For a few hours on Thursday, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom were set to be traded by the L.A. Lakers to the Houston Rockets and New Orleans Hornets, respectively, with Chris Paul going back to Southern California. But NBA commissioner David Stern blocked the deal for the league-owned Hornets, first citing "basketball reasons" and on Friday tying the decision to the Hornets' franchise holding more value with CP3 on the roster.
Pau Gasol Shows Up To Lakers’ Training Camp After Failed Chris Paul Trade, But Lamar Odom Is M.I.A.
In the interim, Gasol and Odom were told to report for training camp with the Lakers on Friday. Gasol did show up, but the Los Angeles Times’ Mike Bresnahan reports that Odom was missing.
Odom had been very emotional on Thursday night, reacting with a mix of anger and devastation at the trade and subsequent retraction. It’s unclear whether the Lakers will now seek to move Odom in another deal or if he can be brought back into the fold by the franchise, which he has played for since 2004.
UPDATE, 3:49 p.m. ET: Odom has reportedly arrived at the Lakers’ practice facility.
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