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 forward who played a key role in the Lakers' run to an NBA title this season, has been recruited relentlessly by Heat president Pat Riley and guard Dwyane Wade recently.
Wade used his Twitter account on Saturday to send his latest pitch to Odom, who just completed a six-year, $63 million deal he signed with the Heat in 2003. Odom played the 2003-04 season in Miami and was traded to the Lakers in the package for Shaquille O'Neal.
``This is for Lamar Odom,'' Wade wrote through Twitter. ``(Come) back to where it started for both of us .. the franchise u help build back up wants u to End it all here.''
The Heat, which is already at or slightly above the league's punitive $69.9 million luxury tax on excessive payrolls, is believed to have offered Odom the full midlevel contract that would pay him about $34 million for five seasons.
The Lakers reportedly have offered Odom two contracts - one for three seasons and another for four - that would pay him $8 to $10 million a season. The Heat has informed Odom he could recoup some of the difference in salary in Miami because there is no state income tax.
The Lakers broke off contract negotiations with Odom and his agent last week after the team learned of their interest in the Heat. But those negotiations reportedly have resumed. Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and Wade both launched public recruiting campaigns for Odom's services in recent days.
Odom averaged 11.4 points and 8.2 rebounds last season and has averaged 15.1 points and 8.8 rebounds over his 10 NBA seasons.
The Miami Herald
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