[UPDATED] Ted Green: Lamar Odom can't afford to tread a foolhardy path

Trevor Ariza, you've got a problem. You're now in Houston.

Lamar Odom, you've got a dilemma. You're now in limbo.

I was not surprised, but pretty disappointed, that inaction or posturing or disrespect, call it what you will, by Lamar's agent, Jeff Schwartz, resulted in Jerry Buss ordering his latest and best offer of $28 million to be pulled off the table late Tuesday night.

[UPDATED] Lamar, real quick here: If this thing is blowing up in your face as we speak, and you're going to wind up with egg on it because your agent only gets you a midlevel exception ($5.8 million) from someone else, and how is anyone going to be able to feed their family on THAT?...you had better go A-Rod on this guy and fire his butt, and I mean today! Then get into your Silver Cloud or whatever you're driving these days, head over to the Toyota Center in El Segundo, knock politely on Mitch Kupchak's door and tell him the bluffing and blustering and game-playing is over, you're ready to do the deal and be a Laker again. Otherwise, it could be adios, muchacho, see you in Miami, and you will have made the professional blunder of your life.

It seems like it should be hard to believe that Odom and his peeps could be about to make the same mistake Ariza and his commission-driven rep made when they wrote themselves a one-way ticket out of town, immediately becoming a little wealthier but a whole lot more irrelevant in the NBA.

But maybe it isn't so hard to believe, after all.

Maybe you and I, as fans, become much more attached to our favorite teams than most of these players do.

Maybe it really is just business to them.

And, sad but true, maybe money matters more than winning.

But at the end of their respective careers, what is going to be more important to the Lakers' two free-agent forwards, one with one foot out the door, the other already gone?

Will it be the few extra million they squeezed out, money they shouldn't be able to spend in their lifetimes, anyway? Is that REALLY what they care about?

Or should it be being part of something great, something special, something that will leave a lasting legacy?

Re-read that last sentence and if it sounds corny and old-fashioned, for these athletes in today's world, it probably is.

I do understand the Odom perspective. Lamar is thinking:

The Lakers gave Andrew Bynum $52 mil and they offer me just 28? A klunk like Anderson Varejao gets 50 mil and I'm worth 28? Sheesh, the Lakers gave Vladimir Radmanovic $30 mil, more than my 28, and he's now in Charlotte or the mayor of Kazakhstan, replacing Borat, I forget which. Even my friend Luke Walton, who needs to lock himself in a gym to learn how to shoot, did better than me, getting 30 million Buss dollars. Here I play four positions, sometimes all five, I bail Bynum out night after night in the playoffs, we win the title, and this is how they treat me? What am I, chopped liver?

All true, perhaps, except for this: You already made 60 mil on your LAST Laker contract, L.O, and how much was the preceding contract in Miami worth, I forget? $90 million? C'mon, L.O., you're already richer than Rockefeller. $28 mil ain't peanuts. At the 10-year mark of your career, it should really be about winning and leaving your mark, not just accumulating Benjamins.

At the end of the day, then, Trevor Ariza made a smaller-minded decision with no great thought given to the bigger picture. Now, a Laker who REALLY matters, Lamar Odom, seems to be following the same foolhardy path.

Today, Laker fans are still hoping Lamar doesn't let them down by leaving for a few extra million, which for him will be relative pennies.

Unless some team steps up and gives him his 50 mil, I hope L.O. comes to his senses today, takes control of his career and decides that being a big fish in the biggest pond in the NBA is far better than being a flounder in Nowheresville.

-- Ted Green

Green formerly covered the Lakers for the L.A. Times. He is currently Senior Sports Producer for KTLA Prime News.

Photo: Lamar Odom, left, is teetering and Trevor Ariza has already left the Lakers. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Fake_Black Mamba]

Hey if Lamar wants to go. let him go get booted out of the first round with whatever team he goes to. Who are some options the Lakers can go after to try and replace him? What about Big Baby Davis? Hes no Lamar Odom, but hes young and can come off the bench with no problem. With Artest's added scoring, maybe Odom wont be missed as much..............

[TrueFan1947]

This article is OK as far as it goes, but today's news is that Buss has already withdrawn the offer (or is seriously contemplating doing so). IMHO, the Lakers made a huge mistake by offering Lamar Odom ANYTHING in the first place! The reason I say that is that it gave Lamar and his agent all the leverage. They then had this offer in their back pocket, so to speak. They could sit around and dangle bait in the water, field inquiries, talk to other teams, "test the water", etc. The Laker front office put Lamar in the driver's seat by prematurely making him the offer . They gave him and his agent the psychological edge. They blinked first. Now they have to live with this strategic and tactical error. In ANY money negotiating situation, "he who talks money first loses!" Until the Lakers made this latest offer, that "loser" was Lamar because he let it be known that he wanted $10 million per year for five years. Had the Lakers just REMAINED SILENT and allowed Lamar and his agent to see what the market might offer them, the Lakers would have retained the upper hand. Instead, by blurting out this $9 million, 3-year offer, they put themselves in a weakened position. Why? Because NOW any team that really wants to embarrass the Lakers will beat that offer and put the Lakers in the position of having to increase their offer, in the process getting egg on their faces! And all the world will see it. And all because, in the war of nerves, the Front Office didn't have the intestinal fortitude to REMAIN SILENT!! They could have always come in with their BEST offer at the END of the process! NOW the front office seems to have recognized their error and rescinded the offer. It makes them look as if they know not what they are doing. In my opinion, they blew it when they extended the offer prematurely in the first place.

[Gilbert Melton]

$40 for five like Shawn Marion

[Edward Zamudio]

If Lamar Odom, is greedy..What does that make Kobe Byrant? If I remember when Magic Johnson lessen his contract to get James Worthy because he was all about
the team and the organization..and before the getting Paul Gasol ,Kobe was already
to abandon the team and leave...It seem to reason that if Kobe was a team player he would offer the same token for Lamar...Kobe could not have done it without him or
the other teammates... Hopefully when he renews his contract and evaluates the
situation he would do likewise...for the team and the organization.. It does sadden me
to see Trevor Ariza leave when one of his last statements was he hates to lose
and now he going to Houston where the organizations is going threw a lot of changes
with there personal.. Talk about not thinking it over how foolish was that trade when
he and his agent went to Houston....

[Hutch]

You are pretty much right other than the fact that there really aren't any teams out there offering L.O. any more money. In fact, he'll probably end up signing for less. He needs to face the reality that there are just some players who are way overpaid just like he has been over the last five years.

[Cengiz Tekin]

Honestly, if the Lakers are offering $28 million for 3 years - he should take it. Not only is it fair, but it is significantly more than anybody else can offer. While it is true that Portland and Oklahoma City have the cap space to offer more - there has been no indication that they are interested.

Am I to believe he would sing in Miami or Dallas for $33 million over 5 years but refuse $28 million over 3 from the Lakers? At the end of the day, I imagine Schwartz is asking for 5 years in hopes they will give him a fourth. I don't imagine they will go past 3 without decreasing the annual dollar amount.

Learn from Trevor Lamar. Do not over play your hand. The offer you got is a good one.

[Tony]

The contract he was offered was more than fair. He can talk to Miami and Dallas but not return the calls to LA? The Lakers will be fine without him. 75% of the time he failed to show up on that overpaid contract he had last time. What makes anyone think he'll do more now? The money that teams were able to throw around before isn't there now. Let his agent get him a five year deal for the mid-level exemption and have his client take the court with egg on his face for every game he plays during that time. Brilliant negotiation tactics, Bozo aka Shwartz.

[BruceAlmighty]

Hey Lamar,
We know 28 mil doesn't go as far as it used to, maybe we can set you up with one of those 'will ball for food' signs this summer. Lord knows you sure don't spend the days working on your game, or being more consistent, etc. As MJ would say-Beat it. And say Hi to fellow moron Trevor on your way to loserville

[Ken J.]

Ted,
Damn, you can tell it like it is!

Thanks for the update.

[chris]

Buss made a MORE than generous offer to Odom, as much as I love Lamar he's making a huge mistake by trying to play hardball with NO leverage to speak of. Remember the Lakers are already over the luxury tax so in a sense Buss is saying he's willing to pay 18-20 million for a sixth man. Sorry Lamar, Buss has treated you more than fairly and resurrected your career here in LA, if you let your agent talk you out of taking that offer you're a fool and will end up in Ariza-land.
C

[Tyrone]

Put Micheal B on the table send Lamar to Miami. They just don't get it.

[Jaime]

I agree with everyone. If all he was asking for was 10 mil and the Lakers offered him a little over 9 mil. Why not take it? I mean take a look at everything that comes with taking a small paycut: everyone loves you, your winning championships, you live in L.A where the weather is nice year round and most of all you will be creating a legacy in the NBA... I say take the money and enjoy riding everyones coatails to another couple championship

[Richard]

Buss made you a good offer. Say you need more money? What has happened to the big bucks you've made in the past? If you invest wisely and use your brain you wouldn't have to please your greedy agent. Fire him and go to the Lakeders and sign.Get ready for next season which is just around the corner.

[Tyrone Reese]

Thank you Lamar for helping the Lakers win their 15th championship, if winning two or three more doesn't mean anything to you sign and trade him to Miami or New York for younger player's that will keep the Laker nation going well after Lamar is out of the game with his Money. Artest will be a great addition for the next four to five years plus he'll come to play each night something that Lamar seemed to forget. I was in your corner for a long time Lamar, you have to see that you're not going to bring it each night like Artest. (He took 18 Million). Open the door for Josh Powell or DJ. They would love to get a chance to play. Adam looking good also. You can be part of something great for many years to come, and go down in history like a James Worthy, Micheal Cooper, etc or a one and done. Artest sees the big picture do you.

[laron the "profit" of doom]

NBA player says, "it's not about the money, it's about winning titles".
NBA player's agent says, "it's about the money!"
Lamar should fire this guy, or end up with a couple more million $$ and no more rings. I guess we will soon know his priorities.

[chris]

What a brilliant article! Finally, someone puts my thoughts into words. I am sick of these athletes crying over how much they're making or not making. They will make money that they will not even be able to spend. Meanwhile, my brother can't get a job to save his life and pay for his children....literally!!!! Any player who cries money or holds out on contract negotiations does not deserve to dawn the purple and gold. You never heard about this stuff when Magic, Kareem, Scott, Coop, Rambis (shall I continue to list the real Lakers!!!) played. You're dead on when you say the fans are the loyal ones to Dr. Buss and the Lakers. These players don't care about championships! It's a front if they say they do. And I hate to say that the one player I can think of that was all about winning a championship and took less money to try and get it was Karl Malone. He knew the Lakers was where it was at, and he almost sealed the deal. I felt the same way about Kobe during his last contract negotiation, but he is starting to win me over. That said, we'll see what happens a few years from now and the Lakers aren't winning championships. Lamar I truly thought you were different and loved being a Laker. Quit your whining, take the money they're offering or less...YOU DON"T NEED IT!!!

[David Archer]

For a few dollars more!!! As I say #3 gone and #7 going Artest replacing them with #37. I see the figure that Buss is giving him as being reasonable. He was earning a very large sum before with the trade from Miami and he is still an in and out player, never knowing when the right person will turn up. All I can say to Odom is to fire your agent for giving you wrong information and take the money and go on to another championship. Do not be Adumb, be Odom!

[MDisHuge]

LO should sign with the Heat because they have D-Wade aka the best of the world according to Mr. Riley.

[MDisHuge]

LO should join the Heat because they have D-Wade aka the best of the world according to Mr Riley.

[LaFan]

I don't know how dallas can offer LO more? I'm not good with these contract rules. Sign and trade? Another question is can Dallas offer the MLE for the first year in his contract then offer more later down. i.e first year MLE then year then player option for next four years to increase his salary sinificantly?

[Robert Lambert]

Where are all the Lamar Odom butt kissers now? The greedy dirtbag won't take an offer of $10 mil/3yrs and is willing to go to Dallas or Miami for less?

It's not about winning is it Odom? It's not even about securing your family's future. It's all about extorting every penny you can when contract renewal time comes isn't it? Sure, take it easy for a couple of years and play hard in the last year of your fat contract to make sure you get the next big payday.

I hope Buss dumps you so we can be rid of you and your moronic supporters.

[fakersgohome]

Typical "Hollywood" drama from the Fakers. It's all about money and prestige with that team. Look at Kobe throwing a tantrum last year as evidence to support why, even though they won the finals, that people want to leave that godforsaken town. Bunch of thugs, adulterers, liars, and cheats. They need to take a look at a model organization -- an organization like Denver or San Antonio. Horrible. I blame the culture out there. I feel sorry for you fans.

[DominantFranchise]

fakersgohome - That's "World Champion Fakers" to you nimrod - and we usually wipt the florr with your "model organizations" like Denver and San Antonio to do it. And Kobe's "tantrum" was to get the Lakers out of the duldroms and put a team on the floor that could compete - no more Smush Parkers and Kwame Browns (and Lamar Odoms) starting. Kobe's a winner and he forced the organization into the same committment.

[kelly]

Did you send this to LO? Please do.