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heat courting odom. no surprise..
ejones06
Posts: 2,304
Free agent forward Lamar Odom and his agent flew from Los Angeles to Miami on Tuesday evening to meet with Heat coach Pat Riley. The parties are scheduled to meet again this morning.
But Odom is hopeful his stay in Miami lasts a big longer -- as in six more years.
Odom, a restricted free agent of the Clippers, said Tuesday he was coming to Miami for more than just a chat. The 6-10 forward hasn't received the type of interest from the Clippers he was expecting, so his current goal is to work out a deal with the Heat.
''I'm coming down there hopefully to stay down there, you know,'' Odom said from Los Angeles boarding a plane to Miami on Friday afternoon. ``Hopefully me and Coach Riley and my agent can see eye to eye.
``I've been loyal to the Clippers because they've been loyal to me, but right now I'm just trying to make the best decision for my career.''
As a restricted free agent, Odom's previous team, the Clippers, would have 15 days to match any offer made to the four-year veteran. But Odom's agent, Jeff Schwartz, has met with Clippers brass this week and was unable to reach a contract agreement. The Clippers reportedly offered a three-year deal worth $24 million. The Heat is reportedly willing to offer Odom a six-year deal in the neighborhood of $60 million.
Odom said he hopes the Heat can construct a contract that the Clippers will be unwilling to match.
''I think that's the reason for me coming down there,'' Odom said. ``I think this is what we're trying to get done. It's more than just a talk. Hopefully we can reach an agreement where I stay down here.''
The Clippers had hoped to sign restricted free agent Gilbert Arenas as well as re-sign Odom and Corey Maggette, who already signed an offer sheet with Utah. But Arenas, unwilling to wait for the Clippers to hammer out a deal with Odom, signed an offer sheet with the Wizards instead. Arenas' decision could mean the Clippers will be willing to offer Odom a longer deal, but Odom said he is unaware of the Clippers' intentions.
'Everything is like a `maybe' and an 'I think,' '' Odom said. ``It depends on what we can get done while I'm down there. Hopefully my visit is for more than one or two days.''
This isn't the first time the Heat has courted Odom, 23, who left Rhode Island University after his sophomore year. Riley tried to trade P.J. Brown in 1999 for the opportunity to draft Odom, who was eventually drafted fourth by the Clippers.
Riley, fascinated by Odom's versatility at 6-10, even worked out Odom despite the fact the team didn't pick until No. 25 that year.
''That was one of those things I'll never forget,'' Odom said of the workout in Miami. ``I got there and [Riley] made me watch Magic Johnson film with him for a half hour. I think I was one of the only rookies that he ever watched work out. I remember Bob McAdoo beating into my head how [Riley] hardly ever watches rookies work out. He worked me out, I shot the ball well and it's just too bad that the deal couldn't go down.''
For a deal to work out this time around, the Heat may have to get creative in drawing up the contract, perhaps front-loading the deal to discourage the Clippers from matching. The Heat tried to do the same with Elton Brand when the team signed him to an offer sheet, but the Clippers were still willing to match that offer.
The Heat could attempt a sign-and-trade transaction, but that may require the involvement of a third team because the Heat wouldn't seem to have any players the Clippers want in return for Odom.
Adding Odom to a team that already has Eddie Jones, Caron Butler and Dwyane Wade would seem to be a problem, but Odom considers himself versatile enough to play any position from point guard to power forward.
''Fitting in is the easy part for Lamar Odom because I'm a basketball player that can play anywhere on the court and on any team,'' said Odom, who missed 86 games the past two seasons due to ankle and wrist injuries and suspensions for violating the league's anti-drug policy. ``Whatever the coach asks of me I can get it done. Right now I'm in great shape and I'm working out every day. I have no injuries, and whatever Coach Riley would ask of me on the court, I can get it done right now.''
they both want each other but will the clippers left odom walk? riley has fell in love w/ odom since odom worked out w/ the heat before the 99 Draft and has even tried to trade for odom dangling pj brown in 99 for the 4th pick. odom wants to play for riley because he knows that riley can groom him to a great player (magic?). also, lets not forget that riley called odom the next magic because of his ability to play the one and he's 6'10!
forgot where i read this but everytime the clippers/heat play, after the games odom always told riles, "don't forget about me."
But Odom is hopeful his stay in Miami lasts a big longer -- as in six more years.
Odom, a restricted free agent of the Clippers, said Tuesday he was coming to Miami for more than just a chat. The 6-10 forward hasn't received the type of interest from the Clippers he was expecting, so his current goal is to work out a deal with the Heat.
''I'm coming down there hopefully to stay down there, you know,'' Odom said from Los Angeles boarding a plane to Miami on Friday afternoon. ``Hopefully me and Coach Riley and my agent can see eye to eye.
``I've been loyal to the Clippers because they've been loyal to me, but right now I'm just trying to make the best decision for my career.''
As a restricted free agent, Odom's previous team, the Clippers, would have 15 days to match any offer made to the four-year veteran. But Odom's agent, Jeff Schwartz, has met with Clippers brass this week and was unable to reach a contract agreement. The Clippers reportedly offered a three-year deal worth $24 million. The Heat is reportedly willing to offer Odom a six-year deal in the neighborhood of $60 million.
Odom said he hopes the Heat can construct a contract that the Clippers will be unwilling to match.
''I think that's the reason for me coming down there,'' Odom said. ``I think this is what we're trying to get done. It's more than just a talk. Hopefully we can reach an agreement where I stay down here.''
The Clippers had hoped to sign restricted free agent Gilbert Arenas as well as re-sign Odom and Corey Maggette, who already signed an offer sheet with Utah. But Arenas, unwilling to wait for the Clippers to hammer out a deal with Odom, signed an offer sheet with the Wizards instead. Arenas' decision could mean the Clippers will be willing to offer Odom a longer deal, but Odom said he is unaware of the Clippers' intentions.
'Everything is like a `maybe' and an 'I think,' '' Odom said. ``It depends on what we can get done while I'm down there. Hopefully my visit is for more than one or two days.''
This isn't the first time the Heat has courted Odom, 23, who left Rhode Island University after his sophomore year. Riley tried to trade P.J. Brown in 1999 for the opportunity to draft Odom, who was eventually drafted fourth by the Clippers.
Riley, fascinated by Odom's versatility at 6-10, even worked out Odom despite the fact the team didn't pick until No. 25 that year.
''That was one of those things I'll never forget,'' Odom said of the workout in Miami. ``I got there and [Riley] made me watch Magic Johnson film with him for a half hour. I think I was one of the only rookies that he ever watched work out. I remember Bob McAdoo beating into my head how [Riley] hardly ever watches rookies work out. He worked me out, I shot the ball well and it's just too bad that the deal couldn't go down.''
For a deal to work out this time around, the Heat may have to get creative in drawing up the contract, perhaps front-loading the deal to discourage the Clippers from matching. The Heat tried to do the same with Elton Brand when the team signed him to an offer sheet, but the Clippers were still willing to match that offer.
The Heat could attempt a sign-and-trade transaction, but that may require the involvement of a third team because the Heat wouldn't seem to have any players the Clippers want in return for Odom.
Adding Odom to a team that already has Eddie Jones, Caron Butler and Dwyane Wade would seem to be a problem, but Odom considers himself versatile enough to play any position from point guard to power forward.
''Fitting in is the easy part for Lamar Odom because I'm a basketball player that can play anywhere on the court and on any team,'' said Odom, who missed 86 games the past two seasons due to ankle and wrist injuries and suspensions for violating the league's anti-drug policy. ``Whatever the coach asks of me I can get it done. Right now I'm in great shape and I'm working out every day. I have no injuries, and whatever Coach Riley would ask of me on the court, I can get it done right now.''
they both want each other but will the clippers left odom walk? riley has fell in love w/ odom since odom worked out w/ the heat before the 99 Draft and has even tried to trade for odom dangling pj brown in 99 for the 4th pick. odom wants to play for riley because he knows that riley can groom him to a great player (magic?). also, lets not forget that riley called odom the next magic because of his ability to play the one and he's 6'10!
forgot where i read this but everytime the clippers/heat play, after the games odom always told riles, "don't forget about me."
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