After deadline: Lakers and Clippers

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All those conversations between old friends Lamar Odom and Ron Artest last summer finally become reality.

Especially now that the trifling matter of the regular season was out of the way.

‘That’s what we talked about -- that’s the reason why I told him to come here this summer,’ the Lakers’ Odom said after the Clippers beat the Lakers, 107-91, on Wednesday night at Staples Center.

‘Because I’ve known him since we were like 12 years old. I told him he deserves the opportunity to play for a championship.

‘Here we go -- right here.’

Odom summed up Artest Year One, the Laker edition.

‘Ron was all right. Ron had a great year. He’s had a great year,’ Odom said. ‘This is an intricate offense to learn. Every year, he’s one of the best defensive players in the league. He could be up that award every year. He’s won it.’

--Lisa Dillman