Los Angeles Lakers Trade Rumors

Bryant willing to sit to let ankle heal, might sit out All-Star game
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February 9
Orange County Register
 
"Kobe Bryant's sprained ankle wasn't much better but his mood had improved greatly. Watching teammates dismantle the San Antonio Spurs would put a smile on any Lakers face. Bryant missed out on the chance to avenge last month's loss to the Spurs on Monday, but he didn't miss the chance to support his teammates even if it was from inside the lockerroom. For the second consecutive game, Bryant sat out because of severely sprained ankle. And for a second consecutive game, the Lakers played well and won, 101-89. Does that make sitting out easier?"
Phil Jackson May Be Asked to Take Pay Cut
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February 8
SportingNews.com
 
"There have been two constants involved with the Lakers' titles through the past decade: Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson. But while the Lakers are expected to work out a multiyear, mega-million extension with Bryant at some point, perhaps the same can't be assumed for Jackson. According the Los Angeles Times, Lakers sources say if Jackson wants to return, he'll be asked to take a pay cut from his $12 million annual salary."
Big trade is unlikely for Lakers
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February 4
Los Angeles Times
 
"The trade deadline is two weeks from today, meaning 14 more days of rumors and whispers, but the Lakers are not expected to be big players in the market. They have the NBA's second-best record, the league's highest payroll and do not plan on moving any of their starters or sixth man Lamar Odom. "There is no compelling reason to dramatically change this team, in particular its core," Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. "We won a championship last year and we feel like we can be as strong this year with the one change we made -- the Ron Artest change. "If this is the team we go into the playoffs with, we'll be happy with our roster, provided we stay healthy. The caveat, as always, is ..."
Lakers' Andrew Bynum on trade rumor: Who, me?
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January 11
Los Angeles Times
 
"Lakers center Andrew Bynum reacted uniquely when told the New York Post had him all but shipped to Toronto for Chris Bosh in a report. After scoring 17 points and taking a career-high 18 rebounds in a 95-77 victory Sunday over Milwaukee, Bynum was asked if he had heard the rumor. "Nah, what rumor is that?" he said. You for Bosh. "Ah, that's crazy," he said, smiling sheepishly. "I didn't know that." He recovered quickly, in case it was true. "I love playing basketball," he said. "Whatever happens, happens." Bynum need not worry. He'll be going to Toronto later this month only when the Lakers play a road game against the Raptors. The 22-year-old is prone to lapses, but the Lakers still ..."
Ron Artest's injuries not that crazy
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January 10
The Oklahoman
 
"Guard Ron Artest returned to the Lakers lineup Wednesday night after missing five games with a concussion, a cut on the back of his head that required staples and another cut on his elbow that required stitches. According to Artest, he fell down a flight of stairs at his Beverly Hills home, hours after the Lakers Christmas Day loss to Cleveland. He said he was unconscious for two to three minutes before his wife found him lying on the ground.Taken to the UCLA Medical Center emergency room, Artest said he suffered short-term memory loss and was dizzy for several days.Artest's accident is the latest example how well conditioned athletes find bizarre ways to be sidelined away from the stadium ..."
Pau Gasol could return Sunday
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January 8
Orange County Register
 
"Luke Walton participated in his first full practice since a pinched nerve curtailed his activity three months ago. He underwent a surgical procedure Nov. 19 to alleviate pain. "He's looking really good. He's close to playing," Jackson said. "Fortunately we didn't do a whole lot of running today. With four games in five nights, we had to slow it down a little bit. Next week we hope he's back on the court fully.""
Lakers' Gasol out at practice, Artest in, Odom's status uncertain
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January 5
L.A. Daily News
 
"The medical news was decidedly mixed Monday for the Lakers. Pau Gasol couldn't practice because of a mild-to-moderate strained left hamstring, but Ron Artest participated in a full-contact workout for the first time since suffering a concussion Dec.25. Lamar Odom did not attend practice because of a stomach ailment, but Luke Walton (pinched back nerve) joined his teammates for some but not all of a light workout one day before they face the Houston Rockets at Staples Center. Gasol was listed as doubtful for tonight; Artest is awaiting medical clearance today; Odom's status is uncertain; and the Lakers expect Walton to be cleared Thursday for his first full-contact practice in about six ..."
Artest still center of soap opera; Tyreke Evans to play
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January 2
Sacramento Bee
 (scroll down)
"When the Kings and Lakers were went back and forth in their double-overtime affair Dec. 26, Ron Artest watched from his Los Angeles-area home and found the action even more dizzying than most. Hewas just one day removed from the fall at his house that caused a concussion, staples in his head, stitches in his elbow and extreme dizziness. A week later, it has sparked a bit of controversy in Laker Land. There has been a healthy dose of skepticism from the media related to the accident, partly because of the subject in question but largely because of the way the incident was reported. The original press release said Artest tripped over boxes and fell down stairs inside his Beverly Hills home, ..."
Disgruntled Lakers likely to bring some attitude to January rematch at The Q
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December 26
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"As with any good heavyweight battle, sometimes the best event is the rematch. That may prove true with the Cavaliers and Lakers. They didn't exactly stage a classic Christmas Day at Staples Center, but certainly built up some bad blood for the next meeting. That will take place Jan. 21 at The Q, and it might be a good idea to clear the calendar for that Thursday night. The Lakers made it clear they felt victimized a bit by the officials and they, and their fans, responded with some harsh words and actions. Meanwhile, at least in the eyes of some of the Cavaliers, the Lakers got so frustrated by the defense that they began tossing what certainly looked like cheap shots. Most directly, ..."
Coach Phil Jackson has to hope Lakers are holding something in reserve
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December 26
Los Angeles Times
 
"It was an interesting answer to an interesting question posed to Lakers Coach Phil Jackson . Jackson was asked whether his bench was as potent as it has been. "It's got the personnel. It should be," Jackson said. "But we're not. Right now we're not playing as well." And the reserves didn't play any better Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. By halftime, the Lakers' bench had been outscored by the Cavaliers', 19-2. By the end of Cleveland's 102-87 victory, that total was 31-17. But even that statistic is misleading, because the Lakers' reserves scored 15 of those points in the fourth quarter. By then, the game was out of reach. "Our team played bad," said Lamar Odom , a key member of ..."
Lakers' Jackson not sure of future with team
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December 20
L.A. Daily News
 
"Signing Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant to three-year contract extensions apparently won't make Phil Jackson's decision whether to continue coaching the defending NBA champion Lakers any easier. Jackson said Saturday that other factors, including his health and the team's success in 2009-10, would be more important. He also said he would not make a decision about his future with the team until June or July. He seemed to contradict himself several times as reporters tried to pin him down. "If things didn't go well, if we didn't win (the title) - you would think maybe it would be time for someone else to look at this job and carry this team forward from there," the 64-year-old Jackson said before ..."
Phil Jackson no help in determining future with team
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December 20
Los Angeles Times
 
"Even when Lakers Coach Phil Jackson attempted on Saturday night to bring clarity about his future, he was often vacillating instead. Jackson waffled when asked whether he would return to coach the Lakers if they repeated as NBA champions. He'll decide in June or July, but Jackson's comments regarding exactly what that decision will be based on left many reporters confounded before the Lakers' 103-84 victory over the New Jersey Nets. Jackson, 64, is in the final year of a contract that will pay him $12 million this season. He even joked that he wouldn't take a pay cut to return as coach of the Lakers. When Jackson first was asked whether his chances of returning improved if the Lakers won ..."
Hamilton, Prince won't play vs. Lakers; Gordon questionable
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December 20
Detroit Free Press
 
"Quickfrom Pistons practice: Richard Hamilton (hamstring) and Tayshaun Prince (back) won't play Sunday when the Lakers visit the Palace. Charlie Villanueva, who injured his right heel in the first half of Saturday's 109-98 loss at Oklahoma City, will play and Ben Gordon (ankle) is questionable."
Lakers Will Play Kobe's Injury Day At A Time
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December 14
Yahoo! Sports
 
"Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant's broken right index finger could take at least four weeks to heal, and the team could evaluate him on a game-by-game basis until mid-January, the Los Angeles Times reported. Bryant was injured in Friday's game against the Timberwolves. He played in Saturday's loss to the Jazz and shot just 7-for-24 from the field—though an upset stomach also could have been a reason for the subpar performance."
Lakers win 11th in row, but Kobe Bryant breaks a finger
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December 12
Los Angeles Times
 
"Kurt Rambis was supposed to be the story, specifically his return to Staples Center to take on the franchise he helped guide to three championships this decade. Then Kobe Bryant hurt his finger, the Lakers struggled in the first half against the underwhelming Minnesota Timberwolves and all the envisioned story lines were eradicated. Bryant sustained an avulsion fracture in the index finger of his right hand but kept playing. The Lakers sustained a case of not taking the Timberwolves seriously but also kept playing on Friday, eventually winning their 11th consecutive game, 104-92. An avulsion fracture occurs when a small fragment of bone is pulled off by a tendon, which apparently happened ..."
Lakers owner Buss willing to be big spender
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November 23
L.A. Daily News
 
"The Lakers' $91.4 million payroll is the highest in the NBA this season - $4 million more than the second-place Dallas Mavericks - and Kobe Bryant's salary of more than $23 million is the second-highest of any player. It's money well spent, as far as Lakers owner Jerry Buss is concerned. "Like all gamblers, we feel like we're on a run," Buss said Sunday afternoon during his annual question-and-answer session with Lakers beat reporters. "I think (winning) has to be (paramount)," Buss continued before the Lakers faced the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center. "If we could find a way to save some money and stay the level of competition we're at, obviously, we'd try to do that. "In this ..."
Gasol set to return for Lakers
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November 19
L.A. Daily News
 
"Pau Gasol will make his season debut tonight against the Chicago Bulls. Definitely. Maybe. "I don't know about definitely," he said, wincing after Wednesday's practice. OK, let's just say Gasol's strained right hamstring definitely is improved. Maybe it's not 100 percent but it's still good enough to allow him to play tonight. That is, unless he suffers a serious setback today at the Lakers' shootaround. "It felt great today," he said. "I don't want to jinx it, but I don't see why there's any reason I shouldn't play. I want to play. I've been wanting to play since day one. It just wasn't ready. The muscle wasn't healed. "Now it is healed. It feels good." Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he ..."
Gasol says he will play Thursday
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November 19
Los Angeles Times
 
"Pau Gasol finally will play for the Lakers tonight when they face the Chicago Bulls at Staples Center. The right hamstring that kept Gasol out of the Lakers' first 11 regular-season games, the injury that hampered him for just over five weeks, healed enough to where he feels comfortable enough to play in a game. "I think that I'll be able to go tomorrow," Gasol said after practice Wednesday. "It felt great today and I don't plan on any reason why it wouldn't feel the same way tomorrow." Gasol has experienced a few close calls in returning to game action since he injured his hamstring in early October. So Gasol was pressed harder, with the media looking for a definitive answer about his ..."
Pau Gasol should be back Thursday
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November 18
Los Angeles Times
 
"In his acting debut, Pau Gasol died of a brain injury as a character on Monday night's episode of "CSI: Miami." He'll soon be coming back to life in his other, more lucrative job. Gasol is expected to return Thursday against the Chicago Bulls after sitting out 11 games because of a strained right hamstring. "Sounds good to me," he said Tuesday. The Lakers' forward-center shot with the team at Tuesday morning's shoot-around and reported only a small amount of pain. "A little sore here and there, but the good thing is the hamstring has responded well," he said. "It's really promising." Of course, Gasol's recent improvement didn't come without a round of ribbing from Lakers Coach Phil ..."
Lakers have no shot in loss; Bryant nursing groin injury
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November 16
L.A. Daily News
 
"It wasn't so much the sights that were so strangely unfamiliar Sunday night at Staples Center, but there also were the sounds. There were long stretches of uncomfortable silence, followed by audible grumbling and, finally, boos. Waves of discontent washed over the out of sync Lakers as they turned in a second consecutive clunker and fell with a thud to the opportunistic Houston Rockets 101-91 in front of a confused sellout crowd of 18,997. The normal rhythm of the Lakers' game was absent. They shot a miserable 38.1 percent (32 for 84). They were hammered on the boards by the shorter Rockets, 60-38. They couldn't stop speedy guard Aaron Brooks, who torched them for a career-high 33 points ..."
Lakers' Gasol still awaits season's greeting
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November 12
L.A. Daily News
 
"Thanksgiving is still a few weeks away, but already the countdown to Christmas has begun. This year, the Christmas season might mark the season debut of a certain 7-foot Spaniard to the Lakers' lineup. That's right, Christmas. After giving daily updates and forecasts about when All-Star forward Pau Gasol and his stubborn right hamstring might finally be fit enough to play, Lakers coach Phil Jackson teasingly said Wednesday that Gasol might not play until Christmas. Just how much Jackson might've been teasing - or needling Gasol - with that comment is unclear. For his part, the Spaniard said he wanted to have at least two days of pain-free running on a treadmill and at least a couple of ..."
Lakers' Bynum to return Thursday
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November 11
L.A. Daily News
 
"Andrew Bynum joined his teammates for Tuesday's practice, suffered no immediate setbacks and pronounced himself ready to play Thursday against the resurgent Phoenix Suns. A strained right elbow no longer was an issue for him. Bynum sat out the past two games, a pair of ho-hum victories over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday and the New Orleans Hornets on Sunday. He was injured in the closing seconds of the Lakers' overtime win over the Houston Rockets on Nov. 4. "It's time for me to go out there and try it out," Bynum said. "No, I'm not going to be cautious. I went out there and banged with DJ (Mbenga) a little bit and nothing bad happened. No swelling came back, so I should be all right." ..."
Lakers center Mbenga also has ailments
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November 9
L.A. Daily News
 
"Andrew Bynum sat out because of a strained right elbow. Again. Pau Gasol sat out because of a strained right hamstring. Again. Coach Phil Jackson revealed that DJ Mbenga, the Lakers' third 7-footer, has been suffering from a lingering abdominal injury and tendinitis in his knees and it's been a chore to keep him healthy enough to practice and play in relief of Bynum and Gasol. "His athleticism has been hindered this year by his abdominal injury - partial groin, partial abdominal," Jackson said before the Lakers faced the New Orleans Hornets with Mbenga at center Sunday night at Staples Center. "He has tendinitis, which has kept him from being as active as he'd like to be. So, he's playing ..."
Contract extension for Kobe is in holding pattern
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November 9
Los Angeles Times
 
"Kobe Bryant has not signed a contract extension. In fact, it might not happen at all this season. The Lakers guard is under contract until July 2011, but he seems to be in no hurry to extend his deal. The Lakers have offered Bryant the maximum money he could earn. On top of the total of $47.8 million he is scheduled to make this season and next, he can sign a three-year extension worth $86 million to $91 million more, depending on NBA salary-cap figures to be determined in 2011. Such a move would keep him with the Lakers through the 2013-14 sea- son. But Bryant, 31, was tight-lipped when asked about the absence of an extension."
Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol to miss another game
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November 8
Los Angeles Times
 
"Because the healing process has been slow, Lakers center Andrew Bynum and forward Pau Gasol will miss another game. Neither was able to practice Saturday and neither will play tonight when the Lakers face the struggling New Orleans Hornets at Staples Center. Bynum will miss his second consecutive game because of a strained right elbow. Gasol will miss his seventh consecutive game because of a strained right hamstring. "Hopefully, I can make it back by Thursday," Bynum said. "It's just a waiting game, really. I don't know, man. Just doing some treatment, doing a little bit of things, but it's basically got to heal up.""
Lakers big men Bynum and Gasol likely out Friday against Memphis
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November 6
L.A. Daily News
 
"Andrew Bynum's injured right elbow isn't as bad as originally thought, but he still might not play tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies. Bynum said it was doubtful he could play after an MRI exam revealed he has a strained elbow. Pau Gasol's strained right hamstring has healed, but he said it would be "very doubtful" that he could play tonight against his brother, Marc, and the Grizzlies. Gasol practiced with his teammates, but indicated he's not ready to play yet. Gasol did not participate in the full-contact portion of Thursday's practice. What might Lakers coach Phil Jackson do if neither of his 7-footers is sound enough to play against the Grizzlies? Well, he could give DJ Mbenga, the ..."
Lakers win, but Bynum leaves game with an elbow sprain
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November 5
Los Angeles Times
 
"The Lakers won another game but might have lost another big man. Pau Gasol is a little closer to returning, but Andrew Bynum was injured toward the end of the Lakers' 103-102 overtime victory Wednesday over the Houston Rockets. Bynum was fouled hard across his right arm while going up for a shot and sustained a sprained elbow with 24.7 seconds left in overtime. He will be re-evaluated today in Los Angeles. "I can't even lift my arm right now," Bynum said. "They just took a shot at me. That's that, I guess. It's not that bad. It just takes a little while to heal up." Anybody ready for Lamar Odom at center? On the day that Gasol was cleared to resume basketball-related activities, the Lakers ..."
Grizzlies courting Abdul-Jabbar
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October 28
L.A. Daily News
 
"The Memphis Grizzlies asked for and received permission to speak to Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, possibly about a position with the team, a Lakers spokesman said Tuesday. Abdul-Jabbar attended opening night festivities at Staples Center, but declined to comment. Abdul-Jabbar, whose role as a special assistant to Lakers coach Phil Jackson has been decreased this season, attended the Grizzlies' practice Monday. He also had dinner with the Grizzlies' big men Sunday, according to a report in a Memphis newspaper. The Grizzlies declined comment when asked by a reporter from the Memphis Commercial-Appeal whether they would hire Abdul-Jabbar or what his role might be. Abdul-Jabbar, 62, ..."
Isiah 'blindsided' by Johnson's book
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October 23
New York Post
 
"A feud between Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas escalated yesterday when the former Knicks president lashed out at the Lakers legend for destroying him in a new book. That Johnson stated his longtime mistrust of Thomas smacks of irony. In 2004, Johnson strongly lobbied to then Garden president Steve Mills to hire Thomas to run the Knicks. Johnson was initially offered the Knicks presidency but turned it down. Mills left the Garden more than a year ago to work for Johnson. In the book, "When the Game was Ours," Johnson admitted he led the charge to have Thomas blackballed from the Olympic Dream Team in 1992 and, shockingly, accused Thomas of spreading rumors he was gay/bisexual after Johnson ..."
Gasol might miss Lakers' opener
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October 23
Los Angeles Times
 
"When the Lakers boarded a row of double-decker buses for their championship parade in June, they should have left one seat open, reserved for Good Fortune. They managed to keep almost everybody off the injured list, an often-overlooked part of their successful season. Kobe Bryant played in all 105 of their games. Pau Gasol played in 104. So did Derek Fisher. Andrew Bynum missed 32 because of a torn knee ligament, but his replacement in the starting lineup, Lamar Odom, missed only four games. With a handful of days until they begin their title defense, however, the Lakers are already dealing with injuries. For starters, Gasol might be sidelined for the season opener."
Jackson promises peace vs. Bryant
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October 20
Contra Costa Times
 
"Warriors swingman Stephen Jackson promises there won't be any drama between him and Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant when the two match up tonight in Ontario. "I guarantee you I won't feed into the nonsense," Jackson said after Monday's practice. "Because I know if it comes down to it, if we had a real fight, I know what would happen. So I'm just going to leave it alone and go out there and play basketball." The last time Jackson and Bryant matched up, on Oct. 9 at the Forum in Los Angeles, Jackson wound up getting suspended for two games after a run-in with coach Don Nelson. Tonight, though, Nelson won't be on the sidelines. He's with his wife, Joy, in Southern California after her ..."
Lamar Odom leaves game with right leg contusion
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October 16
Los Angeles Times
 
"Quick word from Lamar Odom after Friday's 97-92 win over the Kings in Las Vegas. LO limped to the locker room at the end of the first half after getting kicked in the right shin, possibly by Sacramento's Jon Brockman, who was locked in a scrum on the floor with Ron Artest. Josh Powell started the second half, and when Odom tried to enter the game he quickly had to check out, clearly in pain. After the game, he wasn't worried. "I'm alright. It'll be alright. They were wrestling down there, Ron, the wrestler and Brockman, they were wrestling and someone down there kicked me," Odom said. "Front side. Right side on my shin. Right on the muscle there. It's a tough place to get hit. Treatment, ..."
Rambis agrees to four-year, $8 million deal to coach Minnesota
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August 9
L.A. Daily News
 
"Assistant coach Kurt Rambis will leave the Lakers to take over as head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to an Internet report Saturday night. ESPN.com reported the Timberwolves will hire Rambis, who has spent the past 10 years as an assistant with the Lakers and served as interim head coach during the 1998-99 season. He went 24-13. According to reports from ESPN and the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Rambis will receive a four-year deal worth $8 million. ESPN reported Rambis will be introduced as the Timberwolves' new coach at a Tuesday news conference. Rambis' hiring would be an irony of sorts in that he would be replacing Kevin McHale, with whom he had an altercation during the ..."
Lakers assistant Rambis front-runner for Minnesota Timberwolves job
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August 6
L.A. Daily News
 
"Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis has emerged as the top candidate to fill the Minnesota Timberwolves' coaching vacancy, according to an Internet report Wednesday afternoon. Rambis was expected to be offered the job soon, Yahoo! Sports said. Rambis also interviewed with the Philadelphia 76 ers and the Sacramento Kings in June, while the Lakers were en route to winning the NBA title. The 76 ers hired Eddie Jordan. Rambis turned down an offer from the Kings, who then hired Paul Westphal. According to the Yahoo! Sports report, Rambis moved ahead of former NBA guard Mark Jackson and current Houston Rockets assistant Elston Turner. Rambis had yet to meet with Minnesota owner Glen Taylor, according ..."
Lamar Odom agrees to return to Lakers
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July 30
Los Angeles Times
 
"The Lakers reached a deal to re-sign free-agent forward Lamar Odom today, retaining an important, and versatile, part of last season's championship run, a source close to the negotiations told the Times. Odom, a 6-foot-10 forward, has been a key player on the Lakers for five seasons. He became an unrestricted free agent in July. ESPN.com reported that the deal was worth $33 million over the four years if the Lakers exercise the final year of the contract. It was widely known that Odom, who will be 30 in November, would have to take a pay cut because of his age, the declining economy and the small number of teams that were far enough under the NBA salary cap to make a legitimate offer to ..."
Source: Odom, Lakers agree on deal
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July 30
ESPN.com
 
"Free agent forward Lamar Odom will return to the Los Angeles Lakers, an NBA source said Thursday. One source with knowledge of the talks told ESPN.com the four-year deal is worth $33 million if the Lakers exercise the final season. One source close to the process said Odom will come away with a guaranteed $27 million from the new contract, matching the original value of the three-year, $27 million deal Lakers owner Jerry Buss pulled off the table earlier this month. It's believed that the structure of the new deal calls for Odom to earn $25 million over the first three seasons, with the Lakers owing him $2 million in the fourth year if they elect not to pick up their team option. Reached ..."
Pursuit of Lamar Odom puts Riley's negotiation skills to test
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July 29
Miami Herald
 
"As the story goes, team president Pat Riley was in a room a few months back with dozens of Miami Heat fans on the verge of canceling their season tickets. The reasons they gave ranged from having to make sacrifices in a slumping economy to the Heat's gradual drop off since the team won its lone NBA title in 2006. Riley listened to each concern, rubbed his chin and launched his best sales pitch. ``I had an opportunity to speak with three groups that were on the fence for a number of reasons -- the economy, the product, the price,'' Riley said as he recalled the impact of his message. ``And they all renewed. So just get in a room and let me talk.'' If only things were that simple with the ..."
Source: Lakers reduce offer for Odom
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July 27
ESPN.com
 
"As Lamar Odom continues to mull his future, still hopeful that an improved offer for the Los Angeles Lakers is forthcoming, Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade is trying as hard as he can to convince Odom to end his free-agent wait. Wade announced via his Twitter account late Sunday night that he has flown to Los Angeles to "bring Odom bac (sic)" to the Heat. That was Wade's follow-up to an earlier weekend tweet in which he implored Odom to "come back to where it started for the both of us." Although it's unclear how much impact Wade's ongoing recruiting efforts will have on his former teammate -- or if Heat president Pat Riley, who's also in L.A. this week, will be meeting face-to-face with Odom ..."
Lamar Odom apparently not the ultimate long shot for the Heat
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July 26
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"A Lamar Odom reunion with the Miami Heat apparently is not the ultimate longshot, even for a player coming off a championship season and facing a significant pay cut. Yahoo.com reported Saturday that the Los Angeles Lakers forward is "leaning strongly toward accepting" a Heat offer that would start next season at the $5.9 million mid-level salary-cap exception. Odom, who earned $14.1 million last season, on the final year of the deal he signed with the Heat in 2003 before being dealt a year later to the Lakers in a package for Shaquille O'Neal, entered the offseason aware he would have to take a reduced salary. However, amid negotiations with the Lakers that have included an offer limited ..."
Sources: Odom leaning toward signing with Heat
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July 25
Yahoo! Sports
 
"Lamar Odom 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 ..."
Odom and Lakers resume talks
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July 23
Los Angeles Times
 
"Is the table being set again? A week after the Lakers pulled a pair of contract offers to Lamar Odom off the table, the sides resumed talks Wednesday. 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 ..."
Fisher takes a shot at keeping Odom as a Lakers teammate
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July 22
Los Angeles Times
 
"It seemed like a clever gimmick when Lakers guard Derek Fisher, actor David Arquette and fast-food icon Ronald McDonald heaved 33-foot shots from a third-story balcony at L.A. Live on Tuesday to publicize the Lakers 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament to be held Aug. 14-16 and benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California. Under difficult circumstances, Fisher gave it his all. He tried flinging. He tried finessing. He shot from a running start. He shot from a standing start. Though known for his clutch long-range shooting, he couldn't get anything to fall and had to watch avid Lakers fan Arquette make the only shot while TV cameras were rolling. In an ideal world, Lamar Odom ..."
Latest chatter: Sessions over A.I.?
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July 17
ESPN.com
 
"Here is the latest assemblage of chatter culled from conversations with a variety of knowledgeable sources -- front-office executives, coaches, players and agents -- camped at the NBA's annual summer league here in Vegas. The distinct vibe in the stands at UNLV's Cox Pavilion is that the Clippers -- apart from owner Donald Sterling -- would greatly prefer to add more of a set-up man to a backcourt rotation that already features Baron Davis and emerging star Eric Gordon as opposed to signing Allen Iverson to a one-year deal up to the full $5.9 million midlevel exception. The top choice in that scenario? Extending an offer sheet to restricted free agent Ramon Sessions. Yet as we covered here ..."
Heat targeting both Boozer and Odom
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July 16
Yahoo! Sports
 
"Pat Riley has listened to Dwyane Wade(notes) express his unease with the Miami Heat sitting out the Eastern Conference's arms race this summer. As the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic elevated themselves as championship contenders, the Heat president sold his superstar on patience, promising a plan to surround him with talent for the long run. Now, the Heat are working furiously to deliver Lamar Odom(notes) and Carlos Boozer(notes) to the shores of Biscayne Bay. The Heat are trying to sell Odom on a five-year, $34 million contract at the mid-level exception, and a league executive with knowledge of the talks says Miami has also hatched a three-way proposal with the ..."
Heat finds itself as leverage in Odom's negotiations with Lakers
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July 16
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"If the Miami Heat is being used for leverage when it comes to Lamar Odom's free-agent negotiations with the Los Angeles Lakers, it is safe to say it is a willing participant. While the Heat is limited in the bidding to its $5.9 million mid-level exception, which is roughly one-third of what Odom earned last season and two-thirds of what the Lakers are currently offering, Odom long has remained a favorite of Heat President Pat Riley. Odom, in fact, is coming off of the final year of the free-agent contract he signed with the Heat in 2003, before he was traded the following season to the Lakers in a package for Shaquille O'Neal. Caron Butler, another forward who was sent from the Heat to the ..."
Talks break down between Lakers and Odom
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July 15
Orange County Register
 
"The Lakers have withdrawn their contract offer to Lamar Odom and talks have broken have broken off for the time being, a team spokesman said Tuesday. Neither Odom nor agent Jeff Schwartz has responded to the Lakers' latest offer of either $30 million over three years or $36 million over four years. Odom, who earned $11.4 million last season, is seeking $10 million a year. Neither Odom nor Schwartz could be reached Tuesday."
Wrong time for Odom to go free
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July 12
L.A. Daily News
 columnist Ramona Shelburne
"In this week's edition of "While you were off winning an NBA championship last season," also known as the weekly "How the economic meltdown is affecting professional sports" report, versatile Lakers free agent forward Lamar Odom sits team-less and contract- less on July 12 trying to figure out how to swallow a rather large pay cut after the most successful season of his professional career. Meanwhile, the considerably less-accomplished free agent forward Paul Millsap inks an offer sheet with Portland that will pay him $32 million over the next four seasons. Besides a championship ring, talent-gap and experience, what's the difference between them? Age. Millsap is 24. Odom will 30 later ..."
Lakers GM Kupchak `hopeful' of Odom's return
Comment
July 9
L.A. Daily News
 
"Because free agent Ron Artest took less money to sign with the Lakers than he might have received elsewhere, it now appears general manager Mitch Kupchak might have an easier time re-signing Lamar Odom. Kupchak said Wednesday he remained "hopeful" a deal could be struck soon. "If we would have gone down another avenue and agreed to something we didn't think made sense, I'm not sure we'd be in a position to bring everybody back," Kupchak said, referring to Odom and Shannon Brown. When negotiations on a new contract for free agent Trevor Ariza stalled after only a few hours last week, it became obvious to Kupchak that he needed to move in a different direction. So, Kupchak called David ..."