Report: Odom Re-Signs With LA

[Mexi]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lakers...0,5117681.story

The discussions were labeled productive, but there was nothing to report "at the moment," according to a source familiar with negotiations who was not authorized to comment publicly.

It didn't look great last week for Odom's return to the Lakers after the franchise yanked its offers of three years and $30 million or four years and $36 million, with the fourth year only partially guaranteed.

But the sides began communicating in a more positive light Wednesday. Financial details were not immediately available, though the Lakers were not expected to have improved their initial offers. If anything, the offers might have dropped slightly.

Odom, who will be 30 in November, was a key part of the Lakers' championship run, and his teammates, including Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher, have unilaterally expressed a desire for his return.

On the other hand, the Lakers are conscious about veering too far into luxury-tax territory. They have already allocated $83.8 million to 12 players next season, which would mean an additional luxury-tax penalty of $13.9 million.

Last season, the Lakers' payroll was $78.2 million and they paid an additional $7.2 million in luxury taxes.

If the Lakers don't get Odom, their options are slim other than a trade. They can sign a veteran forward for about $1 million. They also must decide by Aug. 1 whether to bring back seldom-used guard Sun Yue for $736,000 next season. The Lakers have also considered forward Shelden Williams.

The Lakers have used both spending tools given to teams that are over the salary cap -- the "mid-level exception" of $5.8 million next season was spent on Ron Artest and the "bi-annual exception" of $2 million next season was given to reserve guard Shannon Brown, who re-signed with the team for two years and $4.2 million.

Odom was on the Lakers' books for $14.1 million last season, but will obviously have to take a pay cut. The Miami Heat has expressed interest in him, though the cap-strapped team could offer only a mid-level deal worth $34 million.

The Lakers took their offers to Odom off the table last week after learning he was engaging in discussions with the Heat.

The Lakers will wait until the Odom situation is resolved before signing Bryant to a contract extension.

Bryant will get $23 million next season and is expected to receive an extension on top of it that would pay him $134 million to $138 million over the next five seasons, depending on salary-cap figures to be determined in July 2011. Bryant will be 31 next month.

there we go. some real news

 

[yezzir]

this IS gonna happen. just a matter of when.

 

[kobenba888]

thats not what i heard though, i thought he is 'leaning towards heat' !!

 

[A.E]

ESPN's Rick Bucher is now reporting that sources indicate Odom is leaning towards signing with the Heat.

 

[Pugz]

The Heat haven't made any progress with free-agent forward Lamar Odom, according to The Palm Beach Post.

Odom has reportedly resumed talks with the Lakers about a new deal, and he is widely expected to return to Los Angeles.

Via Palm Beach Post

 

[A.E]

Lamar Odom(notes) is leaning strongly toward accepting the Miami Heat’s contract offer and leaving the Los Angeles Lakers, multiple sources with knowledge of the talks said.

Odom has not reached a final decision, the sources said, but there is growing belief he will ultimately return to the Heat unless the Lakers improve their current offer.

“It’s close, but it’s not done,” said one source.

Lakers officials and Odom’s representatives resumed talking after a weeklong standoff that began when Jerry Buss, the team’s owner, withdrew a four-year, $36 million offer that guaranteed $30 million. Sources close to Odom said that while the two sides have since talked, Buss is now offering less than the Lakers’ previous proposal.

Odom could sign a five-year, $34 million with the Heat or take a four-year contract that would give him the option to become a free agent in three seasons and seek a more lucrative deal. He also would not have to pay state income tax in Florida.

Odom, 30, played for the Heat during the 2003-04 season – the only season in his 10-year career that he didn’t spend in Los Angeles – and has maintained a good relationship with Dwyane Wade(notes).

Odom’s departure would be a huge loss for the Lakers and an unexpected gift for the Western Conference’s other top contenders. He averaged 11.4 points and 8.2 rebounds last season, and played well during the Lakers’ run to the championship despite being bothered by back spasms. The Lakers replaced Trevor Ariza(notes) with Ron Artest(notes) this summer, but Odom’s length and versatility made him a difficult matchup off the bench for opposing teams.


By Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports

http://my.nba.com/thread.jspa?threadID=5700040608

 

[Pugz]

Hm,

Three years 36Million and championship runs each and every year, maybe win 6th man award once or twice and still get 34-39MPG. Or Three Years(or five) 34Million, you get to start but still never even sniff a championship..

I'd take LA's offer without a doubt.

 

[A.E]

Hm,

Three years 36Million and championship runs each and every year, maybe win 6th man award once or twice and still get 34-39MPG. Or Three Years(or five) 34Million, you get to start but still never even sniff a championship..

I'd take LA's offer without a doubt.

But you know how these guys are when it comes to egos and what not. I know for a fact that I would be terribly insulted to have an offer pulled off the table & then thrown back at me with less money on the table. Now if I am Lamar, I am thinking that I've already got the ring...I have principles...and Miami wasn't a bad place to live.

 

[elcheato]

He wants a longer guaranteed contract, Lakers won't give him that. The 4 year deal was not fully guaranteed.

 

[Pugz]

Three were and three are for Miami too, like I said I'd rather compete and maybe even win a 6th man award over 6th seed or worse for 3 years.

 

[elcheato]

All 5 are guaranteed, the last two years on the Miami deal are player options.

 

[Pugz]

Yea that's what I meant. Sorry CC2

 

[A.E]

Three were and three are for Miami too, like I said I'd rather compete and maybe even win a 6th man award over 6th seed or worse for 3 years.

Odom doesn't strike me as a guy who would take less money b/c it ups his chance over winning a personal award. At the same time, Miami would be hell bent on getting Boozer to go along with Odom. I'll give Miami better than a 6th seed if they feature Wade, Beas, Lamar and Booz.

 

[Pugz]

Odom doesn't strike me as a guy who would take less money b/c it ups his chance over winning a personal award. At the same time, Miami would be hell bent on getting Boozer to go along with Odom. I'll give Miami better than a 6th seed if they feature Wade, Beas, Lamar and Booz.

The last three players you mentioned play the same position though and don't play too much defense. Sure they could try to out score the other teams but that only goes so far.

 

[kplayer4sure]

this is fake

he is going to MIAMI

 

[kobenba888]

now he's apparently leaning towards lakers

 

[Tony H]

He never did say he would resign with the Lakers cause of a deal yet for 3 years, but Odom is heading toward to a Heat offer for 5 years, he has not decided yet, but also I thought the deal was officially official, hope he resigns with the Lakers and try to regain another championship, but like Wade said on his tweeter, he really do wants Odom with the Heat and tires to recruit Odom. We just gonna see what happens soon, probably more Candy for Odom will make him happy for sure.

 

[MapleLeaf]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?i...ce=NBAHeadlines

He re-signs officially....thank god...soap opera over

 

[kdogg]

Thank god is right, he got me worried with all this Heat stuff for a minute...

 

[Whisper]

lol
All that work by D-Wade, and for nothing. Odom's back to where he should be. Can't get no betterrrrrr