Just when I thought the Laker season is starting off on the right foot, Lamar Odom is becoming this year’s Lakers’ annual challenge. I can’t blame the guy.  He’s in a contract season and suddenly he’s off the bench? Not a good way of boosting your stock, right?

No matter how they say it, NBA players will always play for the money… until they get old, that is, when they choose the strongest teams and play for a championship (and no one will want to pay them big bucks by that time anyway).

C’mon, Lamar! Be a man. Be a Manu. You will never be the man, so why not just play for the championship?

Look, Phil Jackson will reconsider anyway. He will think you are too valuable to be a second stringer. He will be ashamed to not insert you in the starting lineup. Just pack it in and go with the flow, won’t you? Don’t come in destroying the psyche of a Laker team that is roaring to grab the championship.

You can’t blame the Phil Jackson. You said you’d practice your shooting in the offseason. What’s this I read that you were in the beach chillin’ out? To rest your knee with tendinitis?

C’mon, you just had practice your form, range or whatever. You won’t be playing basketball with an opponent (or opponents).

Man, if Lamar Odom is going to act rebellious, the Lakers might just as well trade him for a shooter, or a bruiser, or a passionate defensive player.

Well, he said he’s not OK with coming off the bench but he will do it if Phil Jackson asked. He also said that he’ll be having mixed feelings about this so… great. Another glorious Laker season in the offing.

Trade Lamar? Let’s wait a few games. See his attitude. See his skills mesh with the other big guys. See his shooting. If it’s not working, then, yeah, trade him.

I’m sure that’s what the Lakers would do.

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