Lamar Odom calls Jerry Buss
So sayeth our man Jim Hill, a cool cat with the best hair in the biz.
The purpose of said phone call? Repairing any bridges in need of fixing after Doc B. didn't take kindly to un-returned calls from LO's agent Jeff Schwartz. Does that mean LO is definitely favoring the Lakers over, say, the Miami Heat, who have reportedly offered him five years/35 mil (or haven't, according to the Tweets of Ric Bucher)? No, but it does stand to reason that Lamar hasn't decided to close his purple and gold chapter. Otherwise, unless Odom wants an invite to Jerry Buss' poker game whenever he's in L.A., I don't know why he'd bother placing the call.
A promising development for those hoping LO will stick around. We'll have more details as they emerge.
AK
NOTE: Click below the jump for LO related comments from Portland GM Kevin Pritchard...
With my weekend having opened up unexpectedly, I decided to make the drive to Vegas for the last few days of summer league action. Friday night I spoke briefly with Portland GM Kevin Pritchard. With Utah having officially matched the Blazers' offer sheet to Paul Millsap earlier in the day, Portland is back to having money to burn. One theoretical target: Lamar Odom.
Q: With the news on Millsap, does that change the way you look at Odom?
A: Right now, we're going to regroup, we're going to look at the landscape. We're still going to be aggressive in the marketplace, but we don't know who that is yet. We want to, I guess, reassess the landscape. That would be the best way to put it.
Q: Is Odom on it?
A: Yeah, but I want to sit down with (coach) Nate (McMillan). We haven't really gone through our process again, and we'll have to do that.
Q: With the economics of the game changing, the cap going down, and so on, has that changed how you feel like you have to use the space you have? Does it put more pressure on you to spend this summer, or risk your cap room disappearing? (Note- the Blazers also have to factor in extensions on guys like Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge.)
A: Not so much. We'll look at using the space with the right free agents, but it's important for us that we look at all the options. You've got trades, we can do uneven trades in terms of salaries (because the Blazers are below the salary cap, rules allow them to make trades in which the salaries don't match), straight signings as free agents. We're going to look at the landscape and see what's out there now.
Pritchard certainly didn't take the opportunity to send signals that Odom was a target. As I mentioned earlier in the day, just because something isn't said publicly doesn't mean there isn't a plan behind the scenes, but if there is serious interest up north Pritchard didn't drop any hints. Hopefully the news AK mentioned above is a step to making all of this moot, anyway.
BK
I have no idea who Lamar Odom is as a person, but he lost a son who was the same age as mine and from that point forward I have been in awe of what he has been able to do as a professional basketball player.
He helped my favorite sports team win a championship which I was able to watch and celebrate with my living son and for that I will always think highly of the man.
I hope he finds a deal that is best for him and his family. I hope it's with the Los Angeles Lakers because I would hate to have to root against the man.
Lamar, good luck, and may the best contract you get offered come from us.
Thank you.
Posted by: Andrew Z | July 17, 2009 at 08:02 PM
your dissing of Schwartz is commical and uninformed. It's sort of like when Scott Boras was mocked after A-Rod called the Yankees for forgiveness, after which he signed, what, a $300 million dollar contract. Lamar will get paid as much as he could by the Lakers, more than any other team would have paid him, in an obviously ideal situation. That seems like smart agenting to me.
Posted by: 10milliondollarzen | July 17, 2009 at 08:07 PM
10millionDollarZen,
Are you referring to me? If so, how did I "diss" Schwartz?
AK
Posted by: Andrew and Brian Kamenetzky | July 17, 2009 at 08:09 PM
BLOG CRUE
I'm still enjoying the championship. Next year will be just as exciting.
Colorado loves our World Champion Lakers!
Posted by: Hugo Boss | July 17, 2009 at 08:10 PM
Cue comments with absurd sign and trade ideas, ridiculous "sign X at veteran minimum" statements, and nutty comments about how Lamar should take his basketball laundry more seriously. WHY DOESN"T HE HAVE MORE PRIDE IN THE COLOR OF HIS BASKETBALL PENNY?
What do we play for? (We don't. We watch the game on TV)
errr rings!
Go Lakers!
Posted by: BobbieT | July 17, 2009 at 08:12 PM
This is good, but perplexing news. It sounds like Lamar may be going rogue...
On a different note, AK/BK (why is it always in that order???) I was just catching up on the posts on an earlier thread and ran across Tom Daniels' hilarious "split city contract" post. That took ingenuity and was written with true verve.
You guys should give some thought to a year-end (or whenever) compilation of, say, the best 10/25/50 posts for that year (or maybe the best ever -- whatever). Tom's definitely qualifies.
Someone might even pay good money for a book of the same -- although who knows how you work out the royalties.
Posted by: t_sensei | July 17, 2009 at 08:13 PM
wow, a nice good positive reinforcement to my compulsive page refreshing. Also, a classy remark from andrew z.
and rick friedman, i've had a lot of respect for you and your contributions to this blog, but you're coming dangerously close to being one of the people i'm going to mock relentessly for getting upset of information which may or may not be true, or problematical blogbindian disseminations, or what have you.
Posted by: phred | July 17, 2009 at 08:16 PM
It's Schwartz who might not have a job after this failed leverage attempt. The Lakers hold all the 'cards'.
I will go as far as saying... Had Ariza not signed with the Rockets... The Lakers would have Artest at PF and Ariza at SF... and Lamar would be... well who knows.
In the end. Hopefully L.O. will come to his senses and tell his agent what HE wants (like Bynum did last year with his agent). He has a chance to be part of a mini-dynasty. The Celtics/Spurs/Orlando/Cavs all have issues regarding age or the possibility of losing their star
Posted by: stucktrader | July 17, 2009 at 08:17 PM
and agents always get mocked. it's their lot in life. but they will not be as mocked as the people who have gotten too emotional over blobingdian disseminations of misinformation! sorry, i'm having way too much fun with this. LakerKev, please see Charles about billing me for ripping off patented terms.
IT IS ALL ABOUT THE LOVE
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: phred | July 17, 2009 at 08:20 PM
Secretly recorded transcript of Odom/Buss phone call:
JB: Hello?
LO: Dave?
JB: This isn't Dave.
LO: Is this Dave?
JB: Dave's not here.
LO: Hello?
JB: WTF?
I'm sure it will all work out for the best.
Posted by: lone star laker fan | July 17, 2009 at 08:21 PM
Hard for me to imagine how a basketball player wouldn't want to be a Laker. Apparently there are all kinds of reasons why there's a basketball life beyond LA and most of them start to the left of the decimal point.
The Celtics don't seem to do this. They win a ring, they all come back. Not so for the Buss boys. LO is hurt by the bad Vlad, Luke and Sasha contracts. Would a 5 year LO contract become a similar 2 year dead weight? Probably.
Posted by: Vman | July 17, 2009 at 08:25 PM
Classy indeed.
Kudos to you Andrew Z. Well put.
Posted by: Pig Miller | July 17, 2009 at 08:25 PM
REASONS WHY LAMAR MIGHT LEAVE…
HINT: It won’t be about the money.
1. Doesn’t want to come off the bench.
2. Doesn’t want to play less than starter minutes.
3. Doesn’t want to be the 5th option.
4. Doesn’t want to sit in 4th quarter.
5, Doesn’t want to reduce his stats and legacy.
6. Doesn’t want the pressure of being a Laker.
It just could be that the best thing for the Lakers AND Lamar Odom
would be him to go to a team that needed him more.
If you could be a starter and #2 guy on another contender,
be guaranteed that you would play 30 MPG, know that your
stats and profile would be higher and thus your legacy, too?
What’s a championship worth? Playing 20 MPG vs. 32 MPG?
Starting vs. Being a 6th man? LA and NY are pressure cookers.
Lamar is more laid back Miami in many respects.
At any rate, no need to dump on the guy. He has some serious
decisions to make and some valid concerns to consider.
As for the Lakers, hell, it’s a WIN-WIN situation. If we lose Lamar,
we give Drew a chance to be player we all believe he can be.
If he answers the bell, we come out way ahead. If we sign Lamar,
then we can bring Drew along more slowly and have the benefit
of insurance against foul or injury problems.
As phred says, WE WON. And the Lamar situation, it’s WIN-WIN!
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | July 17, 2009 at 08:27 PM
Letting Ariza go was risky, losing Odom would be suicide.
Please get Lamar signed. Everybody knows that Odom is the X factor that gives us our edge. Our rivals are improving. We need Odom back. Period.
Dr. Buss, don't make me beg.
Posted by: Jay Weezy | July 17, 2009 at 08:30 PM
wow - this really is going to drag out. i am disappointed in the players and the agents in this scenario. david lee, kobe, odom, and schwartz. obviously the agents' goal is to make the client money so they make money. but at some point it seems like the real agents are the guys who are looking out for what's best overall for a player and not just the money. la is the best place for lamar to finish his career. the coach, the playing situation, the opportunity for championships, etc. it's all really the best for him, and obviously is the best for the team. i wish kobe had manned up and taken a pay cut himself, then none of this would have occurred. also, david lee mishandled the bynum situation and got ariza tossed because of that bad blood. sure, he got bynum a good nut of money, but he was short-sighted in many regards. as for bynum, one of the things that people seem to forget is that he has been injured. prior to injury this past season, he was making the kind of progress that everyone expected and was demanding considering his salary. if he can grow as he should, and stay healthy which is a big if, his paycheck will not be an issue. if that occurs, i will predict right now that people will start to whine about odom's deal, if there is one, and how it's holding the team back from making other moves as odom's career starts on the down. i really would like to see odom back, just for insurance if for nothing else. he is a great talent but lacks the mental make-up to be the number 2 on a team, but his contribution as that sixth man is invaluable to the lakers.
Posted by: Tony | July 17, 2009 at 08:34 PM
If Lamar comes back, the Lakers can realistically field an All-star Caliber 5 on the court:
Kobe
Ron
LO
Pau
Drew
That's a half court team that NO ONE wants to face.
That's a Phil Jackson team.
Posted by: Pig Miller | July 17, 2009 at 08:43 PM
Ric Bucher never...ever knows what he is talking about, remember he said that Kobe would never wear a Laker uniform every again.
I agree
Kudos to you Andrew Z. Well put great e-mail
Posted by: Cassandra | July 17, 2009 at 08:47 PM
I don't think Lamar wants the pressure of being the #1 or 2 guy on a team. He doesn't like pressure. When he is on the floor, he will be the #2 or 3 go to guy, as he was last year. I think he is happy with that. He likes LA and wants to stay. He is not a greedy guy. He was rumored to say a few times last year that he really wants to come back and would take pay cut to do it. Of course his agent was saying no way to any of that. His agent's job is to get the best deal possible for the sake of self interest and that of his client. But, it is up to LO to not blindly follow that but to instead use his agent as a tool to get what he wants. He has to consider quality of life. That may sound strange for a guy that makes millions. But, does he want to play for a mediocre team that may or may not even make the playoffs? Or would he like to play for another ring? As Ron Artest said how much money do I need? If I can't live off 11 million a year, then somethings wrong.
Posted by: jack | July 17, 2009 at 08:48 PM
I now live in Oregon and still love the Lakers after many years. Lamar Odom is my favorite and I think if he is not resigned I will lose a little pride in the team. I was shocked when they let Trevor Ariza go and will be devastated if Odom goes too. I understand money issues, but please...Ron Artest...what do you want...more technical fouls?
Posted by: PL ENTLER | July 17, 2009 at 08:48 PM
I have it from really reliable sourcez that Lamar called Dr. Buss
to inform him that he's signing with Minnesota for the MLE.
The tipping point was when David Kahn pointed out to him that
lakes have beaches as well.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | July 17, 2009 at 08:50 PM
Here's another gem from good ol' Ric:
Last LAL source said they've moved on from LO. LO source suspects same, hopes otherwise. Me? Can't fathom LAL letting Ariza and LO go.
http://twitter.com/RicBucheR
Posted by: thelakeshow | July 17, 2009 at 08:58 PM
PLZ Lamar!!! come back to LA where you are loved and needed! odom needs to retire as a laker!!!
Posted by: Fake_Black Mamba | July 17, 2009 at 09:00 PM
This could be good news, but there are a few "if's"...
~ If this rumor of LO calling Buss is the truth.
~ If they actually spoke, and not it just being LO leaving a message, and Buss being already too disgruntled to return the call.
Andrew Z - that was actually a bit touching, for real, well said.
Posted by: PurpleHeart | July 17, 2009 at 09:10 PM
I just heard a podcast that said that the Lakers have worked out
a sign and trade with Dallas - Lamar and Luke for Dirk Nowitzki.
It must be true, because I heard it on the web.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | July 17, 2009 at 09:15 PM
odom is a man- i don't see jr or josh smith doing that.
he knows there is an entire life beyond basketball and his story is achingly sober and redeeming.
i suppose if odom wants to go to the heat he told jerry buss man to man to thank him
Posted by: lakersfoolsgold.blogspot | July 17, 2009 at 09:16 PM
I just heard that a friend of Odom's gardener said that Lamar
was talking with Mike Dunleavy. The gardener overheard them
talking about salary, so Lamar MUST be planning on signing with
the Clippers.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | July 17, 2009 at 09:20 PM
I just read a twitter from Ron Bueker (Rick's cousin) that Lamar
has signed a contract with Portland for 5 years for 75 million.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | July 17, 2009 at 09:22 PM
I just had a peyote induced vision and Vishnu told me that
Lamar Odom will be signing with the Nets within a week.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | July 17, 2009 at 09:26 PM
Man... when I read the RSS headline, I thought "Lamar called Dr. Buss" was a poker analogy, meaning he called Jerry's bluff or something like that... good to know it means the good ol' telephone call.
Posted by: THI | July 17, 2009 at 09:29 PM
I think this is going to be one more night when i reluctantly switch off my computer later than i should, endlessly rechecking to see some meaningless snippet of something that isn't even true. but what the hell, it's summer.
oh, and the next person that says we don't need Lamar because 'we already have our top three players, Kobe, Pau and Drew' is going to get such a schnock in their tuchas. with apologies to LakerTom(not really, he knows he's got a huge blind spot) Drew is not part of the big three. He was out injured most of the last two years. He played like twelve minutes a game in the playoffs. Pau was basically our center, and Lamar was our starting forward. I love Drew as a player, he seems to have a great work ethic and a lot of potential, but saying things like 'we can rebuild with our big three of X, Y and drew' are relentessly stupid and delusional. no, LT, don't go nuts and fire off a post telling me how great drew will be, he very well might. But in terms of how much he contributed to our championship this year, I would put him somewhere in the mix of trevor ariza, luke walton and sightly ahead of the guy with the mop.
I’m just going to restate ‘I love drew as a player, he seems to have a great work ethic and a lot of potential’ to further try to save you energy, Tom. I’m not arguing with that.
Posted by: phred | July 17, 2009 at 09:30 PM
PL ENTLER,
>>>I understand money issues, but please...Ron
>>>Artest...what do you want...more technical fouls?
In the 2008-09 season, Ron Artest got 4 technical fouls.
Lamar also got 4.
and Pau got 4
and Josh Powell got 4
and Bynum got 4
Kobe got 11
Derek Fisher got 7
heck, even Trevor Ariza got 3.
RonRon won't be a problem. He'll be a model citizen.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | July 17, 2009 at 09:32 PM
LTLF- good, but not as good as the supposedly actual one from 'fido.'
I'm going to bring that up years from now, probably to random relatives who come to visit me in the nursing home and don't know what i'm talking about, but still, years from now.
Posted by: phred | July 17, 2009 at 09:34 PM
Schwartz is an idiot because he's unprofessional and disrespectful for not responding to Buss's offer. It would have been easy for him to contact Kupchak and say they were still thinking about it and ask for some more time to respond. The fact that he didn't even bother to do that is a poor display of buisness tact and ultimately could have cost Odom more money which he can only earn with the Lakers, more rings, and his teammates. Do you really think Odom wants to leave Kobe, Gasol, Artest, and the greatest coach of all time to go to Miami? The agents job is too represent their client's best interest and he definitely didn't do that for LO, luckily Odom is smart enough to realize that and he made the call to Buss. The Lakers will be very good without Odom but great with him and as a long time Laker fan I am looking forward to reading this headline soon "Odom re-signs with the Lakers".
Posted by: mike G-man | July 17, 2009 at 09:35 PM
with all of this money committed to other players, how on earth are we going to be able to re-sign pau after this next season???????
Posted by: JERAMY | July 17, 2009 at 09:44 PM
Bucher has zero credibility. He's a hack.
Seriously, he couldn't work local TV because they actually TRY to report facts. Whatever he calls his "sources" are probably actually OTHER PEOPLE LIVING IN HIS HEAD!
That guy should have the words YELLOW JOURNALIST tattooed across his belly like Tupac and Thug Life.
He's my least favorite reporter just a hair ahead of Steven A Smith, who at least works for a newspaper.
Posted by: Pig Miller | July 17, 2009 at 09:44 PM
I just heard from a friend of a friend that knows the girlfriend of the equipment manager for the lakers that Lamar has had enough of the pressures of the NBA and is going to play in Europe where he can get more money with less hassle.
Posted by: tomk | July 17, 2009 at 09:46 PM
I like Lamar but I am at the point where I don't care if he signs with the Lakers again..or not. Not that I don't recognize his value to the team. I do.
But I don't want to pay him the 8 or 9 Milliona year he will cost. He doesnt work hard enough on his game..he doesn't max out his effort a lot of the times in key games (although he did in this years playoffs..granted..but he was brutal against the Celtics last year) and I think he is already past his zenith as a player. I believe we will regrett giving him anything longer than 3 years. Its a bitter pill to lose him but we already have contracts on this team like Sasha and Jordan that don't look so great.
Posted by: Rob D | July 17, 2009 at 09:49 PM
LTLF, Nice posts.
The best was "Lamar and Luke for Dirk Nowitzki".....
WOW, What a trade would that be. Dirk is a SUPERB PF...
The line up of Kobe, Artest, Pau, Dirk and Bynum.... Two ex-MVPs, a former ROY(Pau), former DPOY(Ron) and a young center....
Makes me drool... But I know I am drunk LOL
Posted by: Kobefan in Cupertino | July 17, 2009 at 09:53 PM
Celts sign Marquis Daniels!
Not quite a "Kobe-stopper" like Ruben P. Mre like a "Kobe container".
Like McHale two years ago, Bird is helping out Ainge!
Posted by: RED`S LOVE CHILD | July 17, 2009 at 10:00 PM
Steven A. Smith - my favorite? Pig, please - a little respect.
Posted by: Otis | July 17, 2009 at 10:03 PM
I think SAS is a stone soul groove.
Posted by: Otis | July 17, 2009 at 10:04 PM
Steven a smith doesn't work for a newspaper. He had no job. Just has a website.
Posted by: charles | July 17, 2009 at 10:12 PM
has not had
Posted by: charles | July 17, 2009 at 10:13 PM
I hope this isn't true, but this radio guy in SA is tweeting that LO signed w/ Miami:
http://twitter.com/PeterBurns760
Posted by: thelakeshow | July 17, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Wow. Just wow.
Luke and Lamar for Dirk.
It seems unlikely, but I keep reading about it!
The salaries don't quite match.
Will another team need to get involved? Maybe that's the hold up.
Posted by: Lone star laker fan | July 17, 2009 at 10:31 PM
PL ENTLER,
>>>I understand money issues, but please...Ron
>>>Artest...what do you want...more technical fouls?
In the 2008-09 season, Ron Artest got 4 technical fouls.
Lamar also got 4.
and Pau got 4
and Josh Powell got 4
and Bynum got 4
Kobe got 11
Derek Fisher got 7
heck, even Trevor Ariza got 3.
RonRon won't be a problem. He'll be a model citizen.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | July 17, 2009 at 09:32 PM
===================
But he is a Laker now and the ref bias that the Lakers get will increase his foul counts.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | July 17, 2009 at 10:39 PM
I see that a lot on the blog about LO but I don't see his minutes go down as AB's go up.
That is PJ's fault. Remember last year and the triple towers we should have used? PJ refused to use it. But now with Artest here LO can back up both foward spots. Who would you rather see LO or Luke at the 3.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | July 17, 2009 at 10:39 PM
"In 1993, Smith was a sportswriter for the Daily News in New York City.[1]
Since 1994, Smith has had a position as a writer for The Philadelphia Inquirer. He was initially a general sportswriter for the Inquirer before he gained positions as their reporter for the Philadelphia 76ers as their NBA columnist, and eventually, as a general sports columnist. On August 23, 2007, the Inquirer announced that Smith would no longer be writing columns and would instead be demoted back to the position of general assignment reporter. Prior to his job with the Inquirer, Smith has had positions with the Winston-Salem Journal, the Greensboro News and Record and the New York Daily News. In 2008, the Inquirer ended its relation with Smith, which coincided with Smith having to start his own blog."
He's worked at a few papers, and was with the Inquirer until last year. He has my respect for not being a gossip columnist. He reports real news, although he's probably the most annoying person in the history of the planet.
Posted by: Pig Miller | July 17, 2009 at 10:49 PM
Pig,
You can't tell me you like TJ Simers more than SAS do you?
That Simers is a sick man...needs to be fired from the Times and put on medication...
hubbit
Posted by: hubbit | July 17, 2009 at 10:58 PM
How can Wade call Miami "home" for Lamar with him only playing one season for them?
Posted by: Ian | July 17, 2009 at 11:27 PM