Is Lamar Odom set to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers?

Apr 22, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin (32) celebrates with power forward Lamar Odom (7) in the second half of game one against the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at the Staples Center. Clippers won 93-91. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

In the past few days, there have been widespread reports that free agent forward Lamar Odom could be heading to either the Clippers or Lakers (non-coincidentally both in Los Angeles), but on Friday night, word broke that the versatile and troubled forward is likely headed one way over the other.

Multiple sources are now reporting that Odom was present at the Los Angeles Clippers facility for about 2 hours on Friday, and he was reportedly seen meeting with Doc Rivers and members of the front office. In addition to that, Yahoo’s Marc Spears offers additional insight on the potential marriage:

While Lamar Odom did not sign a deal with the Clippers today, sources said the players were under the impression he was signing soon.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) November 16, 2013

Any word that takes this from a courtship to a full-on commitment is newsworthy, and Spears’ indication that Odom could be signing soon is extremely interesting. The Clippers are in desperate need of frontcourt help, as they are largely void of depth behind DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin, and Odom (if he’s in shape) would be a massive upgrade over their other available options.

However, the obvious caveat remains whether Odom is fit to play, as he has famously (and publicly) dealt with off-court issues, and his play (10.95 PER in 2012-13) has also slipped in recent seasons. This is a story that could be escalating quickly, but if these reports are any indication, we could be seeing Lamar Odom next to Chris Paul and company very soon.

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