A Total Bust.

In Which We Break Down What The Mavs Actually Got For Spending $8.9 Million on Lamar Odom.

During an offseason that saw the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks lose such integral pieces to their successful playoff formula as J.J. Barea, Tyson Chandler and DeShawn Stevenson (not to mention role players like Peja Stojakovic and Caron Butler), the organization found itself in something of a difficult position. How could they attempt to defend their title while at the same time trying to free up some cap space so they could go after big-name free agents such as Deron Williams next year?

Aside from acquiring aging talent like Vince Carter and former Cavs point guard Delonte West, the team made what it hoped would be its biggest fan-appeasing splash by completing a trade with the hated L.A. Lakers that brought the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, Lamar Odom, to town. And the cost was relatively cheap — just next year's draft pick and a trade exception is all.

But then Odom showed up to camp out of shape, and loafed around for most of his playing time before ultimately finding himself booed every time he would check into a game.

Today, the team admitted publically what most Mavs fans have known for some time: The Lamar Odom acquisition is officially a bust.

That announcement came this morning in the form of a statement from the team saying that they and Odom had agreed to mutually part ways. The move comes at an interesting time, too — just as episodes featuring Odom's move to Dallas began airing on E's Khloe & Lamar reality show, and just a week before its season finale.

We at Central Track had been keeping tabs on the Odom saga all season long, and, with today's news, we decided it was finally time to break down what the Mavericks actually got for that $8.9 million they paid Odom this season.

Our very scientific findings follow. And in the form of a bust, no less. Pun very much intended.