In the end, Odom elected to return to the Lakers, agreeing to a four-year, $32 million deal, but the Lakers hold the option for the fourth year. It is close to the original three-year, $30 million deal Buss withdrew earlier this month.
Buss apparently was angered by the lack of a quick response from Odom and his agent, Jeff Schwartz, plus the fact Odom had talked to Miami, and pulled the offer off the table.
That’s when Miami stepped up its efforts, offering Odom a five-year deal starting at the mid-level exception of $5.9 million, and giving the free agent the ability to opt out after the fourth year. Heat star Dwyane Wade then publicly lobbied for Odom to come back to South Florida, where Odom played one season before being traded to the Lakers in 2004.
On Thursday, Wade sent out one final message over Twitter, saying that he was “Happy for LO either way.”
The Lakers hope to finalize the deal over the few days, possibly as soon as Friday.
As per team policy, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak did not comment on the move.
Odom, the Lakers’ versatile sixth man, was a key to the championship run last season and was viewed as an important player for a run at a second consecutive title.
Odom’s return gives the Lakers their top five scorers and top four rebounders from last season. The only significant loss is forward Trevor Ariza, who left for Houston after the Lakers signed Ron Artest.
Odom averaged 11.3 points and 8.2 rebounds during the regular season and 12.3 points and 9.1 rebounds in 32 minutes during the playoffs, despite a sore back suffered in a fall during the Western Conference semifinals.
Odom’s versatility made him an attractive free agent, but his age (he will turn 30 in November) and lack of teams with salary cap space limited his choices. Only Miami and Portland were serious contenders for the forward, with Portland reportedly offering a five-year, $40 million deal.
Earlier this month, the Lakers offered Odom two deals – one for three years, $30 million and the other four years, $36 million, with the final year only partially guaranteed – both of which Buss withdrew. The two sides began talking again several days later.
Odom, who was on the books last season for $14.1 million, actually earned just $11.4 million because a portion of his salary was paid up front when he was dealt to the Lakers five seasons ago.
Odom told the Los Angeles Times on Thursday he wasn’t nervous about the protracted negotiations “because if worse came to worse, I was going to go somewhere (Miami) where I was comfortable.”
While Wade was making his pitch for Odom to return to Miami, several Lakers called and sent text messages to their teammate, urging him to stay.
“There’s no question we need him back. We want him back,” Derek Fisher said last week. “If those things are in place, hopefully we can just go and get this done and put this behind us and starting working on 2009-10.”
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