Buss Angry, will lower offer if Lamar pursues Lakers again

[TheMACHINE]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lakers-lamar-odom15-2009jul15,0,5773043.story


Lakers pull offer to Lamar Odom

Free agent Lamar Odom and his agent have been seeking $10 million for five years.

Jerry Buss is upset that the free-agent forward and his agent have not responded to Lakers' offer of $9 million a season.

By Broderick Turner

July 15, 2009
Lakers owner Jerry Buss, an avid poker player, called Lamar Odom's bluff at the negotiating table Tuesday, following through with his threat to pull the offer to Odom.

The Lakers admitted that the offer Buss presented to Odom and his representatives has been available for over a week, but that because the unrestricted free agent never responded, Buss grew upset and broke off all negotiations.


"Yes, we have taken the deal off the table," Lakers public relations director John Black said. "Talks have broken down for the time being."

Black was asked if talks could resume in the future.

"That's within the realm of possibility," he said.


Lakers team officials, who were not authorized to speak about the negotiations, said Buss offered Odom a deal for $9 million a season for four years at $36 million, or $10 million a season over three years for a total of $30 million.

Odom and his agent, Jeff Schwartz, were looking for $10 million a year over five seasons.

Neither Schwartz nor Odom could be reached for comment Tuesday.

Team officials also said Buss was not happy that Odom and Schwartz have been talking with the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat President Pat Riley about a deal, but have refused to talk to the Lakers.

The Heat and Mavericks can offer Odom only the mid-level exception of $5.8 million, but can give him a five-year deal up to $34 million.

Many in the Lakers' organization believe that Odom wants to accept Buss' offer -- and so do those close to Odom -- but he has failed to convince his agent.

If the two sides do begin negotiating again, Lakers sources said Buss, if he's willing to talk, will lower his offer to Odom.

Those same sources said Buss is a man of principle who sticks by his decision.

Those sources were mindful that when Shaquille O'Neal said during an exhibition game in Hawaii in 2003, "Now, you're gonna pay me," while looking for a contract extension, Buss was angry and never forgot that.

After the 2004 season, Buss traded O'Neal to the Heat, in a deal that brought Odom to the Lakers.

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. He was on the Lakers' books for $14.1 million last season, the final year of a six-year, $63-million contract he signed with Miami in 2003.

But the Lakers felt as if they made a fair offer to Odom, Lakers sources said, and are baffled as to why he didn't accept it.

Now it might be too late to get a deal done.

Odom proved his worth during the Lakers' championship run in 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.

Odom was solid against Orlando in the NBA Finals, 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.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Why not just fire your damn agent?

[TheMACHINE]

im thinking the agent is trying to lag as much as possible to see what happens in Portland and with Milsapp and Buss knows it. So he is playing hardball with Lamar knowing noone can offer 9 mill.

[mystargtr34]

LMAO @ the cant convince his agent line.

If Odom wants to stay with the Lakers, which i still assume he does, and he is happy with the offer - he will sign.

[TheMACHINE]

and then they won the fucking championship(heat). Looks like being a man of principle paid off you fucking moron. Hahaha kobe > shaq -- jk!

lol @ "jk!"

[iggypop123]

another agent another problem.

[Indazone]

Odom is slowly flying off the Lakers radar.

[Showtime24 LAKERS]

Wow, these agents really value their 4% comission!

[TheMACHINE]

Wow, these agents really value their 4% comission!

spoken like a true Lg.net member ;)

[Wombatzu]

maybe Odom is tired of playing with Kobe and likes the idea of playing with both Kobe and Artest even less...

[21_Blessings]

He's friends with Artest from way back so your logic sucks.

Kobe won him a championship and dragged his ass to the finals last year. Lamar would never score with such efficiency on a team without Kobe/Gasol feeding him easy buckets every game.

[Wombatzu]

He's friends with Artest from way back so your logic sucks.

Kobe won him a championship and dragged his ass to the finals last year. Lamar would never score with such efficiency on a team without Kobe/Gasol feeding him easy buckets every game.

i'm not saying Odom doesn't like him. i just think maybe that Odom might be tired of having to play behind a dominant personality and now he would have to play behind two.

he might be better off going to a starting gig and getting out from Kobe's shadow. i'm not saying he would be right to be thinking this way, just putting the possibility out there that Odom might want to take what he would see as a better oppurtunity if one presents itself.

[sabar]

The problem isn't the agents, it's that everyone thinks the lakers can offer big money in a bad economy when it isn't there. They perceive the lakers as an organization that will pay anything to get it done. They're blind, as the Artest signing showed. Trying to use the lakers' big market as leverage. Problem: doesn't help when no other big market can even afford you.

Unless some team offers money, it's a standoff between odom/lakers until one or the other compromises/cuts loose.

I hate the lakers, but it sucks when people (players/agents) try to fleece you (lakers FO) just because you're a big name with big cash. It's a business, they aren't gonna throw money down the toilet at odom if no one else is even competing for him.

[montgod]

Sorry, but Odom's agent played his cards wrong. If the Heat and Orlando don't have more money available to give Odom, why go there to try and negotiate??? Stupid. Is he related to David Lee? Odom should have been fired him and taken that 4 yr deal.

[Rogue]

Mavs are obviously the better option over Cheat which are simply a scrub team carried by Wade himself, and Odom knows thoroughly how bad that team has always been thanks to the several dark years he spent in Miami, so it's almost a guarantee Odom will become a boy in blue only if he gets himself released into the FA market.

[turiaf for president]

He's friends with Artest from way back so your logic sucks.

Kobe won him a championship and dragged his ass to the finals last year. Lamar would never score with such efficiency on a team without Kobe/Gasol feeding him easy buckets every game.

thats true. before come to la, his shooting percentage was 44 46 44 42 43 after coming to la 47 48 47 53 50

i think same can be said for artest. he has had a low shooting percentage as the man, but in la teams are going to double kobe and pau and free up alot of looks for ron

[mogrovejo]

Odom may be playing in Europe next season. Negotiations going very well.

[La Peace]

I am fine with this.

I love Lamar and he is essential to being the favorite to win it again, but, If that means 10 a year for five? Thats way too long and ridiculous for a bench player. Manu makes between 8-9 Mill and he is a bonafide all-star/6th man of the year.

If he wants a 5 year deal he can go get one for 36 Mill

Or he could have accepted a deal to make the same 36 Million in two years less of work. Fucking stupid.

I think the front office did all laker fans could have asked for within reasonable demand.

[Spursmania]

Why not just fire your damn agent?


While easy to blame the the agent, I call BS. He's a grown man for God's sake. It's all about the money for Odom right now, and it's much easier to blame the agent.

[Extra Stout]

This is all about an agent trying to get the Lakers to bid against themselves, and failing miserably.

Now, the agent will go on an ego trip and hold out to try to save face. That will fail too. There simply aren't any other suitors out there.

All this will end with Odom taking a deal from the Lakers that is less than what L.A. originally offered, but still a good deal more than any other team could pony up.

It probably also will end with Odom firing his agent.

[mogrovejo]

Odom isn't a "bench player" for the Lakers.

Bynum is a "bench player" and he'll be making $57mm in 4 years.

[Spursmania]

Odom isn't a "bench player" for the Lakers.

Bynum is a "bench player" and he'll be making $57mm in 4 years.

That is amazing that Bynum is being paid so much:wow

[z0sa]

I love Lamar and he is essential to being the favorite to win it again, but, If that means 10 a year for five? Thats way too long and ridiculous for a bench player. Manu makes between 8-9 Mill and he is a bonafide all-star/6th man of the year.

Manu is underpaid, though IMO, not as much as some believe.


I think the front office did all laker fans could have asked for within reasonable demand.

I agree. I'm actually surprised Odom isn't a Laker again already. When Buss made his latest offer, i was fairly sure Odom was in the bag. Now it looks like he could be waiting out for a different situation to arise (maybe Portland/Utah?)

[Culburn369]

That is amazing that Bynum is being paid so much:wow

Dwight Howard got convinced.

[JamStone]

Both sides are being stubborn morons.

Odom asking for 5 years at $10 million per is pretty far fetched. Buss may have all the leverage here, but there's no need to get upset at a player trying to get what he feels he deserve when you've paid lesser players currently on the roster outrageous amounts of money. If he had played hardball with Bynum and Bynum's agent, there probably wouldn't be all this fuss anyway. If he kept Mitch in check before signing off on Luke's and Sasha's contracts, he wouldn't be worried about how $1 million more in luxury tax would affect his bottom line.

The problem with Buss is that he's taking out his frustration of Ariza and Bynum and (indirectly) Walton and Vujacic on Odom when Odom's demands aren't nearly as bad as he assumes they are. Are they outrageous demands? Sure, to an extent. But, if he factored in Bynum's contract, Luke and Sasha, you can't blame Odom and his agent wanting a better deal despite not having the leverage of another team giving him a comparable offer. It's about Odom trying to get paid what he feels is close to his value.

Don't get me wrong. Odom and his agent are still being ridiculous and stupid. But, Buss playing hardball right now in the wake of a championship, after not doing so especially with Bynum, could end up costing his team, his franchise more championships. The Lakers aren't winning a title next year without Odom and without money to secure an adequate replacement. Josh Powell and DJ Mbenga aren't going to cut it as rotation players in the front court enough for the Lakers to win another title next year.

Both sides need to relent a little bit. Buss should offer 4 years, $40 million with the fourth year partially guaranteed. Something like that is basically splitting the difference. Odom needs to realize he's fighting a losing battle. And, Buss needs to realize the Lakers need Odom.

[Extra Stout]

Odom may be playing in Europe next season. Negotiations going very well.
I'm not sure I believe that. Remember that Odom's agent tried to float the story that the Spurs were after Odom, and that story even got picked up in the L.A. media despite being fictitious and logistically impossible.

[mogrovejo]

I'm not sure I believe that. Remember that Odom's agent tried to float the story that the Spurs were after Odom, and that story even got picked up in the L.A. media despite being fictitious and logistically impossible.

I never lie.

[mountainballer]

some agents do have a reputation to play a tough card and Jeff Schwartz is one of them.
remember 2 years ago, he turned down all offers for Okafor for an extension, despite a 5/60 offer from the Bobcats. Okafor played the next season without extension and the next summer they got the 6/72 they were asking for.
as far as I remember the Josh Howard extension wasn't without a negotiating fight either.
however, those guys sometimes force better contracts from teams (see Dan Fegan), but they also don't hesitate to push their clients into a bad situation.
but players, who hire such an agent know (or should know) what style he will play.

[Shank]

How did Schwartz swindle the Mavs into giving Kidd 3/25, but he can't give Odom what he wants?

[urunobili]

Odom in Dallas scares me...

[Culburn369]

Odom in Dallas scares me...

Hello!!! Odom not in Dallas scared ya 4-1.

[Mark in Austin]

If I were LA I'd offer a 4 year, 37 million dollar contract: 8M, 9M, 10M, 10M. But the fourth year only partially gauranteed.

With the shit about to hit the fan with a lower cap and potenial new CBA, if I'm a player I'm taking the best offer I can get right now.

[Culburn369]

But, they'd cut it to 5 when Odum hit those two threes and ended it, Luva.

[Dex]

Typical LA drama queen. It would be fitting for him to go back to the Lakers. :lol

[DDS4]

Both sides are being stubborn morons.

Odom asking for 5 years at $10 million per is pretty far fetched. Buss may have all the leverage here, but there's no need to get upset at a player trying to get what he feels he deserve when you've paid lesser players currently on the roster outrageous amounts of money. If he had played hardball with Bynum and Bynum's agent, there probably wouldn't be all this fuss anyway. If he kept Mitch in check before signing off on Luke's and Sasha's contracts, he wouldn't be worried about how $1 million more in luxury tax would affect his bottom line.

The problem with Buss is that he's taking out his frustration of Ariza and Bynum and (indirectly) Walton and Vujacic on Odom when Odom's demands aren't nearly as bad as he assumes they are. Are they outrageous demands? Sure, to an extent. But, if he factored in Bynum's contract, Luke and Sasha, you can't blame Odom and his agent wanting a better deal despite not having the leverage of another team giving him a comparable offer. It's about Odom trying to get paid what he feels is close to his value.

Don't get me wrong. Odom and his agent are still being ridiculous and stupid. But, Buss playing hardball right now in the wake of a championship, after not doing so especially with Bynum, could end up costing his team, his franchise more championships. The Lakers aren't winning a title next year without Odom and without money to secure an adequate replacement. Josh Powell and DJ Mbenga aren't going to cut it as rotation players in the front court enough for the Lakers to win another title next year.

Both sides need to relent a little bit. Buss should offer 4 years, $40 million with the fourth year partially guaranteed. Something like that is basically splitting the difference. Odom needs to realize he's fighting a losing battle. And, Buss needs to realize the Lakers need Odom.

+1.

All of this is just posturing on both sides. I don't think there's really a doubt Odom will go back to the Lakers. He's just maximizing his last big payday.