Lakers Resume Talks with Lamar

According to a source who was not authorized to comment publicly, the Lakers and Lamar Odom resumed talks yesterday (July 22). Although there was nothing to report “at the moment,” the talks were described as productive. Last week the Lakers pulled their offers (of three years and $30 million or four years and $36 million, with the fourth year only partially guranteed) after Odom and his agent dragged their feet on signing, but things are looking up as of yesterday. The offers extended to Odom may have dropped slightly and the Lakers were not expected to improve upon their initial offers but communication has nonetheless taken a more positive tone.

The Lakers have allocated $83.8 million to 12 players next season (which means an additional luxury-tax penalty of $13.9 million) and have to be conscious of entering too far into luxury-tax territory. The Lakers’ payroll was $78.2 million last season and the franchise paid an additional $7.2 million in luxury taxes. If the Lakers don’t end up signing Odom, they can sign a veteran forward for around $1 million (they have considered Sheldon Williams) and also have until Aug. 1 to decide whether or not to bring back gurad Sun Yue next season for $736,000. The Lakers are waiting to resolve the situation with Odom before signing Bryant to a contract extension; Bryant will get $23 million next season and is also expected to receive an additional extension of $134 million to $138 million over the next five seasons (dependent on salary-cap figures to be determined in 2011).

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