August 12, 200322 yr Monday, August 11 Odom hopes Clippers won't match offer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ESPN.com news services The Heat is officially on the Clippers. Lamar Odom signed a six-year offer sheet worth almost $67 million with Miami on Monday, ESPN has learned. The deal includes a "hefty" signing bonus. A restricted free agent, Odom, who has said he wants out of Los Angeles, told ESPN Monday that he plans to meet with the Clippers -- his current team -- by Wednesday in hopes of pursuading them not to match the Heat's offer. Odom has played his first four NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, who have 15 days to match the offer sheet or lose Odom to the Heat without compensation. The Heat didn't make an immediate announcement concerning the signing, but the Clippers did, saying they had received a copy of the offer. "We will evaluate this offer during the 15-day period before announcing our decision,'' the Clippers said, adding that during the 15-day period they would not issue status reports. It's believed the Clippers will match the offer sheet and keep Odom, just as they did with Elton Brand and Corey Maggette earlier this summer. Brand signed a six-year offer sheet worth a reported $82.2 million with the Heat and Maggette signed a six-year offer sheet worth $42 million with Utah. The Clippers chose to allow Andre Miller to leave after he signed a six-year, $51 million offer sheet with Denver. At the time Brand, Maggette and Miller signed their offer sheets, Clippers executive vice president Andy Roeser said it was the team's intention to match "any and all offers as we see fit with the goal of maintaining the nucleus of our team.'' It's believed the Clippers consider Odom part of their nucleus. Odom has said repeatedly in recent days that he wanted out of Los Angeles and wants to play for Heat coach Pat Riley. "For me to reach my full potential, I believe it might be my time to go,'' Odom said last week. He reportedly turned down a three-year, $24 million offer from the Clippers last month. Jeff Schwartz, Odom's agent, didn't immediately return phone messages. The 6-foot-10 Odom averaged 14.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 49 games last season. The fourth overall selection in the 1999 draft, he is averaging 15.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 230 career games. Brand said he didn't believe the Clippers would match the offer sheet he signed with the Heat. But they did. "You're obligated to be there if they do match,'' Brand said Monday at the U.S. Olympic team's training camp in New York. "So now they matched (Brand), they matched Corey, they got Coach (Mike) Dunleavy, so hopefully we're heading to a brighter future. "It's going to be a tough road,'' Brand said of Odom's future should he remain with the Clippers. "Unless there's something you can mutually agree upon with the general manager and the owner, there's nothing that can be done. So it's a tough road.'' Brand said he believes things could work out if Odom stays in Los Angeles. "After a while, I'm sure -- I hope, because I'm there -- this will smooth out,'' Brand said with a laugh regarding the possibility of Odom staying with the Clippers. "If they don't match him, I wish him my best. "You don't want to feel like the team you play with doesn't want you and only wants to pay you because someone else wants to pay. You don't want to feel like that, so you might understand why Lamar is going through what he's going through. "You don't want to have a disgruntled employee. But if they do match him, I know what type of person he is. A lot of money, but he's not going to be a disgruntled player.'' Brand said he last spoke with Odom in Los Angeles a couple weeks ago.
August 12, 200322 yr I can't even imagine why LA would want to match this offer... I know Riley thinks he can turn Odom around a bit, and maybe he can...but if Odom stays in LA, he's going to be the same old player, and clearly not worth $67 million.
August 12, 200322 yr The heat suck..hopefully the Clippers will be dumb enough not to match. Odom would be a great addition to a struggling team like Miami. You know what I love about basketball..the Heat dancers..those are some women..nothing like those Marlins Mermen that the Fish have...
August 12, 200322 yr The heat suck..hopefully the Clippers will be dumb enough not to match. Odom would be a great addition to a struggling team like Miami. You know what I love about basketball..the Heat dancers..those are some women..nothing like those Marlins Mermen that the Fish have... The Heats bandwagons pretty empty right now but soon enough you'll be on.
August 12, 200322 yr damn..... the heat are really hoping this gamble pays off. odom has not proven to be worth more than 6 million per. wow.
August 12, 200322 yr man, hopefully the heat can really opent the floor up an score a ton on transition with this team (if the clippers dont match and odom comes)...but no way is this a championship team.......for this team to be chanship quality, you either need to get rid of grant straight up and get a REAL center, or get rid of jones.....move odom to SG, grant to PG and get a center.........grant his a hell of a defender/rebounder/hustler.....but he cant do much against those duncans/shaqs and other big men in the west
August 12, 200322 yr ^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ this is all assuming wayde cuts it has a point guard (knocks on wood)
August 12, 200322 yr im flashing back to the summer of 2000. coming off the last defeat to NY there was this desperation to sign one or two of the top free agents and ended having to get Jones and Grant. hopefully this will workout better than those contracts. its easier said than done to get a center, Grant hasnt been playing center because Riley wants him to, its just that there isnt anyone else.
August 12, 200322 yr The Heats bandwagons pretty empty right now but soon enough you'll be on. just because i said they suck it doesnt mean im not a fan...in fact, im the only true fan thats been here since the beginning...dont talk about what you dont know about
August 14, 200322 yr just because i said they suck it doesnt mean im not a fan...in fact, im the only true fan thats been here since the beginning...dont talk about what you dont know about only ? no no no , i go every year atleast 15-17 games a season
August 14, 200322 yr damn..... the heat are really hoping this gamble pays off. odom has not proven to be worth more than 6 million per. wow. yup. I hope Riley does turn him around. The good thing is that Odom seems to have lots of respect for Riley so thats a good sign.
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