The Top 50

#49 – Lamar Odom

He should be higher. One can hardly help a first glance at Lamar Odom and not think he should’ve dropped much later. A long, strong, athletic forward with a guard’s handle who can lure slower, less agile big men away from the hoop with expansive range. He’s got a potentially lethal skill set and one of the most ideal bodies in the league, which forces you to think he could do so much more .

Not to say Odom’s not a serious asset; he can guard four positions and create mismatches against almost any opposition. He’s a streaky shooter but his range’ll extend any D, to complement above-average passing and a sick handle for a dude who’s 6-11. He’s got all the right tools to dominate games. When he wants to.

The thing about Lamar’s that he never seems to want it that much. His disappearing act in the Finals this year came as only a mild surprise after a career that’s been defined by mediocrity; one that, like the Clippers squad he came up with, got a few people excited but never became what it should’ve. Uninspired as his play’s been at times, I was sincerely hoping he’d grab a ring after overcoming a drug addiction and personal tragedy to help guide the Lakers’ surprise turnaround. But chief among the many reasons LA lost that series was Odom’s general inability to get anything going; playing tentative offense, being owned on the glass, letting Leon Powe drop 21, et al.

Lamar Odom’s gifted, make no mistake about it. I’m critical of him not because he isn’t an outstanding player, but because he’s occasionally so effortlessly brilliant that I wonder what’s ever holding him back. Who knows what nearly tasting the sweet spray of title champagne will do to his motivation, but he should honestly be higher, and hopefully this season he proves it.