DALLAS -- In a four-team trade that only needs league approval to be finalized, the Dallas Mavericks traded Lamar Odom to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.
In return, the Clippers shipped point guard Mo Williams to the Utah Jazz, who sent the Mavs an $8.2 million trade exception that they had previously received from the Brooklyn Nets as part of a trade for Mehmet Okur.The Mavs avoided Friday's deadline to buy out Odom's 2012-13 salary of $8.2 million, which would have meant a $2.4 million salary-cap hit.A fourth team in Friday's trade, the Houston Rockets, acquired the draft rights to power forward Furkan Aldemir from the Clippers, who chose him 53rd overall in Thursday's NBA Draft. In addition, the Mavs received cash considerations from the Rockets.The Mavericks also received power forward Tadija Dragicevic, taken by the Jazz in the 2008 draft with the 53rd pick.The trade was on the table Thursday, but Williams had to exercise the option year on his contract to consummate it. Williams exercised that option Friday, and league approval should come today.The move allows Odom to return to LA and play for the team where his career started. The Clippers made Odom the fourth overall pick in the 1999 draft and he stayed there through the 2002-'03 season before playing in 2003-04 for the Miami Heat and 2004-11 for the Los Angeles Lakers.The Mavs acquired Odom from the Lakers last Dec. 11 for a first-round pick and an $8.9 million trade exception.But fresh from being the NBA's Sixth Man Award winner, Odom averaged career lows of 6.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists this past season. He shot a career-low 35.2 percent from the field.In early April, he was placed on the inactive list for the remainder of the season.Earlier this week, Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson predicted that Odom will bounce back."This I can tell you, he will have a monster year next year, there's no question about that," Nelson said. "It's just one year too late."Nowitzki hosts gameForward Dirk Nowitzki's 2012 Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game will be held at 6 p.m. today at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco.The game will include Mavericks players Jason Terry, Delonte West and Brian Cardinal, coach Rick Carlisle and owner Mark Cuban.Charles Barkley, Drew Pearson, Mike Modano, Daryl Johnston, Dez Bryant and Terrell Owens are among other celebrities expected to play.A celebrity Home Run Derby is scheduled at 5 p.m.Dwain Price, 817-390-7760Twitter: @DwainPrice
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