- Feb 17, 2007
- 21,784
- 2,957
THANK GOD!!!!!
[::2009 Champion LAKERS OFF-SEASON THREAD Vol. Boring Non-News Days Causing In-Thread Tension::]
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by licensed to ball,
- Start date
- Apr 18, 2006
- 1,759
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Now my avy doesn't have to change.
- Oct 24, 2005
- 2,792
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- Nov 9, 2001
- 6,689
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Originally Posted by FrenchBlue23
[h2]Source: Odom, Lakers agree on deal[/h2]
Comment Email Print By J.A. Adande and Marc Stein
ESPN.com
Free agent forward Lamar Odom will return to the Los Angeles Lakers, an NBA source said Thursday.
Odom
Odom will sign a four-year contract, with the fourth year at the team option, the source said. One source with knowledge of the talks told ESPN.com the four-year deal is worth $33 million if the Lakers exercise the final year of the contract.
- Nov 27, 2007
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- Jul 6, 2004
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- Jan 3, 2004
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I've been waiting to say this.... Good to have you back Lamar.
- May 6, 2007
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YES!!!
- Oct 29, 2007
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Now Summer can begin
- Mar 5, 2009
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At least 1 LA team knows how to get deals done welcome back LO
notorious 858
Banned
- Jun 11, 2009
- 1,743
- 10
[h1]Lamar Odom agrees to return to Lakers[/h1]
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 him.
Odom was on the Lakers' books for $14.1 million last season, but his actual salary was $11.4 million because some of his salary was paid up front when he was dealt from the Miami Heat to the Lakers in 2004 as part of the Shaquille O'Neal trade.
This spring, Odom proved his worth during to the Lakers during the playoffs by averaging 12.3 points, third-best on the team, and 9.1 rebounds, second-best on the team.
He averaged 32 minutes a game in the playoffs, a lot of it because center Andrew Bynum was either in foul trouble or ineffective. In those cases, Pau Gasol moved to center, Odom came off the bench to play power forward and the Lakers were often a better team.
In July the Lakers presented two offers to Odom that would have guaranteed him $30 million.
One deal was for three years, at $10 million a season. The other was for four years at $9 million per season, worth up to $36 million, but the fourth year was only partially guaranteed, with the Lakers having a buy-out clause for the fourth year at $3 million.
When Odom and his agent didn't respond quickly enough, Lakers owner Jerry Buss pulled the deals off the table in mid-July. A week later, both sides resumed talks.
Odom also had conversations with the Miami Heat about a five-year deal for $34 million, allowing him to opt out after the third season and become a free agent. Because there are no state taxes in Miami, Odom still could have made nearly has much as with the Lakers' offers.
Odom and his agent, Jeff Schwartz, were initially looking for $10 million a year over five seasons.
Odom got calls and text messages from Lakers teammates trying to sway him, including Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher and Luke Walton. Miami guard Dwyane Wade, a teammate of Odom during the 2003-04 season with the Heat, also made a pitch for Odom to return to Miami.
In mid-July, during contract negotiations, Odom was asked if he expected to be back playing for the Lakers next season. "I don't know," Odom said. "That's why there are negotiations...You talk about money, it's touchy. It's a touchy subject."
Odom was solid against Orlando in the NBA Finals, helping the Lakers win their 15th championship by averaging 13.4 points and 7.8 rebounds. He had 17 points and 10 rebounds in Game 5 as the Lakers clinched the title with a 99-86 victory.
Known as a friendly face among teammates and always available to talk to reporters, Odom represented an important part of the Lakers' team chemistry. He was the one who stood in the middle of the Lakers' pre-game huddle, barking out instructions and inspirations to teammates.
Odom wasn't thrilled before last season about the prospect of being a reserve, saying in October that Lakers Coach Phil Jackson "must have woke up and bumped his head." But he grew accustomed to his backup role and helped keep the Lakers atop the West when Bynum went down with a knee injury.
Link:
http://www.latimes.com/sp...009jul31,0,5679779.story
- Jul 18, 2008
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Best Team On Paper
Yes!!!
Finally
Yes!!!
Finally
- Aug 9, 2008
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about damn time
akajae
formerly akajaedeuce
- Sep 2, 2005
- 19,199
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ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!
- Jan 9, 2009
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dontsteponmyshoes
Supporter
- Mar 12, 2004
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- Sep 17, 2005
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It's over!
- Oct 15, 2001
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Ok, guys. We got LO back. Awesome.
But...is there anyone else out there that we could or should pursue? Is there room? Are we broke already?
But...is there anyone else out there that we could or should pursue? Is there room? Are we broke already?
- Feb 17, 2007
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I think the team as constituted now can compete with anyone.
Judging by how close a shave this was for the front office, I think we're definitely strapped for cash. And I can't think of any trades we could makethat would put us in a better position than we're already in. We're the big favorites in Vegas, and while that isn't an automatic O'Brientrophy, it does tell us that we are considered the best team in the league.
- Sep 5, 2005
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If he had that much enthusiasm on the court, he wouldn't be so ridiculed.
- Dec 16, 2007
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This is good news
- Jun 4, 2009
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L.O!
- Oct 16, 2005
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Originally Posted by GregOdensBedpan
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally!!!!!
notorious 858
Banned
- Jun 11, 2009
- 1,743
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Umm even before Odom resigned with the Lakers the sports book makers in Vegas had the Lakers to repeat and win it all next season with or withouthim.
Here's the article:
[h1]Oddsmakers see Lakers as NBA favorites, with or without Lamar Odom[/h1]
No reason to panic, Lakers fans.
Whether free agent Lamar Odom stays in Los Angeles or leaves for the Miami Heat, Las Vegas bookmakers said Monday they don't anticipate anything that would drop the Lakers from their perch as preseason favorites to win the NBA championship -- again.
"Getting [forward Ron] Artest is better than losing Lamar," said Jay Rood, director of the MGM/Mirage Race and Sports Book. The Lakers signed free agent Artest this month. "The core of that team still is what it is, and as long as you keep Kobe [Bryant] and [Coach] Phil [Jackson], nothing changes."
At MGM/Mirage, the Lakers are an 8-5 favorite to win the NBA title, followed by the Boston Celtics, and recent addition Rasheed Wallace, at 3-1, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Shaquille O'Neal joining LeBron James, at nearly 4-1. The Orlando Magic are 13-2 and the San Antonio Spurs are 7-1.
"We didn't change anything when they got Artest, and if they lose Odom it'll just be a wash," said Jay Kornegay, executive director of the Las Vegas Hilton's Race and Sports book, which has the Lakers as the 2-1 favorite over the 3-1 Cavaliers and 5-1 Celtics.
"Odom's a component, but he's not a star. As that team has already shown, if they lose someone, they'll find someone else."
Those who assess these situations, with millions of dollars on the line, believe the possible loss of Odom will not diminish support for what is essentially Las Vegas' hometown team.
So why change the Lakers' odds to 3-1 or 4-1 when the betting action supporting the team is already intense?
"The public has shown they'll support the Lakers and the team proved last season they can get by without a big man," Rood said, referring to the injury absence of center Andrew Bynum. "And the return of Bynum is another big thing for that team, that makes them so much more dangerous."
Odom's effect at the sports book will be only slight, bookmakers say, if he goes to Miami. Rood said he'd likely drop the Heat from 25-1 to around 22-1.
"He might make Miami significantly better but they still have the Celtics, Cavs and Magic in front of them," Rood said.
Link:
http://www.latimes.com/sp...009jul28,0,2985902.story
- Dec 17, 2005
- 23,933
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okay glad everyone can calm down now
Lets not start celebrating too much now guys, a lot can happen in the season. We still have 82 games to play so nothings guaranteed.
But things are lookin good
Lets not start celebrating too much now guys, a lot can happen in the season. We still have 82 games to play so nothings guaranteed.
But things are lookin good
