ESPN.com reports that Lamar Odom has decided to take the Los Angeles Lakers offer of a presumed four-year, $33 million dollar deal, the fourth year being the option year.
Sources close to the situation say the deal is more close to the $27 million dollar deal that was previously offered.
The Lakers will give $25 million over three years, but will owe Odom $2 million if they elect not to pick up his option for a fourth year.
With Odom coming back to the Lakers, the Lakers have their top five scorers from their 2009 championship team. Their only loss is the departure of small forward Trevor Ariza who signed with the Houston Rockets.
I believe without the Lakers re-signing Odom, they wouldn't be able to defend and repeat as NBA champions. With this move, the Lakers are still the team to beat in the NBA because of the fact that they have a formidable starting lineup and Odom coming off the bench as a versitile point-forward who can create match-up problems with his ball-handling and his offensive game.
Don't forget that he can hold his own against the big men in the NBA. The whole nation witnessed how he handled Cavalier-killer Rashard Lewis and frustrated the 2008-2009 Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard; constantly slapping the ball away from Howard every time he barrelled into the paint.
It's too early to predict an NBA Finals match-up or champion, but don't be surprised if the Los Angeles Lakers are back in the finals.
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