Darius Johnson Odom Discussion: Waived

Eric Pincus ‏@EricPincus
Lakers have signed Darius Johnson-Odom
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The Lakers signed second-round draft pick Darius Johnson-Odom to a non-guaranteed contract and extended an invitation to training camp.

“They’re a little guard heavy so he has to play really well to make the team,” said Lance Young, Johnson-Odom’s agent.

The Lakers were high enough on Johnson-Odom to pay the Dallas Mavericks about $500,000 so they could move up and select the shooting guard from Marquette with the 55th pick in the draft. But Johnson-Odom struggled with his shooting touch in summer league games and the Lakers signed Jodie Meeks to become their primary backup shooting guard.

The 6-foot-2 Johnson-Odom averaged 3.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 15.8 minutes during the summer league.

“He didn’t play how he would have liked,” Young said.

Young said he had expected Johnson-Odom to be an immediate contributor for the Lakers this season after he averaged 18.3 points during his senior season and earned first team All-Big East Conference honors.

Recent developments have complicated those hopes.

“After the Dwight Howard trade and signing Jodie Meeks, it made it a little bit tougher for him,” Young said. “The odds are stacked against him a little bit versus a few weeks ago.”

CaCHooKa Man wrote:He was horrible in the summer league. Last chance to prove himself.

Ariza3 wrote:the only reason is bc brown likes his defense compared to morris and glocks. i think glock and djo are gunna have to fight it out for that spot. i like djo bc hes way more athletic and stronger as well as a better defender. but i like glock's ability to score. hes a scorer with the 3 or floater which weve actually seen work for him at the nba level. we have yet to see djo at the nba level.

for now glock has the advantage in my books bc when given minutes he actually produced for us. unfortunately he was burried on the bench after doing everything right when called upon. i think glock would be better for us. but djo and him are gunna have to go at it to prove which is better.

defense = djo
offense = glock

and those are not that great to begin with compared to other rookies in the league but still...

- Darius Johnson-Odom was described by one coach as “bouncy,” and you’ll agree when watching video of the scrimmage. The rookie was flying all over the court, even treating us to a version of J.R. Rider’s “Eastbay Funk” afterwards. DJO is the type of player that plays better when those around him are better (Las Vegas Summer League wasn’t his type of atmosphere), and his defense and athleticism stood out in the run.

Doc Brown wrote:

John Hollinger wrote:Scouting report
+ Long-armed, lefty wing with deep shooting range. Strong, energetic defender.
+ Undersized for a 2 but lacks ball skills for a 1. Not a great finisher or leaper.

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Eric Pincus
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I've written this before - I'm fond of Goudelock who is a great, great young man - but I think the Lakers . . .
need what Darius Johnson-Odom brings to the table more. Goudelock is not a point guard and he's not big/strong/athletic enough to really guard the two. The Lakers have four point guards so there are absolutely no minutes for Goudelock to experiment at PG and he didn't fare well there in Summer League. DJO has the potential athleticism to guard the two & that to me is the difference. 3 minutes ago

last stand wrote:

DJO?