Odom meeting with Riley, Wade

The Miami Heat's pursuit of free agent Lamar Odom has escalated in recent days. Now, reigning scoring champion Dwyane Wade reportedly will have a chance to close the deal in person.

Although Wade is dealing with forces beyond his control, he usually closes the deal.

Reporter Jim Hill of the CBS-TV affiliate in Los Angeles reports that Odom was scheduled to meet with Wade and Pat Riley on Monday in hopes of finalizing the talented sixth man's departure from the defending champion Lakers. This comes after Wade escalated his recruitment of Odom on his Twitter account over the weekend, urging Odom to "come back to where it started for both of us."

Lakers owner Jerry Buss, who personally closed the deal with free agent Ron Artest earlier this month, pulled his initial offer of three years and approximately $30 million off the table -- apparently in frustration over Odom's insistence on shopping the offer to other teams. Neither the Lakers nor Odom has closed the door on reigniting the talks, and some close to Odom still believe he prefers to re-sign with the Lakers. A face-to-face meeting with Riley and Wade will go a long way toward determining whether Odom and his agent, Jeff Schwartz, are posturing for a better offer or serious about leaving Hollywood for South Beach, where Odom played the 2003-04 season when Wade was a rookie.

A resolution is expected by the end of the week, but there's no foolproof way to handicap Odom's destination. Clearly, there will be no home-team discount for the Lakers. But if Odom was so intent on leaving, wouldn't he have made a decision already? Riley and Wade are extremely persuasive, but will they be able to sell Odom on the idea that Miami is a better championship contender with Odom than the Lakers are?

I'm on record saying Odom would be better off staying in L.A., but it's not my money or my career. If Odom finally decides to return to the Lakers, all of this posturing and negotiating will be forgotten. In my opinion, he fits better on that team than he would anywhere else.

If i was Odom i take the Miami offer.... the lakers have insulted him by pulling off the offer trying to get a home team discount,
Whats kobe making 40 million a year? i dont know but he might have to give up a little to sign Odom which i dont think he will.

it just makes sense..... his home is Miami. LA is smog capital of the world and the worst traffic jams in America, Miami is beautiful and there is less pressure to play there. They have a up and coming team with Odoms they contend for the East finals then if they can add Boozer they win East finals.

If lakers lose Odoms it will be the wild wild west which is what im hoping for. These Team got better this off season (Except maybe Denver).....San Antonio,Denver, Portland,Utah,LA, Dallas, Golden State.......Im a warrior fan and this team will suprise alot of people..... They have an outside chance of making the playoffs ...with the Lakers losing Ariza and Odom ( maybe) and adding Artest.... Good luck they dont make it past the second round.

jim84 Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Feb 4, 2008	Posted on: July 27, 2009 11:26 pm Score: 90 Odom meeting with Riley, Wade If Odom wants to win another title then go sign with the Lakers. If he wants to get eliminate in the playoffs then go sign with the Heat. I take Kobe, Gasol, and Artest over Wade, Beasley, and Odom. I remember the Lakers offered Odom 9 or 10 million a year and the Heat offered Odom 7 million a year, so even with the income tax in California Odom would still make at least a million more with the Lakers. [ Reply to Comment ]
LAL-All-Day Reputation: 1 Level: Amateur Since: Jun 15, 2009	Posted on: July 27, 2009 11:36 pm Score: 21 Odom meeting with Riley, Wade Yeah Lamar should stay with L.A. to be very successful. [ Reply to Comment ]
kenoja Reputation: 92 Level: All-Star Since: Jun 15, 2007	Posted on: July 27, 2009 11:43 pm Score: 117 Odom meeting with Riley, Wade I hope he likes the heat and the humidity. The Lakers made him a great offer, he is misguided by his agent. The Lakers really don't need him since they got Artest. Who knows, maybe Morrison can fill in as a sixth man and the Lakers won't really miss Lamar. I don't know what he wants from Dr. Buss, he has been well paid and dealt with very fairly. Its not like he has been an all-star or super consistent player for the Lakers. Either way bye-bye Odom, one ring and done! [ Reply to Comment ]
TripleXXX23 Reputation: 79 Level: Pro Since: Jun 18, 2009	Posted on: July 28, 2009 12:04 am Score: 31 Odom meeting with Riley, Wade just sign the contract and get back with you boy D-Wade... Go Heat!!!! [ Reply to Comment ]
TankBoss Reputation: 95 Level: Superstar Since: Sep 19, 2007	Posted on: July 28, 2009 1:08 am Score: 129 Odom meeting with Riley, Wade I heard on talk radio that when LO and the Lakers went back to the table they offered him less than what they offered the first time. Apparently, talks broke off because LO wanted to take the deal he got from the Lakers and shop it around. When the team saw he couldn't get close to what the Lakers were offering the turned around and lowballed him. Mitch Kupchak has made some good moves after a rocky start but I still think we really need Lamar to complete this team. His combination of versatility, rebounding, and defense is virtually unmatched in the league. Losing him would be a huge blow but not a crippling one. I was on record as saying that after cooler heads prevailed that LO would be back with the Lakers, but now it looks as if I'll have to eat my words. Could be a sad day in LA soon. LO is a fan favorite and now a champion. He's been in LA longer than anywhere else in his life other than his native NYC. Hope we can get something done but it's not looking good as of now. [ Reply to Comment ]
mike4ucla Reputation: 93 Level: All-Star Since: Oct 24, 2006	Posted on: July 28, 2009 1:11 am Score: 66 Odom meeting with Riley, Wade Does the guy want to win or what? Miami is not going to the finals- maybe the 3rd best team in the East if he signs. He is loved in SoCal and could go back to back. The Lakers WOULD miss him of course-I'd HATE to see Morrison on the court or more of Walton! LAMAR- re-sign and go to the Finals!!! [ Reply to Comment ]
borntowinn Reputation: 92 Level: All-Star Since: Jun 18, 2009	Posted on: July 28, 2009 1:24 am Score: 90 Miami is the place for Odom If i was Odom i take the Miami offer.... the lakers have insulted him by pulling off the offer trying to get a home team discount, Whats kobe making 40 million a year? i dont know but he might have to give up a little to sign Odom which i dont think he will. it just makes sense..... his home is Miami. LA is smog capital of the world and the worst traffic jams in America, Miami is beautiful and there is less pressure to play there. They have a up and coming team with Odoms they contend for the East finals then if they can add Boozer they win East finals. If lakers lose Odoms it will be the wild wild west which is what im hoping for. These Team got better this off season (Except maybe Denver).....San Antonio,Denver, Portland,Utah,LA, Dallas, Golden State.......Im a warrior fan and this team will suprise alot of people..... They have an outside chance of making the playoffs ...with the Lakers losing Ariza and Odom ( maybe) and adding Artest.... Good luck they dont make it past the second round. [ Reply to Comment ]
BxBOMBER231 Reputation: 93 Level: All-Star Since: May 24, 2009	Posted on: July 28, 2009 1:38 am Score: 48 Odom meeting with Riley, Wade come back to where it started for both of us??????? yeah lamar go back to the team that traded you for shaq. they wanted you soooo bad then right??? you are stupid if you go back to the team that turned there back on you for a player that lasted 2 years there. stay with the team that has a shot to win 3 more rings and traded for you and believed in you THE LAKERS!! fu%k wade! now that he's cryin and has no more shaq he wants you back and is feeding you garbage..DON'T DO IT LAMAR. [ Reply to Comment ]
BxBOMBER231 Reputation: 93 Level: All-Star Since: May 24, 2009	Posted on: July 28, 2009 1:39 am Score: 18 Odom meeting with Riley, Wade AND BY THE WAY LOS ANGELES IS WHERE IT STARTED FOR LAMAR NOT MIAMI.. SHOWS HOW MUCH WADE KNOWS ABOUT ODOM! [ Reply to Comment ]
AJSmith Reputation: 52 Level: Pro Since: Feb 11, 2008	Posted on: July 28, 2009 1:41 am Score: 144 Odom meeting with Riley, Wade I will tell you who knows. Morrison did not even make the playoff roster, let alone going to take the place of Odom. Lakers can not simply let Lamar and Ariza go and expect Artest to fill the void and Adam Morrison be the sixth man. Luke Walton is way ahead of Morrison in the depth chart. Odom may have been treated fairly by the Lakers, but I think his loss will be felt and the likes of Adam Morrison will not fill that void. He was extremely consistent for the Lakers and his three point shooting was amazing. If he leaves it might just hurt the Lakers as bad as you think it will hurt his career move. Odom has finally hit his prime and his departure can not be filled by somebody who simply dons a Laker jersey. [ Reply to Comment ]

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