The Los Angeles Lakers officially announced today that they traded Lamar Odom, as well as a 2012 second-round draft pick to the Dallas Mavericks, in exchange for the Mavs’ 2012 first-round pick and a trade exception.

The Lakers originally wanted to trade Odom to the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for Chris Paul, but NBA commissioner David Stern blocked the hell out of that.

Once the original trade fell through, Lamar Odom felt “unwanted” by the Lakers and requested to still be traded to another team.

“You don’t want to go to no place you’re not wanted,” Odom told the L.A. Times when he found out about the Lakers’ plans to send him off to New Orleans Hornets for the season. “I’m just in total disbelief about all of this. They don’t want my services, for whatever reason. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I was proud to be a Laker, so I’ll try to help them in the process as much as possible.”

Odom was a no-show at the Lakers’ training camp Friday, and revealed to team manager Mitch Kupchak in a meeting that he wanted to be traded. Adhering to Odom’s wish, Kupchak and the Lakers secured a deal with the Dallas Mavericks.

“Lamar was a fine player for us in his seven years with the Lakers and was a key to helping us win two championships,” Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said in a statement released Sunday. “In addition, he always conducted himself with class and professionalism and we wish him well in the remainder of his career.”

Sounds like somebody was partying way too hard after their championship win.

Dallas Mavericks guard DeShawn Stevenson was arrested last night for public intoxication in Texas

Law enforcement sources tell us, police received a call about some drunk guy wandering around an apartment comlpex in Irving, TX last night — and when cops showed up, they found Stevenson … who said he was lost.

Stevenson — who does not live in the apartment complex — then flunked a field sobriety test … and was arrested for public intoxication.

Law enforcement sources tell us, the officers “felt he was a danger to himself and others.”

Stevenson — a major force behind Dallas’ victory over Miami on Sunday — posted $475 bail this morning and was released.

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Mr. Stevenson may want to slow his roll before one of those Heat fans catch him slippin!

It’s over. Dallas won. Miami lost (and only by 10 points).

It’s a sad, sad day in South Beach.

Congrats to Dallas though!

Check out a full recap, along with 10+ pics below:

Year One of the Big Three ended with a thud Sunday night for the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena.

There will be no capping of last July’s premature celebration over the free-agency signings of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Instead, there will be reflection on nights such as Sunday, when a 105-95 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 6 of the NBA Finals brought down the curtain on the 2010-11 season.

And started a new waiting game, leaving plenty of questions in the wake of this meltdown.

It was a dreary ending, particularly for James, who again proved unable to match the moment. After making his first four shots when he appeared headed to a big night, he instead closed with 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting, seemingly paralyzed by the moment. It was a finish nearly as humbling as being swept out of the 2007 Finals by the San Antonio Spurs while a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

None of the Heat’s Big Three, in fact, were very big, with Wade closing with 17 points and Bosh with 19.

Mavericks guard Jason Terry, though, was plenty big, keeping Dallas afloat through a 14-0 Heat second-quarter run with 19 first-half points. He closed with 27 on 11-of-16 shooting.

That allowed Dallas to persevere even on a night series Most Valuable Player Dirk Nowitzki, hero of the Mavericks’ Game 2 and Game 4 victories, shot 9 of 27 for 21 points.

It ended with Pat Riley watching in stunned silence from across the Heat bench, with the Heat allowing Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to celebrate in their building, with the Mavericks shockingly managing to buy nearly an entire section behind the Heat bench for their fans, much to the apparent chagrin of Heat owner Micky Arison.

It, indeed, was sweet revenge, after losing the 2006 Finals to the Heat in six games.

Even before the opening tip, the Heat acknowledged what they weren’t, namely capable of keeping up with the Mavericks’ small ball, with starting point guard Mike Bibby benched in favor of Mario Chalmers, and then removed from the rotation in favor of Eddie House.

It was a desperate move at a desperate time, and it wasn’t nearly enough, not with James shrinking to depths that will haunt him for months if not years.

Oh there was fight, just not enough.

No sooner did House cap the Heat’s 14-0 rally with a 3-pointer to produce a 42-40 lead in the second quarter, then Heat forward Udonis Haslem and Mavericks guard DeShawn Stevenson traded shoves with 6:25 to play in the period, with Chalmers joining in the scrum.

The result was technical fouls on all three, with Nowitzki’s ensuing free throw ending Dallas’ scoreless streak.

From there, Dallas seized control, the Heat left with little more than hero 3-point attempts against the Mavericks remarkably cohesion zone defense, while struggling much of the night from the foul line.

Earlier, a wild first half that featured a 21-7 first-quarter run by the Mavericks and a 14-0 second-quarter surge by the Heat ended with the Mavericks up 53-51.

Until Sunday, Bibby had started each of the Heat’s previous 20 playoff games. House then pushed Bibby, his brother in law, completely out of the rotation, likely the last time Bibby will be seen in a Heat uniform.

Dallas entered aware that home teams have gone 14-3 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, fighting desperately to avoid such a test.

The Heat entered 9-1 at home this postseason, with that lone previous defeat a Game 2 95-93 loss to Dallas in this series.

Coming off consecutive losses, the Heat ended the season with their first three-game losing streak since March 8.

The Mavericks entered 6-3 on the road this season, having followed Game 3 victories with victories in Game 4 in each of their previous three series, and doing it again in this one.

Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle is now 11-3 in closeout games as a coach, the highest winning percentage among coaches with at least 10 such games.

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Who were you rooting for?

Spending some quality time together on one of Jay-Z‘s off days, Beyonce and her rap star husband were spotted sitting in their VIP courtside seats Wednesday evening (Feb 24) as they watched the Dallas Mavericks take on the Los Angeles Lakers  in Dallas, TX at the American Airlines Center, where Jay performed just the night before. Judging by these pics, Jay and Bey had a lot of fun at the game! We’d love to know what they were laughing about. Check out the pics below…

After only four years of coaching, Dallas Mavericks coach, Avery Johnson was fired Wednesday (Apr. 30th). Johnson is of course not “cool” about losing his job, but does understand that this is a part of his career. This is what the former Mavs coach had to say:

“When that happens, then sometimes you need a new voice,” Johnson said, “During the course of some games, I wasn’t getting that response. This particular team, especially in the last quarter of the season, last half of the season, just wasn’t responding the way I needed it to.

“I’m not necessarily cool about this, but what am I supposed to do? My life has to continue. This is a part of coaching. Coaches, we’re going to resign or get fired.”

Johnson bowed out gracefully and had a good few years coaching the Mavericks, and I wish him good luck with the rest of his career.

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Here a video recap of the New Orleans Hornets final victory against the Dallas Mavericks (4-1). The final score of game 5 last night was (99-94).

(Photos: Getty Images) The Dallas Mavericks will not be embarrassed again by the New Orleans Hornets especially on their turf. Dallas took the victory by a 10-point lead (97-87). Jannero Pargo shot his best game of the season last night with 30 points, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Chris Paul with 16 points and 10 assists was not excited about this loss but he knew he did his best. Chris Paul responded quote on quote:

“I think we got a lot of the shots we wanted. Paul continued, We just missed them.”

Game leader, Dirk Nowitzki scored a max of 32 points, 19 rebounds, and 6 assists to get the Mavs to a 1-2 standing point. Jason Terry had 15 points, 4 assists and 2 steals. Josh Howard had 15 points. MVP of last night’s game, Dirk Nowitzki, responded with joy over their first win:

“We wanted to make sure we made it a series and win this first one,” Nowitzski said, “They’re going to keep coming. “It’s going to take the same effort, the same intensity.”

The New Orleans Hornets have not won against Dallas Mavs home court since 1998.

Game 4 is Sunday 9:30 ET on TNT

The New Orleans Hornets win game 2 against the Dallas Mavericks. Chris Paul was hungry for points last night leading the Hornets into every quarter with the winning score. Chris Paul had 32, playoff record of 17 assists, with the dominating winning score (127-103). David West had 27 and Peja Stojakovic had 22 points. At the end of the game reporters asked Chris Paul if there was a way Dallas could stop him, he replied:

“I’m sure there is, but to me, I hope not.” he continued “One thing I’ve learned this season and watching these games is that you have to be aggressive. If I sit back and let them trap me, then they succeed with what they need to do.