The L.A. Times reports that Lamar Odom talks are back on and are described as “productive”.
L.A. Times: Is the table being set again?
A week after the Lakers pulled a pair of contract offers to Lamar Odom off the table, the sides resumed talks Wednesday.
The discussions were labeled productive, but there was nothing to report “at the moment,” according to a source familiar with negotiations who was not authorized to comment publicly.
It didn’t look great last week for Odom’s return to the Lakers after the franchise yanked its offers of three years and $30 million or four years and $36 million, with the fourth year only partially guaranteed.
But the sides began communicating in a more positive light Wednesday. Financial details were not immediately available, though the Lakers were not expected to have improved their initial offers. If anything, the offers might have dropped slightly.
Odom, who will be 30 in November, was a key part of the Lakers’ championship run, and his teammates have unilaterally expressed a desire for his return, including Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher.
On the other hand, the Lakers are conscious about veering too far into luxury-tax territory. They have already allocated $83.8 million to 12 players next season, which would mean an additional luxury-tax penalty of $13.9 million.
Last season, the Lakers’ payroll was $78.2 million and they paid an additional $7.2 million in luxury taxes.
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