"The Candyman"

Hat Tip: Lakers Nation

The Candyman is Coming Back to Cali

#7 is Returning!

ESPN:

Free agent forward Lamar Odom will return to the Los Angeles Lakers, an NBA source said Thursday.

One source with knowledge of the talks told ESPN.com the four-year deal is worth $33 million if the Lakers exercise the final season.

One source close to the process said Odom will come away with a guaranteed $27 million from the new contract, matching the original value of the three-year, $27 million deal Lakers owner Jerry Buss pulled off the table earlier this month.

It's believed that the structure of the new deal calls for Odom to earn $25 million over the first three seasons, with the Lakers owing him $2 million in the fourth year if they elect not to pick up their team option.

Reached Thursday evening, Odom's agent Jeff Schwartz declined to discuss specifics but confirmed that the sides have an agreement in principle.

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak declined comment.

Odom's signing was the most significant free agent move left to play out this summer, as it restores a pivotal piece to the Lakers' championship team. The versatile, 6-foot-9 Odom averaged 11.3 points and 8.2 rebounds during the regular season and 12.3 points and 9.1 rebounds during the playoffs, despite injuring his back in a fall during the Western Conference semifinals against Houston.

Odom's destination for the 2009-10 season had remained in doubt after the Lakers pulled an initial offer of a reported $27 million guaranteed over three years off the table. As the other franchises with significant salary cap space spent their money elsewhere, the Miami Heat emerged as a serious contender for Odom's services.

On Tuesday, the Portland Trail Blazers also got into the mix, offering a five-year, $40 million deal, according to a source close to Odom.

With Dwyane Wade publicly lobbying for Odom to rejoin him in South Beach, the Heat offered a deal worth up to $34 million over five years. The fact that Odom didn't jump at it despite the cooled tone of negotiations with the Lakers indicated his desire to return to Los Angeles, and the longer the saga dragged out the greater the chances seemed that he would be back.

With Odom back in the fold the Lakers would have their top five scorers and top four rebounders from the 2009 championship on the roster to begin the title defense. The only significant loss is forward Trevor Ariza, who left to sign a contract with the Houston Rockets after the Lakers signed former Rocket Ron Artest.

Lamar Wants a Repeat

Odom wants to return:

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) - Lamar Odom wants to return to the Los Angeles Lakers, and he hopes the team will keep both him and starter Trevor Ariza.

Odom and Ariza become unrestricted free agents on July 1.

"You want to keep the team together," Odom said Thursday. "We just won a championship, you don't want to see one piece not there. Hopefully we can keep everybody here."

Odom met with coach Phil Jackson and general manager Mitch Kupchak during an individual 20-minute exit interview.

"Hopefully, it won't take that long," he said, joking about upcoming contract negotiations. "In and out, three years, 80 million."

In between player interviews, Jackson took a congratulatory call from President Barack Obama. A visit to the White House by the Lakers is under discussion, a team spokesman said.

Kobe Bryant, MVP of the finals, can terminate the last two years of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent next month. His exit interview is set for Friday.

Odom, who turns 30 in November, played a key role off the bench in the Lakers' run to their 15th NBA championship. He averaged 12.3 points and 9.1 rebounds during the playoffs. He made $14.1 million this season.

In a downtrodden economy, this summer's free agent market could see fewer offers and less money being offered by teams. That might make it possible for the Lakers to bring back both Odom and Ariza, who made a case for a significant raise with his defense on Orlando's Hedo Turkoglu in the finals.

Ariza averaged 11.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in the playoffs, and earned $3.1 million this season. A day earlier, he said he wants to return to his hometown team.

"It's always difficult, especially the economic times we're in now," Odom said. "I got to make a decision that is best for my family. At this point in my career, I owned a home, I owned a car, done pretty well. Everything I do now is for them and their kids. It's my time to pay that back to my family." (Read entire article)

Lakers Rejoice Triumph

Related Links:

*From New Zealand to another title, Phil's amazing journey

*Ariza and Odom powered victory and playoff run

*Defense wins championships

*Complete game round up

Kobe's interview highlight:

Q. A couple years ago you weren't satisfied with your help at all. When did you become convinced that this was a team you could win with?

KOBE BRYANT: Got a new point guard, got a new wing, got a Spaniard, and then it was all good. It was all good. I had a bunch of Christmas presents that came early.

Odom & Gasol Lead Lakers to Victory

UPDATE 1: D-Fish and Pau

Derek Fisher came up big late in the game tonight, especially with a steal he got against J.J. Redick with 1:56 left in overtime.

He drove the lane with 5:27 left in regulation, split two defenders and made a layup to tie the game at 77. He had the assist on Pau Gasol's layup that tied the score at 88 with 33 seconds left and insured the Lakers would get to overtime. There was the Redick steal and the ensuing free throws. And then with 26 seconds left, Fisher caught the inbounds pass and brought the ball up the floor and got it to Lamar Odom, who was fouled and made two free throws in the bonus situation.

Read about the Pau Gasol factor last evening here.

NBA post game breakdown here.

Los Angeles Lakers take Game 2, winning 101-96 in overtime.


Photo courtesy of Daylife-AP.

See box score here.