LAMAR ODOM enjoyed his first NBA championship with Lakers teammates Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol this past June, but the free agent might not be back in Los Angeles next season.
The Lakers withdrew their offer to the forward late Tuesday, according to a report by the Los Angeles Times.
“Yes, we have taken the deal off the table,” Lakers spokesman John Black told the newspaper Tuesday. “Talks have broken down for the time being.”
The talks, however, could continue at another time.
“That’s within the realm of possibility,” Black said.
Lakers owner Jerry Buss, in particular, has been upset by the fact that Odom and his agent, Jeff Schwartz, haven’t reached out to the organization, which offered the Lakers’ sixth man US$9 million per season for three years, the Times said.
Schwartz, instead, is interested in a deal that would give the veteran forward a total of US$50 million over five years.
The newspaper also reported that Buss is displeased that Odom and Schwartz have had discussions with the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat — but not the Lakers.
While the Heat and Mavericks can give Odom the mid-level exception of US$5.8 million per season, they can give him a five-year deal, which would be worth up to US$34 million, the Times reported.(SD-Agencies)