Lamar Odom News

Lakers' Lamar Odom has had enough of opponents' trash talking
Comment
March 10
Los Angeles Times
 
"The Toronto Raptors challenged the Lakers, doing a lot of talking in the process. The Raptors dared the Lakers, strutting around Staples Center on Tuesday night as if they owned the arena, as if they owned the Lakers. The Raptors mouthed-off to the Lakers, clearly not intimidated by the defending NBA champions. All of that bothered Lakers forward Lamar Odom to no end, even though the Lakers defeated Toronto, 109-107, on a 17-foot jump shot by Kobe Bryant with 1.9 seconds left. "Got dudes on the Raptors talking …," Odom said. "They ain't done …. You know what I mean? As a team, as individuals." The Raptors have never won an NBA championship. The Lakers won the franchise's 15th last June. ..."
Lamar Odom has a plan to beat Denver
Comment
February 28
Los Angeles Times
 
"Lamar Odom is well aware of what needs to be done. The Lakers forward has seen the confidence in the Denver Nuggets, witnessed the swagger of the second-best team in the Western Conference, and was definitely on the court as the Nuggets easily took two games against the Lakers this season. For those wondering about a solution to the pesky, pugnacious Nuggets, Odom has one for Sunday's game -- get physical. "It will be a hard game," he said Saturday. "We have to embrace the game being hard. I don't think we've done that the last couple of times we've played them." The Nuggets pasted the Lakers in November, 105-79, as the Lakers set a team record for fewest points in a half, mustering only ..."
Lakers to explore starting Odom, not Bynum
Comment
February 11
Orange County Register
 
"Even after Andrew Bynum gets healthy again, Lamar Odom might supplant him in the Lakers' starting lineup going forward. That, however, would be one risky shakeup for a team already on track to win it all. Phil Jackson acknowledged late Wednesday night that his trusted assistants are already lobbying him to make the change to start Odom over Bynum - and he's going to contemplate it when the Lakers reconvene after the All-Star break. "My coaches are kind of pushing me in that direction, but I'm not ready yet to do that," Jackson said. "We won last year with Andrew when he came back at the end of the season, going out there and playing the first quarter and starting the games. Even though he ..."
Lakers' Bryant, Odom accept invitations for Team USA; Bynum declines
Comment
February 11
L.A. Daily News
 
"Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom answered the call. Andrew Bynum did not. The three Lakers were selected Wednesday for USA Basketball's expanded roster for the world championships this summer in Turkey and the 2012 Olympics in London. Bryant and Odom accepted the invitation; Bynum declined because of injury concerns. Bryant and Odom will be trying to make their second Olympic team. Bryant was part of the so-called Redeem Team, which won the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Games. Odom played on the United States team that won bronze in 2004 in Athens. Twenty-seven players were selected, including nine players from the 2008 Games. The world championship and Olympic teams will be picked from that ..."
Lamar Odom says he will play against the Jazz
Comment
February 10
Los Angeles Times
 
"The Lakers are one game away from the All-Star break and have arrived here either by having gained some momentum or by having limped to this part of the season. It all depends on one's perspective. Then again, limping to the finish line may be more apt after Lamar Odom joined the Lakers' injury list and missed practice Tuesday because of a sore right foot. Odom got a CT scan and MRI Tuesday that were negative. The Lakers listed Odom, who became a starter because of Andrew Bynum's bruised right hip, as probable for Wednesday night's game against the Utah Jazz. As Odom stood in the hallway at the team's practice facility Tuesday, with his foot taped and an electronic muscle stimulator ..."
Lamar Odom says he will play against the Jazz
Comment
February 10
Los Angeles Times
 
"The Lakers are one game away from the All-Star break and have arrived here either by having gained some momentum or by having limped to this part of the season. It all depends on one's perspective. Then again, limping to the finish line may be more apt after Lamar Odom joined the Lakers' injury list and missed practice Tuesday because of a sore right foot. Odom got a CT scan and MRI Tuesday that were negative. The Lakers listed Odom, who became a starter because of Andrew Bynum's bruised right hip, as probable for Wednesday night's game against the Utah Jazz. As Odom stood in the hallway at the team's practice facility Tuesday, with his foot taped and an electronic muscle stimulator ..."
Two years in, Gasol is clearly no Odom
Comment
January 27
Orange County Register
 columnist Kevin Ding
"When they introduce the Wizards' starting lineup here, they turn up the volume and call this "the most powerful city in the world!" (It's not the most powerful team in the world, so you do what you can to stoke the crowd.) The Lakers created some great new Washington memories with their visit to the White House on Monday – and Kobe Bryant's additional 20-minute private meeting with his family and President Barack Obama in the Oval Office on Tuesday morning. Bryant especially enjoyed how much his daughters got to chat with the president and said they batted around the idea of some pickup ball this summer on the White House basketball court. "That'd be great," Bryant said. But everywhere you ..."
Odom on Lakers' lapses: 'We're cocky'
Comment
January 24
L.A. Daily News
 
"Lamar Odom did his best to explain the keys to the Lakers' success, and occasional lack thereof this season, not long after they dispatched the New York Knicks on Friday night. It was a fairly predictable assessment. "We've just got to be ready to play with effort and energy every night - defensively, in particular," he said after the defending NBA champion Lakers improved their league-leading record to 33-10 with a 115-105 victory over the Knicks. Uh-huh. So, why doesn't it happen every night? Why do the Lakers have occasional lapses of intensity and execution that lead to losses such as their defeat Thursday against the Cleveland Cavaliers and prompt Kobe Bryant to question their ..."
Lamar Odom credits cockiness for Lakers' success
Comment
January 24
Los Angeles Times
 
"It was as raw and as honest of a statement that one can get from an athlete. And to his credit, Lamar Odom was more than willing to describe the attitude of the Lakers. "We're cocky. We're cocky. We're cocky," Odom said. "So what? You know what I mean?" Is it because the Lakers are the NBA champions? Is it because the Lakers were the favorites to win the title when this season began? Is it because the pundits have said the Lakers have the best talent, the deepest team and perhaps the best player in the NBA in Kobe Bryant? Yes, Odom responded, it's all that. Even so, Odom knows the Lakers must constantly fight that cocky attitude. "I think it's just about pushing each other, holding each ..."
Lakers address the toughness issue
Comment
January 23
Los Angeles Times
 
"The question still lingered a day later. Are the Lakers tough enough? Kobe Bryant brought it up after the Lakers' 93-87 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and his teammates had to answer for it Friday before a 115-105 victory over the New York Knicks. "Kobe's a tough guy. You've got to listen to your leader," forward Lamar Odom said. "If he sees something, we'll address it on the court or in practice. Kobe's going to push us, you know?" Bryant, however, didn't directly address teammates after telling reporters it was "not in our DNA" to be a tough, physical team. "If he really meant it, he wouldn't have told you guys, you know what I'm saying?" Odom said. "He would have told us face-to-face. ..."
Message from Lakers coach Jackson familiar to Odom
Comment
January 14
L.A. Daily News
 
"Lamar Odom has heard the pleas before, heard the demands of coaches who wanted more from him. It seems like they have always requested more shots, more points, more aggression, more activity on the offensive end of the court. Lakers coach Phil Jackson stated the case most recently, after Tuesday's loss to the San Antonio Spurs, saying, "We've got to get Lamar playing basketball again, where he's taking responsibility in some offensive way with Kobe (Bryant hurting)." With the Lakers battered, bruised and ill, Jackson hoped Odom would step into the void created by injuries to Bryant (back spasms), Ron Artest (index finger), Pau Gasol (hamstring), Adam Morrison (sore throat) and Sasha ..."
Odom stepped up, but Buss anted up first
Comment
January 6
Orange County Register
 columnist Kevin Ding
"There's an exception to every rule. That's such a cliché, you the intelligent reader are thinking. Well, that's my entire reason for writing it, smarty-pants. I want to write about one particular cliché, and I don't want it to be dismissed just because it is a cliché. There's one that is spectacularly worthwhile in evaluating sports, actually, and no, it's not: "We gave 110 percent" ... because people in sports pretty much never give even 100 percent. The cliché that I believe in is which team "wants it more." Seeking atonement, team that has been embarrassed its previous time facing a certain opponent will be motivated. So will a team playing without a star player for the first time. So ..."
Odom, Lakers find way to bottle Rockets
Comment
January 6
L.A. Daily News
 
"Lamar Odom played sick Tuesday night. He had no choice. Well, he could have stayed in bed instead of heading to Staples Center, putting on his No.7 Lakers jersey and playing in their game against the hyperkinetic Houston Rockets. He could have called in sick, letting a stomach ailment pass. Odom chose to go to work instead, and the Lakers were thankful he did. He scored 17 points, grabbed 19 rebounds and added nine assists, propelling the shorthanded Lakers to an 88-79 victory over the Rockets in front of a sellout crowd of 18,997. He made 7 of 10 shots and all three of his free throws. "I was sitting in bed, like, 'Why me?'" Odom admitted after recording season highs for rebounds and ..."
Lakers' Gasol out at practice, Artest in, Odom's status uncertain
Comment
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 ..."
Lakers forward Lamar Odom sets up the winning push
Comment
January 3
Los Angeles Times
 
"His big moment came in the third quarter when the Lakers were trying to whittle away at a 15-point halftime deficit. His time came in the third when the Lakers needed somebody to make a push, to be an offensive force. Lamar Odom stepped into the void, scoring 12 of his season-high 20 points in the quarter, helping the Lakers pull out a 109-108 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Friday night at Staples Center. Much of the credit will go to Kobe Bryant, who made a three-point basket as time expired to give the Lakers the victory. Much of the talk was about Bryant scoring 39 points, 27 in the second half. But without Odom's contributions in the third, without him taking charge, the Lakers ..."
Lakers players brush off recent Jackson comments
Comment
December 21
L.A. Daily News
 
"Lakers forward Lamar Odom knows his team is known as much for controversy as the Staples Center is known for Jack Nicholson's courtside seat. That said, Phil Jackson's recent comments about winning the title and money being major factors in deciding whether he'd come back next year didn't resonate with Odom. In fact, he didn't even know about them. "We're a high-profile team, it's not about controversy," said the 10th-year forward after Sunday's win over Detroit. "We know how to deal with issues, no matter what they may be." Odom, who quietly scored 14 points on seven-of-nine shooting to go along with 12 rebounds, is more focused on enjoying the attention, rather than worrying about the ..."
Lamar Odom says ball movement is the key for Lakers
Comment
December 14
Los Angeles Times
 
"As he strolled down a hallway inside Energy Solutions Arena on his way to the Lakers' team bus after Saturday night's game at Utah, Pau Gasol was asked to elaborate on his request to get more touches. Seconds after Gasol began to explain, Lamar Odom eased his way in, asking what the conversation was about. Gasol informed Odom that the topic was "how can I get more touches? How can I get more looks?" Odom put on his analytical hat and offered his opinion, saying the Lakers went through the same situation last season and found a way to get it resolved. At issue, Odom said, is that when the ball does go inside, the Lakers still need to make the extra pass. He said they need to be more patient ..."
Lakers coach Jackson happy to see old Odom
Comment
December 13
L.A. Daily News
 
"Lamar Odom ended an extended scoring slump when he had 13 points during the Lakers' victory Friday over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Odom went eight consecutive games without reaching double digits in scoring. "I said to him after the game, `You look like someone I know, like the Lamar I know."' Lakers coach Phil Jackson said before Saturday's game against the Utah Jazz. "His first two appearances out there, he was just not in the flow of the game at all. I think he's been struggling to find his offense. He's doing things that are out of character." Jackson then provided a couple of examples. "He had a 3-point shot and didn't shoot it," he said. "He passed out of it and they (the ..."
Reality show is harder than defense for Lakers' Odom
Comment
December 10
Orange County Register
 columnist Kevin Ding
"I was chatting with Lamar Odom on Wednesday evening, and he was saying not to expect too much of him in the "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" season that premieres Sunday night. Odom was saying how he's tired after Lakers practice and making phone calls running his businesses – and if your energy level isn't high, you sure don't want a camera in your face while you're trying to get your downtime. (You also don't make for good reality TV if you're "blasé," he said quite correctly.) We always concern ourselves with the results, but a lot of those results are predetermined by how much energy we have to produce them. It's why we need our coffee and our candy, as Lamar well knows ... for that ..."
Gasol, Bynum and Odom play at once, but it has little effect for Lakers
Comment
November 30
Los Angeles Times
 
"It finally happened. Lakers fans have been clamoring for it since the day Pau Gasol was acquired, a steady stream of e-mails to writers only partly describing an inexplicable fascination with a front line of Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. Lakers Coach Phil Jackson had never used such a lineup since Gasol's arrival in February 2008, but that changed in the final 1 minute 5 seconds of the second quarter Saturday against Golden State. Gasol, Bynum and Odom were finally on the court together. "I just wanted to see how that effect would be on the ballclub," Jackson said. It was unremarkable. The Lakers were outscored, 3-0, with Gasol getting called for a three-second violation on one ..."
Lakers' Odom gets time to adjust
Comment
November 29
L.A. Daily News
 
"Lamar Odom averaged 9.9 points as a starter in the season's first 11 games. He then averaged 3.7 points in his first three games as a substitute after Pau Gasol returned to the starting lineup from a hamstring injury. If he was worried about Odom, Lakers coach Phil Jackson wasn't about to admit it before Saturday's game against the Golden State Warriors. Jackson acknowledged moving from a starter's gig to a backup's job was an adjustment. But otherwise - "I'm not so worried about his scoring as much as his rebounding and assists," Jackson said. "Those are the keys for Lamar. He's going to find his scoring (touch). The other night, with the second unit out there, he really did press his ..."
Odom's energy concerns Jackson
Comment
November 29
Los Angeles Times
 
"Don't bother getting Lamar Odom any coffeehouse gift certificates for the holidays. No mocha lattes or frappuccinos for him. No regular coffee either, apparently. Lakers Coach Phil Jackson didn't even pause a millisecond before decreeing what needed to be done to get Odom to the land of the relevant after a sluggish return to reserve status. "Take the caffeine away from him before the game," Jackson said before Satuday's game against Golden State. "I think he burns energy up before he gets in the ballgame. No coffee before the game." OK, maybe Jackson was joking. But there was no denying Odom's drop-off in scoring since being relegated to the bench with the return of a healthy Pau Gasol. ..."
Lakers' Lamar Odom leads from the bench
Comment
November 21
Los Angeles Times
 
"Lamar Odom wasn't entirely thrilled when he found out he was no longer a starter last year in training camp, saying Lakers Coach Phil Jackson was "out of his . . . mind" for making him come off the bench. Times change, people mature and championships get won. Now it's Odom who approached Jackson about returning to the second unit, seemingly eager to go back to reserve status after 11 games as a starter during Pau Gasol's absence. "He came to me about a week and a half ago and said, 'You know that bench really needs me on the floor with them,' " Jackson said Thursday. "He actually volunteered that information." Jackson seemed surprised. Maybe even stunned. He knew how angry Odom was last ..."
Odom takes down the basketball hoop at Manhattan Beach home
Comment
October 28
Los Angeles Times
 
"Los Angeles Laker forward Lamar Odom has listed his Manhattan Beach home for $2,399,000. The two-level Mediterranean has five bedrooms and five bathrooms in about 4,200 square feet. Custom-built in 2002, the house has an open floor plan, a family room with a hand-carved bar, three stone fireplaces, an office and a swimming pool with a spa. There are views of downtown L.A., the Hollywood sign and the mountains. Odom, 29, bought the house in 2006 as a family home and a place to entertain his fellow Lakers, according to reports at the time. He recently married actress Khloé Kardashian, 25. Her "Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami" series, which started in August, is a spinoff of "Keeping Up With ..."
Lamar Odom leaves game with right leg contusion
Comment
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, ..."
Odom OK with role off bench
Comment
October 8
L.A. Daily News
 
"One by one, the Lakers clambered aboard the bus that would take them to the Honda Center for their 118-101 exhibition victory Wednesday night over Golden State. They settled into the same seats they had occupied last season. Lamar Odom dropped into his familiar spot between Adam Morrison and Josh Powell, with Luke Walton seated across the aisle to Odom's right. Ron Artest at first took DJ Mbenga's place, but then was directed to the spot formerly occupied by Trevor Ariza. Artest signed with the Lakers as a free agent from Houston during the summer. He's the only newcomer to the NBA champs. Ariza, who signed with the Rockets on the same July night that Artest signed, was the only key player ..."
Odom insists he "was really close" to leaving the Lakers for the Heat
Comment
August 1
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"In an emotional, candid and introspective radio interview Friday, Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom revealed that he, indeed, stood on the verge of returning to South Florida as a free agent this week and insisted that he never attempted to use the Miami Heat as leverage. "I was really close," Odom told ESPN-760 host Evan Cohen. "I weighed and I balanced every option. I did it 50 times, 60 times" While Odom eventually agreed to a four-year, $33 million contract with the Lakers, he said his contact with Heat President Pat Riley and Heat guard Dwyane Wade and his affection for Heat owner Micky Arison transcended the fact that the Heat could offer no more than $34 million over five ..."
Lakers sign Odom to four-year deal
Comment
August 1
Los Angeles Times
 
"It had taken all month for Lamar Odom and Mitch Kupchak to reach this point, with the free-agent forward and the Lakers' general manager sitting side-by-side at a news conference Friday. Odom agreed to return to the Lakers, but Kupchak noted that the contract negotiations "took many twists and turns." Odom called it "a tedious time." Still, Kupchak and Odom were finally together at the team's El Segundo training facility. "I guess it's a little late to ask him for a little bit more," joked Odom, who then signed his contract -- a four-year deal worth about $33 million, with a team option for the final year. "You can ask," Kupchak answered, getting laughs from reporters. Odom acknowledged he ..."
Lamar Odom agrees to return to Lakers
Comment
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
Comment
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
Comment
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
Comment
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 ..."
Odom 'strongly' considering Miami Heat's offer
Comment
July 26
Miami Herald
 
"Free agent forward Lamar Odom might have moved a step closer to a reunion with the Heat amid stalled negotiations with his current team. Odom, who has been deciding between accepting an offer from the Heat or returning to the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, is reportedly ready to bolt to Miami. A story posted by Yahoo! Sports on Saturday indicated Odom ``is leaning strongly toward'' accepting a deal with the Heat if the Lakers don't increase their offer to retain him. The report was attributed to league sources. Jeff Schwartz, Odom's agent, did not return messages Saturday. The Heat had no comment on the report and was still awaiting a decision from Odom. Odom, a versatile 6-10 ..."
Lamar Odom apparently not the ultimate long shot for the Heat
Comment
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
Comment
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 ..."
Lakers, Odom keeping in touch
Comment
July 24
L.A. Daily News
 
"The Lakers might have pulled their latest contract offer to free agent Lamar Odom from the negotiating table last week, but that certainly hasn't stopped Odom's camp and the Lakers from communicating. In fact, almost from the minute the Lakers yanked the offer, general manager Mitch Kupchak was in contact with Odom's agent, Jeff Schwartz. The dialogue between them has been steady ever since, according to Lakers spokesman John Black, although Black did not classify their communication as "negotiations." "I wouldn't say that, no," Black said. "Basically Jeff and Mitch continue to stay in touch, pretty much on a daily basis." A recent report indicated that talks between the Lakers and Odom ..."
Odom and Lakers resume talks
Comment
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
Comment
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 ..."
Lakers need to hold on to Lamar Odom, Clippers need to not grab Allen Iverson
Comment
July 22
Los Angeles Times
 columnist Bill Plaschke
"Only in Los Angeles, it seems, could there be a basketball meltdown in the middle of July. Only in a Southland summer could there be two prolific baseball teams, a historically prolific soccer player, and yet all anybody really cares about are puny initials. What's up with A.I.? What's going on with L.O.? For the sake of hardwood sanity in this hoops capital of the world, I come forward today with two pleas. Please, Donald Sterling, do not be suckered into signing Allen Iverson. Please, Jerry Buss, do whatever it takes to sign Lamar Odom. Both owners are on the spot here, with resolutions coming any day now, and the predictions are mixed. It's a good guess that Sterling will not impose his ..."
Heat targeting both Boozer and Odom
Comment
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 ..."
Lakers pull Odom deal off the table
Comment
July 16
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The Los Angeles Lakers have retracted a contract offer to forward Lamar Odom, saying talks to re-sign the free agent have stalled. Lakers Public Relations Director John Black said the team had taken the offer off the table in the past two days. "There are specifics behind why we pulled it, but that's not something we're going to get into," Black said. Lakers owner Jerry Buss had offered Odom two deals, according to the Los Angeles Times. One was worth $36 million for four years and the other was for $10 million a season for three years. Odom, who will turn 30 in No vember, made $14.1 million this past season. Black said talks with Odom's agent, Jeff Schwartz, have been on and off. "We ..."
Odom's dealings with Lakers sound too familiar
Comment
July 16
L.A. Daily News
 columnist Ramona Shelburne
"Haven't we heard all of this before? Pulled offers? Angry owners? Hurt feelings on both sides? A breathless fan base hanging on every blog post and tweet? It's like a game of free agent negotiating Mad Libs. Take all the stories written about Manny Ramirez about five months ago. Replace Ramirez with Lamar Odom, replace agent Scott Boras with agent Jeff Schwartz, Dodgers with Lakers ... and continue with the story. It all seems rather dramatic right now, with Lakers owner Jerry Buss angrily withdrawing his contract offers to Odom just five days after general manager Mitch Kupchak told an L.A. radio station that "there is no replacement for Lamar Odom" and sources on both sides of the ..."
Heat finds itself as leverage in Odom's negotiations with Lakers
Comment
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
Comment
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."
Lakers still unsure about Odom's future plans
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July 8
L.A. Daily News
 
"Ron Artest is coming. Shannon Brown is returning. Trevor Ariza is leaving. What about Lamar Odom? The Lakers' free-agent negotiations produced a surprising agreement with Artest and a predictable one with Brown, sandwiched around the loss of Ariza to the Houston Rockets. There has been hardly a trickle of information about Odom, however. Today is the first full day free agents can sign new contracts. Artest and Brown signed their deals with the Lakers on Tuesday night. Ariza could have done the same with the Rockets. It's uncertain what Odom's day will bring. He wants to re-sign with the Lakers and the Lakers want him back. There's been a near-total news blackout, however. Odom and the ..."
Lakers are far apart with free agents Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom
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July 2
Los Angeles Times
 
"The Lakers had a near-perfect June, breezing through the NBA Finals in five games and capping it off with a victory parade and championship rally under sunny Southern California skies. The first day of July, however, wasn't as picturesque. The Lakers remained far apart on negotiations Wednesday with their two main free-agent pieces, forwards Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza. In particular, Ariza and his agent weren't thrilled by the Lakers' annual offer of $5.6 million over an unspecified number of years. Ariza, 24, was hoping for $7 million to $8 million a year. Odom, 29, is believed to be seeking $10 million a year, though it was unclear what the Lakers offered him. Ariza's agent, David Lee, ..."
Will Lakers -- or someone else -- show them the money?
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June 30
L.A. Daily News
 
"One by one, they said they hoped to come back to play for another NBA championship next season. Trevor Ariza, Lamar Odom and Shannon Brown said they were happy and at home with the Lakers and wanted to re-sign with the team. The Lakers want them back, too. General manager Mitch Kupchak and coach Phil Jackson each said the journey to a second consecutive league title begins by re-signing the three unrestricted free agents. Kupchak made two moves toward retaining the services of Ariza, Odom and Brown when he traded two of the Lakers' three draft picks for cash and future selections. He didn't want to add players or their salaries to the roster. The next and most important step begins at 9 ..."
Lamar Odom hopes to remain with Lakers
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June 19
Los Angeles Times
 
"Lamar Odom cleaned out his locker Thursday and left the Lakers' training facility, perhaps for the last time as part of the franchise that has employed him the last five years. Odom will be an unrestricted free agent July 1, one of two forwards the Lakers hope to re-sign to keep their frontcourt intact. Trevor Ariza is younger and has plenty of potential, but Odom can play three positions and provide much-needed backup help whenever Andrew Bynum gets in foul trouble. The Lakers hope to sign both Ariza and Odom, but owner Jerry Buss will first have to evaluate how much to offer Odom, a non-starter on a championship team. Odom was on the Lakers' books for $14.1 million this season, though he ..."
Lakers' Odom focusing on staying in L.A.
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June 19
L.A. Daily News
 
"Lamar Odom made his demands to stay with the Lakers perfectly clear Thursday. "Three years, $80 million," he said. Then he laughed heartily. He was joking, of course. It won't take nearly that much to re-sign Odom, who will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the month. He told reporters there is nowhere he would rather play than with the NBA champion Lakers. "Hopefully, everything will work out and I'll get to stay home," he said. Odom said he hasn't spoken to his agent, Jeff Schwartz, about a new deal. Teams and player representatives can't begin negotiations until July 1. Odom and fellow forward Trevor Ariza need new contracts for next season, and there has been a great deal ..."
Lakers' Lamar Odom proves his value in the playoffs
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June 16
Los Angeles Times
 
"His cap had been drenched in champagne and was askew on top of Lamar Odom's head. His shirt was soaked in champagne and the smile across Odom's face was wide as he rocked back and forth inside the championship Lakers locker room Sunday inside Amway Arena. Odom had done his part to help the Lakers win the NBA championship in five games, producing a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds in the series clincher against Orlando, and now he didn't want to "ruin this moment" talking about his future and whether that future will be with the Lakers. Odom will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, finishing the last year of a six-year, $63-million deal the Miami Heat signed him to in ..."