Ed Condron

Kobe Bryant is backing up former teammate and Dallas Mavericks forward Lamar Odom in the midst of what has been a tough year for the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar said.

Bryant had a one-sided conversation with Odom for a few seconds right after dropping 30 points in the Lakers' 109-93 win against the Mavs' Wednesday.

Bryant did not specify what he told his former teammate, but he obviously intended to give words of encouragement for Odom, who has been in a funk this season.

Odom finished with one point, one rebound, one assists, and one steal effort in the loss. The former Sixth Man of the Year is averaging career lows in points (7.0), rebounds (4.4) and assists (1.8), while drawing a chorus of boos from the Mavericks fans for his lackluster performance this season.

Bryant believed Odom is still struggling to develop chemistry with his new team after getting traded to the Mavs last December.

"It's tough," Bryant told ESPN Thursday. "He comes to a team that's pretty much set, you know what I mean? So it's hard for him to find his niche. The fans, they don't really understand what he does or how he can do it, you know what I mean?"

 

Thunder sign former Lakers point guard Derek Fisher

Oklahoma city, OK

The Oklahoma City Thunder signed guard Derek Fisher to a contract Thunder general manager Sam Presti announced.

Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Fisher, a five-time NBA Champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, has appeared in 1,153 career regular season games and recorded averages of 8.7 points, 3.1 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 26.3 minutes per game during his 15-plus year NBA career.

"We are excited to add Derek to the Thunder and believe his experience and abilities will make a positive impact with our team," Presti said. "He is someone that will enhance our roster's current and future development on and off the floor through his knowledge, professionalism and approach to the game."

Fisher has been to the playoffs 13 times with averages of 8.9 points, 2.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 209 career playoff games.

The 37-year-old Fisher was averaging 5.9 points and 3.3 assists for Los Angeles this season.

Fisher's signing comes a little less than a week after he was traded to Houston by the Lakers. He was bought out of his contract instead of playing with the Rockets.

"This situation here in Oklahoma City with the Thunder team is one that is special already," Fisher said. "The circumstances that kind of surrounded me being available to come here are rare, but also what is rare is what is going on here with this team, these players, these coaches, the front office.

"Considering I had the opportunity to basically choose the best situation and the right fit, there was no doubt, after speaking several teams, that this was the best place and the best fit."

 

Andrew Bynum at Center of Lakers Future

The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly plan to pick up Andrew Bynum's option for the 2012-2013 season, a reliable league source reported.

Bynum, selected as an All-Star for the first time in his career after averaging 18.1 points and 12.9 boards in 41 games this season, will likely play for the purple-and-gold for a long time after Lakers management decided to exercise the center's $16.1 million option for 2012-13 and start negotiating for an extension.

"He's the starting center on the West All-Star team. Why wouldn't we do everything we could to keep him here?" Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak told the Los Angeles Times. "We're ecstatic to have him on the team."

Bynum is optimistic he will continue to play for the Lakers after being involved in potential trade for Dwight Howard before last week's trade deadline.

"I want to sign," Bynum told ESPNLosAngeles.com Tuesday. "I want to be a Laker."

Recently named Western Conference Player of the Week after averaging 27.5 points on 66.5 percent shooting and 14.8 boards, Bynum is viewed as one of the valuable cogs in another possible title run for the Lakers.

Bynum has also developed a strong on-court connection with new Lakers point guard Ramon Sessions as the two hooked up with several alley-oop plays over the two-game stretch.

 

 

Kobe Stands By Ex-Teammate Lamar Odom