Lamar Odom left the Dallas Mavericks on the Wednesday before the All-Star break and the reports indicate that he has not returned since. He initially cited personal reasons for leaving the team, saying that he was tending to his ill father. Rumors quickly spread that his team would be seeking a buyout of his contract, although the latest news states that this is exceedingly unlikely.
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Dwain Price of the Star-Telegram reports that Odom is reportedly still with his father in Los Angeles and will miss the next two Mavericks games. Head coach Rick Carlisle stated that Odom will not be with the team for Tuesday's game against the New Jersey Nets or for Wednesday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
"Lamar is going to not be with us these two games and then we'll update everybody on Thursday as to where we're at,'' Carlisle said after this morning's shoot around at American Airlines Center. "He's got a tough situation he's going through, we're very supportive as a franchise and we'll let you know Thursday where we at."
On the buyout front, Mavs owner Mark Cuban was about as clear as he could be on the subject.
"We have not discussed a buyout," Cuban said, "and we will not buy him out under any circumstances."
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