Lamar Odom Stays with Los Angeles Lakers

Free-agent forward Lamar Odom will remain a Laker for at least four more seasons. Odom signed a four-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, worth up to $33 million. The deal is guaranteed for three years, with an option for the fourth and final year. Odom was the biggest free-agent this off-season, and the Lakers plans for next season are complete. Talks between Odom and the Lakers broke down earlier this month, when Odom rejected a three-year deal, worth $25 million from owner Jerry Buss.

The Miami Heat and the Portland Trail Blazers were the only two other teams that were interested in Lamar Odom. Apparently, the Trail Blazers made a five-year offer, worth $40 million on Tuesday, even though Odom's agent said it was not true. Portland would of had to cut or trade a player or two to make up for the salary-cap space if the deal happened. The Heat had been trying for weeks to get Wade, and were close at times. Odom played for the Miami Heat for one season in 2003, helping the Heat make the playoffs. A return to the Heat would of been a reunion with coach Pat Riley and NBA superstar Dwayne Wade. Wade, who is very good friends with Odom, talked to him for weeks and told him to "come back home" where he belongs. The Heat reportedly offered Odom a five-year deal, worth $34 million.

Odom was drafted fourth overall in the 1999 by the Los Angeles Clippers. Odom played four seasons for the Clippers, averaging 16 PPG and 7 RPG, but could not take the Clippers to the postseason. Odom was named to the 2000 NBA All-Rookie First Team after his first NBA season. After Odom became a free agent, he was picked up by the Miami Heat in the 2003 off-season. Odom had a great season with the Heat, averaging 17 PPG and almost 10 RPG, helping take the Heat to the playoffs, where they lost to top-seed Indiana Pacers in the second round. After the season, Odom was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Odom has helped take the Lakers to the playoffs for four straight seasons, and won his first NBA ring last season.

In his championship season for the Lakers, Odom was mostly a reserve player and a sixth man for the team. It was really a testament to how good the Lakers were, because on any other team, Odom would be a starter. Odom will most likely compete with newly acquired Ron Artest for a starting position this season.

With Odom signing an extension with the Lakers, all the pieces are filled for the defending champion Lakers. With Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and now Lamar Odom, they will begin the defense of their NBA title this upcoming season. The only player that the Lakers lost this off-season was Trevor Ariza, who joined the Houston Rockets. The Lakers did pick up Ron Artest in the off-season, who might be an upgrade over Ariza. This Lakers team has a chance to be even better than the one last year.