Report: Odom and Lakers agree on 4-year deal
By Ramona Shelburne
Staff Writer
The Lakers and free agent forward Lamar Odom have agreed on a four-year deal, a source with knowledge of the negotiations said Thursday afternoon.
The fourth year of the contract is the team's option. ESPN.com reported that the contract is worth $33 million over four years. However the source said that figure is a bit high.
Odom's agent Jeff Schwartz did not return messages left on his cell phone. Lakers officials refused to comment on the matter.
The 6-foot-10 power forward was a key part of the team's championship run. He averaged 12.3 points and 9.1 rebounds in the playoffs, while coming off the bench.
Odom made $11.4 million last season, but was quoted as saying he was willing to take a pay cut. Still, negotiations between the team and Odom did not go smoothly. Two weeks ago, he did not respond to the team's offers of three years and $30 million or four years and $36 million.
Another source close to Odom said that Schwartz had advised his client to accept one of those offers. Instead he spent two weeks negotiating with the Miami Heat, who could offer no more than a five-year, $34 million contract, because of salary cap restrictions.
The Lakers and Odom's representatives stayed in contact throughout the process, but it became clear the team's offer would decrease, not increase the longer the process went on.
Thank God Jeannie, Phil and Mitch persuaded Dr. Buss that the final piece to another chance at a championship was just put the offer back up and absorb the luxury tax hit.
Finally . . . . . . Welcome back Lamar
thanks for your reporting. i checked your twitter account daily along with eric pincus's. it got a bit ridiculous toward the end. thankfully it's over.
Just wanted to give a shout out to Ms. Shelburne, great job following the LO saga. Enjoyed reading your twitter updates. It was stressful. Thanks again! Let's go Lakers!
This is it.It's a game well played. Game between Lamar and Dr.Bust or Buss.Well the deal won't bust Dr.Bust bank. For him just another deal of card game, like what I mentioned on LA Times blog.
I can bet dollar for dollar on next season's Finals whoever Lakers came to fight against with for Larry OBrien Trophy.
And surely if my opponent ask for handicap points I sure will oblige it is another way of winning or another way of making sure you got the bet to win.I would maximum plus 10 points for the Lakers so long my opponent bet big..Plus five or three middle average bet and dollar for dollar bet no limits in amount.
This is an advance tip folks you won't have this again here..I am the guy who sees the future events one year before it happens..
One more thing this is for Dr. Buss, I can beat you on the final deal in any poker game winner takes all. I got your cards now Doc.