" General manager Mitch Kupchak said the Los Angeles Lakers traded Lamar Odom to the Dallas Mavericks only because the veteran forward demanded to leave town after another deal fell through last week.

Kupchak attempted Monday to explain the Lakers' frenetic four days since proposing a deal to acquire New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul in a three-team trade last Thursday, only to have the NBA squash the deal.

Kupchak said commissioner David Stern's decision was "completely unexpected." He couldn't repair his relationship with Odom, who was stunned to learn he was included in the deal."