Buss Angry, will lower offer if Lamar pursues Lakers again

[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 fic ious 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 fic ious 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...

o!!! 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 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.

[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 le 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 le 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.