Phil Jackson Is Prepared to Make Lamar Odom a Sixth Man

by Marcel Mutoni

With Andrew Bynum returning to the Lakers, the team will need to make adjustments. And one of the players who might be asked to make the biggest adjustment, is Lamar Odom.

Not only will L.O. have to move from power forward to the small forward spot, but he might also be asked to give up his familiar role as a starter for one of the League’s marquee franchises.

From the LA Times:

“He’s going to have to make some adjustments and we’re going to have to see how he does with that,” Jackson said.

“I don’t hesitate to say that if this team doesn’t work out the way I want it to, Trevor [Ariza] may be a starting player in that first five,” Jackson said. “I may just insert him and convince Lamar to come off the bench if I feel it’s better for the team and we don’t feel as comfortable on the floor as I’d like us to feel.”

That would make Odom one of the better paid sixth men in the Association – Lamar is entering the final year of a deal that will net him a little over $14 mil.

It’s no secret that Odom has struggled with his confidence from time to time since he’s been a Laker; here’s to hoping this (possible) demotion won’t negatively affect his play.