National Basketball Association

Lakers' Odom shows up late to camp

Published Dec. 9, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Lakers forward Lamar Odom showed up more than 90 minutes late for Los Angeles' first workout of training camp on Friday, and then left early after a meeting with general manager Mitch Kupchak.

Odom apparently was still upset about the Lakers' aborted attempt to trade him in a megadeal for Chris Paul.

“To me, I would think it’s better to stay away,” Odom told The Los Angeles Times in a telephone interview. “You know, the energy and all.

“I don’t know how it’s going to go right now. It’s a little weird.”

Pau Gasol, the four-time All-Star forward also included in the deal, showed up for the Lakers' first practice under new coach Mike Brown at their training complex.

Odom was thought to be headed to New Orleans in the deal for Paul, the Hornets' superstar point guard. Gasol was expected to be moved to Houston in a move that would have reconfigured the Lakers' roster less than three weeks before their Christmas season opener.

After the NBA squashed the deal Thursday night, the Lakers tried to get on with their abbreviated offseason with what's sure to be an awkward opening day. Los Angeles also signed veteran shooter Jason Kapono and draft picks Darius Morris and Andrew Goudelock on Friday.

Odom was the NBA's sixth man of the year last season, and the veteran big man has spent all but one season of his career with Los Angeles' two NBA teams. He's also at the nexus of Hollywood's love affair with the Lakers, given his marriage to Khloe Kardashian and their reality show.

“I don’t know if it’s going to happen overnight or it’s going to be a drawn-out process,” Odom told The Times about either being traded or staying with the Lakers and attending practice.

“I don’t want to offend the sport and the professionalism. Right now, I’ll be a fan of the game from the distance. But as of right now, I just don’t know.”