The Los Angeles Lakers are so concerned about Lamar Odom’s well being they reportedly have offered him a roster spot if he goes to rehab to beat his drug problem.
Radar Online says Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak made the offer to Odom because “the organization and the Buss family are extremely concerned about” Odom. The team reportedly told Odom that if he goes and completes treatment, there will be a roster spot waiting for him.
The Lakers and Clippers were thought to be the teams interested in signing the veteran forward. The Clippers backed off bringing Odom back for the second straight year after reports about Odom’s drug problems were revealed.
In addition to prescription drugs OxyContin and Ambien, Odom is said to be abusing crack.
Radar Online says the NBA took at least six samples from Odom last season and that many showed he was using OxyContin. However, he was exempt from punishment because he had a prescription for the painkiller. The detail that Odom was tested six times also could indicate that he’s in the league’s drug program; as far as we know, players are only tested four times a season.
Odom resisted rehab despite wife Khloe Kardashian’s urging and reportedly believes he can beat the drug problem on his own. He also supposedly does not want to go to rehab because he does not want to miss training camp, which begins next month.
Odom played seven season for the Lakers from 2004-2010 and won two championships with the team.
