Odom Lands With Clippers

Maybe Lamar Odom’s plan all along was to become a Clipper.

From the time he played his first college game with Rhode Island last season until the moment he declared himself eligible for the NBA draft two months ago, Odom was considered a heavy favorite to be this year’s No. 1 overall pick.

But, in the weeks leading up to Wednesday, Odom did his best to have his stock drop.

He hired an agent, then fired him. He agreed to work out for teams, then failed to show. He tried unsuccessfully to go back to college.

Regardless of Odom’s motivation, the Clippers are ecstatic to have drafted him with the fourth overall pick.

“He’s probably the best talent in the draft this year,” Clipper Coach Chris Ford said about Odom, who probably will play small forward. “He can play a multiple of positions. I don’t know if he can play the four or five, but he’s a very good passer.

“If you look at all the guys in the draft, he’s a guy that can help his teammates get open shots and looks. This player can definitely do that. He can get into the post and score over players. If he’s double-teamed, he can find the open man. And, on the perimeter, he can help you bring the ball up the floor.”

Odom, who is 6 feet 10 but has the ball-handling ability of a point guard, was not surprised to be on the board when the Clippers picked at No. 4. Elgin Baylor, vice president of basketball operations, spoke to Odom Wednesday morning on the telephone and both hung up feeling good.

“We had a great conversation,” said Odom, who plans to play for the Clippers’ summer league team in Long Beach later this month. “I felt really confident after I left the phone that if I was still around that [the Clippers] would take me.

“Of course, I’ve made some mistakes. I’m only 19. But I think that I’ve learned from my mistakes. . . . I’m ready to play basketball in a man’s world, and that’s the NBA.”

Baylor, who did not get a chance to watch Odom work out, liked that Odom took responsibility for his problems leading up to the draft.

However, what swayed the Clippers the most was Odom’s private workout for a couple of teams Monday night.

“We were four teams that worked him out in Rhode Island,” said Jeff Weltman, director of scouting. “Our scout [Jim Mitchell] called us after the workout and gave us a big thumbs up about his workout.”

Odom will arrive to Los Angeles today and meet with team officials before a press conference at 2 p.m. Odom made no secret what his goals are going to be next season.

“I want to be rookie of the year,” said Odom, who averaged 17.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists last season.

With Michael Olowokandi, last year’s No. 1 overall pick, steadily improving at center and power forward Maurice Taylor becoming one of the NBA’s top power forwards, Odom gives the Clippers one of the best young front lines in the league.

“I love guys that move the ball, pass the ball and make it easy for his teammates,” Ford said about Odom. “I think Lamar is going to be fun for his teammates to play with.”

Ford also sees Odom being an even better player now that he doesn’t have to worry about other things. Like school.

“He’s a tremendous talent who can now just focus in on just playing the game of basketball,” Ford said. “He doesn’t have to worry about going to classes or anything else. He can dedicate all his time to becoming the best basketball player he can possibly be.”

In the second round and at No. 31 overall, the Clippers selected Rico Hill, a 6-foot-6, 225-pound swingman from Illinois State who played professionally last season in Spain.

Hill averaged 18.4 points and 7.5 rebounds as a junior when he was named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year but decided to forego his senior season to play in Spain.

Hill played only 24 games for Baloncesto Fuenlabrada before returning to the U.S. He did not make a strong showing at the predraft camp in Chicago because he was overweight after being sidelined with an ankle injury.

“He resembles Mark Aguirre [the No. 1 overall pick by Dallas Mavericks in 1981] because of his body,” Weltman said. “I don’t want to say he’s the next Aguirre, but he reminds people of him.”

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Clipper Picks

LAMAR ODOM, ROUND 1, 4TH OVERALL PICK

* THE FACTS: 6-10, 220, Rhode Island. Small forward.

* THE LOWDOWN: Odom played one season of college basketball and showed his versatility by averaging 17.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Rams. Led Rhode Island into the NCAA tournament.

****

RICO HILL, ROUND 2, 31ST PICK OVERALL

* THE FACTS: 6-6, 225, Illinois State. Small forward.

* THE LOWDOWN: Hill left to play professionally for Baloncesto Fuenlabrada in Spain after his junior season at Illinois State. Hill was named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year after averaging 18.4 points and 7.5 rebounds as a junior. He played 24 games in Spain, averaging 11.4 points.