as a free agent with a non-contender that could only offer him the mid-level exception. Golden State would want to find a way to add Odom to a starting lineup of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, David Lee, and Andrew Bogut.
With Jeff Caplan of ESPNDallas.com suggesting Odom left his heart and head in Los Angeles, the Warriors may have the geographic advantage over most of the league, but Oakland isn't L.A. and the Warriors aren't the Lakers. I have trouble seeing the Warriors' interest evolving into anything real here.
A non distracted Odom would fit perfect with just about any team. I still say the best fit for him is with the Lakers. He was hurt by trade rumors, but it’s about money, it had nothing to do with them not wanting him anymore.