EXCLUSIVE

Lamar Odom was set up for OD'ing at the Love Ranch brothel by being paired with a hooker who had a bad reputation for "partying" ... TMZ has learned.

As we reported, when Lamar arrived at the Ranch, the girls were put in a lineup so Lamar could choose his partners. One of the hookers who was standing there told us management influenced Lamar into picking 2 girls who were known to tolerate drug use.

We're told the girls who were left standing in the lineup complained bitterly that management should not have pushed a known addict into choosing women who would take him down a bad path.

In fact, we're told several of the hookers quit in protest, including Tristen Lace, who says she's convinced Lamar would not be in the hospital if he had chosen different, less ominous hookers.