I think these players has gotten big in the head.. Ariza, LO...
when the championship was won...

Sad Sad Sad.... Lel him go... i think we are still at the top of the head along with 4 others without him...

Let's go Lakers...

"Seriously Kamenetzky's, did you really think you'd get time off this summer?"

The best answer ever.

Laker Tom,

Great observation. I too agree that both are sides are playing more of a blinking game. It's not the funnest but simply tactics to get your money.

I'll admit it. I'm a management whore. You don't love working for my company, you're free to go. If you want to work here, here's my best offer, take it or leave it.

If Odom and Buss really are meeting, Dr. Buss gets big props from me. I'd be pretty done with the guy after all the games Lamar and his agent have played.

If Jerry Buss will have Lamar back, I'm happy to have him. But if he reverts to turning comatose in too many games, it will definitely stick in my craw.

Trade Lamar for Blake Griffin!!

I find it very interesting how LO suddenly played up to his potential the majority of the year and during the playoffs. Let's don't forget how consistentlly inconsistent he was beforehand and that he played as if he was lazy and non-caring the majority of the time. With that in mind; do we really want another similar 3 or 4 years?

If Buss and Odom are meeting, my Lamar - O - Meter goes way up.

Buss pulls offer to force a face to face. Gets a deal done.

I think this is Lakers big push to do (or not do) a deal with Lamar. if they don't do a deal by the end of the week the Lakers will move on to other solutions.

I love Buss's approach here. I'm not quite the whore Rick Friedman is but I am pretty close. Dr. Buss has run maybe the best franchise in pro sports for 30 years now. He's earned the benefit of any doubt.

And the man to man, let's get it done or give up approach is right on for me.

Buss meeting Odom?? Where did u hear or read this?

LO should feel wanted, not considered a "bench player". Start him at PG or lose him, and pay him what he's worth to this team, which last I checked is close to 18 points in point differential.

For all of you who are ready to send LO packing, we haven't head all the details of the Lakers offer. Is this all guaranteed money? A three year deal at $10M/yr sounds great if it's all guaranteed. If there are team options involved for years two and three, maybe not as appealing. Let's not judge either side until we have all the facts.

BK - "Lamar Odom Contract Watch (which is very close to reaching acronym status- I'm partial to L.O.Co.W, as when said aloud with two long O's it describes not only the situation, but how Lakers fans are collectively being driven crazy). "

---

Dudes dudes dudes.

LOCoW for loco?

Right vibe (loco) -- but why not ....

... L-amar O-dom C-ontract O-mniwatch, i.e. LOCO?

Cuz that's what this is.

Omnifarious omnipresent omnianxious omniwatching.

And waiting.

C?

Si.

latopia-

Outstanding work. Making the change now.

BK

Critical Beatdown,

Overpaying other guys is Lamar's problem too, as is the economy and likely decreasing salary cap.

Lamar not accepting reasonable payment is HIS problem entirely.

Imagine what would happen if Doc out cards himself, LO goes, the team for whatever reason doesn't live up to expectations, and Kobe needs to resign next offseason, caring most about GOAT?

Unless you're planning to sign Bron and push Kobe (unexpectedly for him) out the door, you make sure you keep your moneymaker, and I can't say I know Kobe, but he'd be crazy to want LO to leave, the dude is low profile for his impact, Kobe gets most of the credit, how could Kobe want LO not to be back next season?

Doc has to pay a certain premium anyway just for LO to manage Ron all season, that's a lifestyle change right there, as cool as Ron is, he's intense too, it's a head change for Lamar, as close as those guys are, they never lived this close together as men.

the ESPY

"But at least for locals, the best came last. Stevie Wonder made the presentation to the season's best team and Bryant, surrounded by several teammates including Derek Fisher, accepted the trophy and thanked Jerry Buss first.

That might have been the smartest move of the night."

http://tinyurl.com/mzst9v

Schwartz: Hey Lamar, good news and bad news.

Lamar: So what's the bad news?

Schwartz: The Lakers just offered you 9 million a year for 3-4 years.

Lamar: Wait that sounds pretty good.

Schwartz: No here's the good news. The Heat are offering you about 5.8 million with the midlevel exception.

Lamar: ...wait...isn't that less money?

Schwartz: Exactly! It's addition by substraction! David Lee taught that one to me.

Lamar: So...by taking less...I'm actually making more?

Schwartz: I know...I know...sounds crazy! (waves hands frantically in air). But you know, it's crazy like a fox!

Lamar: Like Rick Fox?

Schwartz: Well...yeah...yeah...crazy like Rick Fox...that's the ticket!

Lamar: Wait..wait...what if worked for free. I'd be a billionaire!

Schwartz: ...let me get my calculator. You might be right.

Ominwatch? Wouldn't "Observation" be the more natural term?

Or maybe that doesn't encapsulate the all-consuming nature of the LOCO phenomenon as effectively....

But, damn, this is frustrating.

On the one hand, why not give him five? That's the window with this team as constructed anyway -- and we signed the just-as-old Ron Ron for that long as well. Why not stack the deals to expire the same season and have a real shot to sign some quality FAs in 2014?

Also, I don't see LO's game suffering too much as he ages as he usually plays below the rim and at a measured pace already.

All that said, he should sign on the dotted line for 4/36 given the economy and his previous statements about taking less. Put your agent in his place, LO.

We will not trade Lamar to the Heat or Jazz..are you kidding me ...for what VIRTUALLY NOTHING? Get real Jazz and Heat fans.

The Miami Heat actually think they can get Boozer and Odom? lmao...which team in their right mind would hand over those 2 guys, like honestly.

I agree that Kobe made the smartest move by thanking Jerry Buss first. I think that Lamar needs to go talk 2 Jerry and sort this out. This whole "my agent wont let me accept" thing is absurd and ridiculous, especially if it is true. Most of these athletes appear to be spineless lately.

Lastly, all this free agent talk has not allowed me to enjoy the championship and bask in the glory. It seems that us fans are more worried about resigning our players, than our own lives. I wish these players knew how much we love them, and how much they mean to us if they stayed.

Sorry to say it but, most of us are Laker fans first, and once you leave, you're not a Laker anymore, and we'll move on. We will never give up on our team or think that we can not win a championship, no matter who leaves. This is what I admire most about Laker fans. We have a strong love for our team and are not afraid to say it. Let us always be like this and always represent those wearing purple and gold, no matter who it is.

These players are here one day, and gone the next. One thing I do know is that no matter who is playing, we will always be competitive for a championship. I truly hope Lamar doesn't leave because he is the epitome of a Laker for life. These players need to understand what fan base and city they represent. Unlike popular belief, most Laker fans are classy and understand what they are talking about (especially on here). It would be a privilege to represent the people of Los Angelos and I hope Lamar realizes it before he ends up like Trevor somewhere else.

I can guarantee them that NO TEAM will ever make them feel as the Lakers and Laker fans do. EVER.

"Trade Lamar for Blake Griffin!!

Posted by: Charles Alikin | July 15, 2009 at 10:03 PM"......

Charles....with all your infinite insight and wisdom in the situation, please elaborate on this wonderful, previously unthought of solution to the whole problem????

By the way, we have a better chance of trading Adam Morrison for Blake Griffin, because the Clippers have been known to slip up once in a while, and their salaries are closer...we may have to sign the "Chinese" guy to a contract to make salaries match. But you know what, the future of the Lakers relies on AMMO and you don't want to trade away the future....Afterall, it's quite obvious he will be our Brandon Roy, or Rudy Gay despite his injury and will soon be posting numbers like 27/6/6....you don't trade the "real deal".......no we're keeping AMMO because he's gonna take us from 15 to 25!!!! (wins, if the team keeps disintegrating like it is...)

This is actually in reference to the following story on the LA times: Lakers legend Tex Winter needs to be encircled with care, (it didn’t have a comment entry section):

Dear Coach Tex Winter,
I grew up watching you even though at the time I didn’t know I was watching you. Your triangle was something that took a lot of years for me to appreciate. What did I know?! I used to be some punk kid, always wanting the Showtime flash instead of the system. Faster! Faster!! Faster!!! I can’t thank you enough for all that you have done for my favorite pro sports team in the world. Even when you were Mr. Bulls I hated you because you were so good. How could I not? You were well beyond fair in your planning, then like now, paired to execute with an immaculate basketball envoy & altogether a joy to watch unfold. Over the last years when our team was down I was immediately heartened whenever I saw you on camera whispering something into Phil’s ear from the second row. You may have been sitting in the second row but you may as well have been sitting front & center, as your weight demands it good sir. I cannot thank you enough for all the wonderful games you helped orchestrate or all the wonderful times that I now share with my best friends. If the basketball hall of fame means anything at all you will have been recognized well over a decade ago. Go Lakers! Go Tex!!

Purple & Gold Forever!!!

I think Odom is worried about an aggressive player like Ron coming into the fold and taking his minutes....therefore he wants the money to placate his ego. Bottom line...he may lose minutes especially if Bynum finally lives up to potential. That said in the crunch moments the ideal line up

Bynum
Pau
Ron
Kobe
Fish

Where does LO fit? He actually becomes more of a bench entity, depending on Bynum's development, unless LO plays the PG or PF

eeebayou,

Good question! For all we know, he could be in Timbuktu, Hawaii...Actually, anywhere!

When one focuses on "money" as being their #1 priority when it comes to contract negotiations (like he's doing), it tends to make them behave in certain ways.

His "no show status" at the ESPYS may speak volumes about his current state of mind (I give him credit for at least showing up to the Championship DVD presentation party).

My understanding is that he is an emotional man that has battled all kinds of adversity in his life, especially when he and his family lost their infant child a couple of years back to SIDS. I can't imagine losing a child that precious and young...

My feeling is that he is looking for long term financial security with more years. Most of all, he may be also trying to set up his future after basketball. A strong possibility indeed.

It's amazing how the thought of "money" can change or dictate one's perspective in life from 0 to 3 seconds!

At the end of the day, it's going to come down to what's best for him and his family as well as the Lakers organization on the other side of the spectrum. It's about "compromise."

If both parties are truly "loyal" to each other, then a deal will ultimately be done. If not, see Trevor Ariza for further clarification (Particularly, his strange decision to go elsewhere for the same money he was offered by his championship team). Sometimes, these situations make no sense at all!

After all, "winning" always has a heavy price! Doesn't it?

Posey left Boston last year (we all know the result of that defection)...Ariza left LA this summer (remains to be seen)...

Odom leaving LA? We will certainly find that out soon enough (as we sit on pins and needles admittingly).

Laker pride through ALL and ANY ADVERSITY!

unbelievable...

Maybe he just doesn't like playing on the Lakers and doesn't want to say it publicly. By all accounts he is a nice guy, so perhaps he doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings.

Laker nation take a breather. Let's think about the situation, NBA critics argue all he time how L.O.'s game creates match up problems for the oposition. So if Lamar actually shows up to play ( and I say this cuz the man's inconsistent) the Lakers are close to unbeatable and L.O uses this as leverage for a bigger contract. Lamar makes the lakers a better team inside the locker room and he is very close with Ron Ron... My conclusion, sign the man!

How about a sign and trade with NY for David Lee? L.O goes home to NY we get Lee and everybody's happy!

Vote for KB24 so he can go green guys:)