It’s a pretty easy thing to say that the re-signing of Lamar Odom has been a longer process than most of us Laker fans are ready to deal with. The constant stream of questions we receive through our twitter, facebook and mailbag shows how closely the Laker Fans are following this situation.
Well, prepare to wait at least 6 more days.
The only team out there with enough cap space and championship caliber to sign Lamar is the Portland Trailblazers. Their goal for this summer was to find a veteran at small forward and/or backup power forward for their up and coming team.
Lamar sounds like a perfect fit for them, right? Well, apparently, the Portland GM doesn’t think so. Kevin Pritchard is still picking up the rose petals and scattered pieces of chocolate Hedo Turkoglu threw back in his face last week when Hedo changed his mind last minute to sign with the Toronto Rapters. Maybe that emotional distressed has jaded him towards 6′10″ Multi-Skilled power fowards who can change the game on both the offensive and defensive side.
Yesterday, Kevin Pritchard signs reserve power foward from the Utah Jazz, Paul Milsap, to a 4 year deal, reportedly worth between $32-$36M.
Because of the fact that Paul Milsap is a restricted free agent, the Utah Jazz have 7 days to match that offer in order to retain the services of Milsap. Throughout the season, the Jazz were expected to lose their starting power forward, Carlos Boozer, to opt out into free agency, which would open up cap space to offer Milsap the money that he deserves. With the recent economy situation and the low demand for unloyal, injury-proned power forwards from Duke, Boozer has decided not to opt out of his $12M contract and stay for one more year when he can try to get some of the 2010 money everyone has saved for Lebron, Wade and Bosh.
So, this is the situation:
- Portland has about $10M to spend as we saw with the Hedo situation
- Portland just used $7M on Paul Milsap
- Utah has 7 Days to match the $7M offer
- Utah has no cap space to resign Milsap if Boozer is still on the roster.
If Utah doesn’t match the $7M a year offer because they don’t want him or because they can’t trade Boozer away to create cap space, then Portland is basically out of the race for Lamar Odom.
But if the Jazz do find someone to take Boozer off their hands for a year and match the offer to Milsap, Portland is going to become a player again for the services of Lamar Odom.
By that time, do you think Kevin Pritchard is going to realize what he’s missing out on and give his full $10M to Lamar?
The Lakers front office understand this situation and that is why there is no news being reported about the signing of Lamar. Mitch and Dr. Buss are just waiting on their side of the table with their $7M offer.
If Portland becomes a player again, then there’s going to be a negotiation and the Lakers will have to pony up a little more than $7M. If Portland gets Milsap, then why would the Lakers bid against themselves and offer Lamar more than what the market has stated he’s worth?
*Update 7/13/09 – Yahoo Sports confirms OC Register report that the Lakers have offered something ‘a little north of $8M’, but then added that the deal should be close to being done early this week.”
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Exactly! Lamar does not want to leave LA! This is just OUR waiting period! The Ariza/Artest thing happened so fast we all just wanted to be done by now! But Lamar & his agent knew coming in that the Lakers won’t overpay! I do believe that if need be they will pony up to $8 for LO but not beyond that! So I’m preparing myself because Lamar said this contract is for his kids/kids kids so sounds like the highest bidder gets him! Laker4life Lamar well I guess not so much..?
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i hope this doesn’t blow up in our face and we get stuck with Morrison as our 3. why aren’t we trying to move Morrison and Sasha? won’t that free up some room? i guess nobody wants those 2 with the contracts they have…
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Gary Lee Reply:
July 11th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
you guessed right . . why would anyone bloated contracts in these economic times . . . maybe Adam’s because it’s expiring, but Sasha’s is radioactive right now!
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Barbara Reply:
July 12th, 2009 at 1:15 am
Check out how Morrison’s been playing in summer camp. His numbers are really good. Don’t forget this guy was phenomenal in college.
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Gary Lee Reply:
July 12th, 2009 at 11:10 am
I agree . . 24 points followed up by 22 points . . there’s no question the guy can score, but he really needs to learn the defense!
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Chucho Cruz Reply:
July 12th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
summer camp is far from the NBA. plus, Morrison is NO LO. LO plays well, we win! sure Artest can do alot of what Odom has given us, but without the length. and Morrison, might put points up, but with Kobe, Artest, Gasol, and Bynum… we’ll need another ball this season. obviously im a big Lamar fan, always have been, he is a unique player, and with Artest and him, we have back to back to back in the bag!
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What can’t you buy with 8 million that you would buy with 10? I just hope his agent doesn’t screw him over like mr "my bank account is more importan than my clients wishes" lee.
R. I. P. A-THREEEEEE-zahhh!
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[...] ESPN analyst Chris Broussard says that the only team with enough money to pay what Lamar is looking for is the Portland Trailblazers and that is only if the Jazz match their offer to Paul Milsap by this friday (More Details Here). [...]