Lamar Odom could be ready to play in mid-January

Lamar Odom has returned home to Los Angeles after two weeks of strenuous workouts with renowned trainer Rob McClanaghan and is awaiting word on the next step in his NBA comeback.

Odom could be ready to help a team as early as mid-January, one person briefed on his condition said. But Odom, 34, did not do any contact basketball drills during his training stint in Rhode Island with McClanaghan.

Odom visited Clippers officials in mid-November to discuss a possible return.