The Los Angeles Lakers won a title with Lamar Odom
playing a key role in the team’s success. And after a period of see-saw
negotiations, it appears just a couple million dollars separates Odom
and Lakers from striking a deal.
According to the Orange County Register,
Odom is believed to be seeking at least a $10 million contract from the
Lakers, but the Lakers can’t afford that much with salary cap and
luxury tax problems. Instead, the Lakers are reportedly offering around
$7 million to Odom.
Lakers assistant general manager Ronnie Lester told Janis Carr
of the Register that he heard the Lakers offer is now a “little north
of $8 million” and he expects to get a deal done early next week.
Odom played in 78 regular season games in 2008-09, averaging 11.3
points and 8.2 rebounds. In the postseason, he averaged 12.3 points and
9.1 rebounds per game.
