Timing of Darius Johnson-Odom’s release seems strange, but isn’t
SHANGHAI -- It wasn’t strange to see the Lakers waive Darius Johnson-Odom. He was a long shot to make the team.
The weird part was the time and place of it.
The Lakers announced the transaction with 36 hours left in their China tour.
Johnson-Odom flew on the Lakers’ charter to Beijing last week, played in their game Tuesday against Golden State and was scheduled to leave with them after Friday’s rematch against the Warriors.
A harsh move by the Lakers, 6,000 miles from Los Angeles? Not quite.
Johnson-Odom agreed to terms with a Chinese pro basketball team, signing a contract worth $400,000, according to a person familiar with the situation.
Johnson-Odom had been weighing the offer for about a week and made up his mind after the Lakers strongly suggested he wouldn’t make their roster this season.
They waived him Thursday so he could sign with the undisclosed Chinese team.
Johnson-Odom’s play wasn’t spectacular — a 3.7-point average in three exhibition games — and he was cut from the team for the second time after being drafted 55th overall by the Lakers in 2012.
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