Lakers, even when Dwyane Wade was blowing up his phone during the
longest July of Odom's basketball life, the Los Angeles forward
couldn't honestly imagine going anywhere else.
Just a few weeks after winning his first NBA title, the Lakers' most
sought-after free agent wasn't about to lose the thrill by starting
over. After agreeing to a four-year contract to stay with the Lakers,
he's expecting to feel it again - and perhaps again and again and again.
"I guess basketball-wise, I feel complete," Odom said during a formal
signing ceremony Friday at the Lakers' training complex. "I want to
feel it again."
"It's kind of an overwhelming feeling," he added. "I get goose bumps
when I think about it, and as long as I continue to play professional
basketball, I want to always feel that. The way I feel during the
summer, I always want to feel that. If we can win six, seven, eight,
nine, 10 championships in a row, I want to experience that."
With Odom's return, the Lakers will hit training camp in two months
with their 15th championship team largely intact. Swingman Trevor
Ariza is the only big departure, and he was replaced by Ron Artest, a
friend and competitor to Odom since both were precocious preteens
playing ball in various New York City leagues.
Even while Odom wasn't under contract with the Lakers in early July,
he was recruiting Artest to sign with Los Angeles for most of the same
reasons Odom eventually agreed to return.
"I spoke to Ron two days before he signed, and I told him how
important I think it is for him to come here," Odom said. "Because I
know how hard he works, he needs to experience basketball at its best,
at the highest level, and he needs to become a Laker. Two days after
that, he signed."
After a cooling-off period between the team and Odom's representation
ended last weekend, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak apparently
ended up signing Odom for an offer worth slightly less than his
initial offer. After spending months cautioning fans to understand the
realities of the NBA salary cap and luxury tax, Kupchak and owner
Jerry Buss mostly managed to keep a good thing together.
"Three or four months ago, I didn't think it could be possible that we
could basically bring this team back in whole," Kupchak said. "Lamar
had a wonderful season that ended on the best possible note you could
have, and Lamar had a lot of options. ... Here it is, July 31, and we
have brought back everybody that we wanted to bring back."
Odom called the negotiations "a tedious time," but he didn't lack for
attention from Miami, Portland and Dallas. He acknowledged that the
Heat, particularly Wade and president Pat Riley, "were aggressive."
"Their offer was gracious, but this is where I want to play
basketball," Odom said.
Odom's worth to the Lakers has always been obvious, but his
willingness to embrace a reserve role during their title run made him
even more valuable. He was Los Angeles' third-leading postseason
scorer with 12.3 points - hitting more than 51 percent of his 3-point
shots - and 9.1 rebounds despite starting just five games.
Although Odom said he could have enjoyed returning to Miami, he just
couldn't see a reason to leave Los Angeles, his home for nine of his
10 NBA seasons with either the Clippers or their better-pedigreed
roommates at Staples Center.
"I didn't want my kids to have to change schools - just the little
things," Odom said. "I'm comfortable here. I've been here since I was
19 years old. I'm proud to be playing for what I think is the most
popular brand in sports."
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