LOS ANGELES—The Lakers made a trade Saturday, but it wasn’t for Chris Paul or Dwight Howard.
Two days after getting rebuffed by the NBA in an apparent deal for Paul, the Lakers sent forward Lamar Odom to Dallas for the Mavericks’ first-round pick in the 2012 amateur draft.
“It’s a done deal,” said a person familiar with the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly.
The Mavericks might also send the Lakers another unspecified draft pick. It was not immediately clear if the move was a straight salary dump or a circuitous effort to try to get Howard down the road or, less likely, Paul.
Next year’s draft is considered deep.
The Lakers lost depth in the front court. Odom, 32, was the sixth man of the year last season after averaging 14.4 points and 8.7 rebounds. He is owed $8.9 million this season and $8.2 million next season.
Odom didn’t report to practice at the Lakers’ training complex on Saturday.
Pau Gasol worked out with his longtime teammates at what’s turning into an awkward training camp for new coach Mike Brown.
Gasol felt simultaneously hurt and hopeful as he left the training complex for maybe the final time—or maybe just the final time until Sunday.
“It’s not been easy,” Gasol said. “Mentally and emotionally, it’s a hard situation to deal with
because the situation is out of your control.”
The four-time All-Star is the centerpiece of the Lakers’ pursuit of Paul, New Orleans’ superstar point guard. The megatrade would have sent Gasol to Houston and Odom to the Hornets.
“If the NBA hadn’t stopped it, I would be gone,” Gasol said. “I wouldn’t be here. I’m happy it hasn’t happened because my heart is here; my mind is here. I want to be here.”
Kobe Bryant has remained publicly neutral about the Lakers’ decision, neither endorsing a potential deal for Paul nor expressing support for Gasol and Odom.
When asked if Gasol’s presence was awkward Saturday, Kobe summed up the weekend with his typical brevity: “Nope.”
In another development, Tyson Chandler has joined the New York Knicks from Dallas,
believing that joining up with Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire keeps alive his chance of competing for championships.
Chandler gets a four-year contract worth about $56 million after a three-team deal.
The Knicks sent Ronny Turiaf and cash to the Washington Wizards and reserve guard Andy Rautins to the Mavericks, and there were other picks involved.