Odom to Clippers in multi-team trade
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Lamar Odom has come full circle in his NBA career. The veteran forward is heading back to the team that drafted him - the Clippers.
The Clippers and Dallas Mavericks were able to agree to a four-team trade also involving the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets.
What made the deal possible was guard Mo Williams exercised the $8.5 million option on his contract, which allowed the Clippers to consummate a deal to send him to Utah.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Mavericks acquired Odom from the Los Angeles Lakers just prior to the start of the abbreviated season in December. Odom was reportedly unhappy playing in Dallas and averaged career lows with 6.6 points and 4.2 rebounds in 50 games. He was even sent to the D-League in early March, but never played a game, and was recalled the next day. He was due to make $8.2 million with the Mavs for the 2012-13 season.
Odom, 32, was the fourth overall pick of the 1999 draft. He played the first four seasons with the Clippers before spending one with Miami and then seven with the Lakers. During his time with the Clippers, Odom tallied 15.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.3 blocks and 36 minutes per game.
Odom was the winner of the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award following a strong 2010-11 season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Williams was drafted by the Jazz in 2003, but he played only one season for them. He averaged 13.2 points this past season and unless he agrees to a long- term deal with Utah, Williams will become a free agent next summer.
As part of the trade, the Clippers sent the draft rights to Furkan Aldemir, the 53rd overall selection in this year's draft to Houston. The Jazz conveyed the draft rights of Tadija Dragicevic, Utah's second-round pick (53rd overall) in the 2008 draft to Dallas. The Mavericks sent the draft rights of Shan Foster, a second-round selection (51st overall) in the 2008 draft to the Jazz with Houston sending cash considerations to Dallas.