Kobe on Lamar... and Lamar on being a Laker for life!

[Dr Aki]

And then there was Odom, asked to replace Bynum but a disaster area in the first half, rallying in a way that Bryant could only imagine last week when Odom infuriated him by going absent in an upset loss to Charlotte.

Odom put a passionate performance behind the words he declared before the game: "I want to be a Laker for the rest of my life."

"I'm proud of Lamar, in particular, because the first half he really hadn't played," Bryant said. "He was in foul trouble, and he stuck with it. He showed a lot of growth in his focus."

Every inch earned would count in an overtime thriller where the final point was Odom's free throw crawling along the rim and then in.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/bryant-lakers-game-2300895-boston-odom

[KobeFan]

Lock this man up.

4/$45 should get the job done.

[lakersfanatic]

if he's willing to take less.. why not keep him. Just hope we can keep him as well as ariza.. I don't like ariza's shooting but i like his hard nose defense.

[hermes]

i'm all for it, resign lamar and ariza while your at it mitch

[kobesmyhomie]

I think it's funny that some of you guys actually think we can re-sign both Odom or Ariza. It's one or the other.

[SwiLL2432]

Odom FTW. Kobe should take less money so we can get both

[slifersd]

I don't know, but I think there is a pretty good chance that both Odom and Ariza are coming back. The key here is that although a lot of teams would love what those two guys bring to the table, not a lot of teams would be willing to pay handsomely to get it. With the economy in bad shape, teams that are over the cap are all looking to shed salaries; with the 2010 sweepstakes pending, teams under the cap are not likely to sign a non superstar level player to a huge contract. Guys like Ariza and Odom are not that likely to draw huge interest around the league, thus making our negotiation with them a lot easier.

[magic1fan]

i'm not sure but i recall reading an article a while back that said dr. buss would keep the team together no matter what. now if we win a ring,i can't see him letting odom or trevor go for salary cap purposes.

[Chubby Chaser]

i'm not sure but i recall reading an article a while back that said dr. buss would keep the team together no matter what. now if we win a ring,i can't see him letting odom or trevor go for salary cap purposes.

Ya Dr. Buss said he would keep the team together if we rin a ring. But if we don't pull it off this year then all bets are off regarding lamar. He'd be the first person to be moved to be honest. And if we do resign him, I see him getting substantially less. Somewhere in the realm of 8-9 mill a year.

[CX44]

I think it's funny that some of you guys actually think we can re-sign both Odom or Ariza. It's one or the other.

Lakers can sign both it is whether they chose to or not. It depends if they win a title or not. I believe Buss resigns both if they win it all and they don't get some ridiculous offer.

[LAFan08]

Isnt Farmar due a contract after this year is up too?
I think he will eventually take over Fisher's spot and will be a vital part of the Lakers org

[Squirrel Boy]

I think it's funny that some of you guys actually think we can re-sign both Odom or Ariza. It's one or the other.

We can now after trading away Vlad.

[Sofa King]

The way Odom is playing, I think he's gone after this season. Some team is going to offer him something more than the Lakers. Could be Miami.

[Dr Aki]

Lock this man up.

4/$45 should get the job done.

this what lamar is earning already! 4/35 is more likely

and miami wont waste their cap this season on lamar

[KobeFan]

I believe Lamar signed a 6/$66 contract w/ Miami in '03. I don't see why he should have to take a paycut. Granted, less money will be guaranteed given his age, but, more money in exchange for lesser years should be expected.

I'm thinking at least $11M per season .. over 3-4 seasons. No way he signs a 4/$35

[Dr Aki]

hes earning 11.4 mil this season

no way he signs a similar contract given the lakers' payroll

[Gerald3Wallace]

well since we trade vladrad, signing lamar should be a lot easier now

[KobeFan]

hes earning 11.4 mil this season

no way he signs a similar contract given the lakers' payroll

So, you expect Odom--to take less money--than the market is willing to bear? That's pretty naive thinking. What's in it for him?

[Dr Aki]

hes earning 11.4 mil this season

no way he signs a similar contract given the lakers' payroll

So, you expect Odom--to take less money--than the market is willing to bear? That's pretty naive thinking. What's in it for him?

the market isnt going to offer him 11mil to be a third option, by now everyone knows lamar cant play as a 1st or 2nd option

the best contract lamar can get anyway is a ginobli type contract and its probably going to be a declining contract anyway

who's going to offer lamar an 11mil per contract?? in this economy? in a FA class with AI, boozer (PO), artest, marion, david lee??

these are teams with cap room this summer and this is before rookie contracts:
- the hawks? lamar would be trapped behind josh smith, this is if they renounce bibby's rights and even theyd be looking for a PG first and foremost
- the grizzlies? im not sure lamar would take an additional 2.5mil per to sign with a rebuilding team
- the heat? not enough cap room
- twolves? not enough cap room
- thunder? see grizzlies, odom would be a second option behind durant
- the blazers? the blazers/odom don't get along and he wouldnt play behind LMA anyway and dont have the required cap room since miles' 9mil is back on their cap
- all other teams are over the cap and can't offer more than the MLE and the lakers aren't going to S&T lamar

and this is considering lamar perviously stating that he'd re-sign for less in order to continue to win and wanting to remain a laker for life

the most lamar can get from an upper echelon team is 8-9 mil unless its a rebuilding team like the grizzlies or thunder.

8-9 mil IS market value for lamar

[KobeFan]

I don't agree with the word "option", I still haven't had it explained in a way that makes any sense. How do you define what a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd option is? Just a few seasons ago, a 31 year old Ben Wallace signed a 4/$60 contract, and he isn't even his teams "5th option" if I'm using the word the same way you're.

Lamar isn't a scorer, that's established. But he is a uniquely versatile player. He's been relatively durable over his career, and has averaged an efficient 15/10/5 in 35+ MPG. He's a fringe all-star caliber power forward who is in the prime of his career.

I don't expect Odom to get a guaranteed 6 year contract at age 30, but he should be expected to match his $11M/season at least for 3-4 seasons with an option.

Can you reference/point out where he said point-blank he is willing to take less money to stay with the Lakers? I doubt that comment was made with that kind of clarity.