Report: Phil Jackson, Knicks considering adding Lamar Odom
Lamar Odom (left) most recently played professional basketball in Spain. (Rafa Rivas/Getty Images)
Lamar Odom, who may be better known now as Khloe Kardashian's ex-husband, may soon return to the NBA, as the Knicks and new team president Phil Jackson, who Odom played for in Los Angeles, have expressed interest in signing the 34-year-old, sources told ESPN.com's Marc Stein.
Odom, a Queens, N.Y., native, was playing in Spain this season after he couldn't get a job in the NBA. The Knicks are considering signing Odom before Wednesday's regular-season finale against Toronto, with his contract including a team option for next season, Stein reports. That would allow the Knicks to work with him in the offseason to see if he's game ready.
Odom would be eligible for the playoffs, but the Hawks' magic number to clinch the final playoff spot in the East is one, meaning any Knicks loss in their final three games or Atlanta win in its final three games would eliminate New York.
Writes Stein: "ESPN's Chris Broussard reported during the telecast of last week's Knicks-Nets game that Jackson met with Odom during the contest. It was initally believed the meeting was more personal in nature, but sources told ESPN.com this week that Jackson is interested in pursuing an on-court reunion with the former Laker if Odom convinces the Knicks he's serious about a comeback."
Odom won two championships in five seasons under Jackson and spent seven seasons with the Lakers after four with the Clippers and one with the Heat. He was traded to the Mavericks in 2011 but struggled with Dallas.
He played last season with the Clippers but his offseason was rough, as he was arrested on a DUI charge and was reportedly suffering from substance-abuse issues. The Clippers brought him for an interview in November, but decided to go a different route.
In 961 NBA games (684 starts), Odom has averaged 13.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
