The Los Angeles Clippers are prepared to sign one more player this offseason. The team has had a marquee offseason, highlighted by Doc Rivers, JJ Redick and the Chris Paul contract extension. The team still has one more move up their sleeve. After meeting with several big men in the league, the Clippers have narrowed their options down to two.
Los Angeles recently met with free agent forward Antawn Jamison and led him through a work out. He was originally led to believe that he would be signing with the Clippers in the near future, but Yahoo! Sports Mark Spears reports now the team prefers to re-sign Lamar Odom.
The Los Angeles Times reports the Clippers have informed Jamison that they are waiting to hear back from Odom on whether or not he prefers to sign with the team or now. Los Angeles have offered the free agent a veteran's minimum of $1.4 million. If Odom does not accept the offer, it will likely go to Jamison.
Rivers, the new president of Basketball Operations for the Clippers, apparently was swayed more to sign Odom after watching his tape from last season. While Odom certainly was not playing at his Sixth-Man-Award level, he certainly improved from his stint with the Dallas Mavericks. Odom averaged 4.0 points per game as well as 5.9 rebounds in 19.7 averaged minutes. He was able to offer quality relief off the bench from time to time.
Jamison spent last season with the Lakers. He saw more playing time than Odom, averaging 9.4 points in 21.5 minutes per game. He put up 4.8 rebounds as well. If the Clippers opt to sign Odom over Jamison, it is likely the free agent might not have too many other suitors. He has drawn interest from the Chicago Bulls and Memphis Grizzlies. He originally signed with the Lakers with the hope of winning a championship. After that soured, he still has the same goal this year.
Odom would be smart to take the offer. He has no other teams showing interest at the moment. Odom has said he prefers to continue playing in Los Angeles. At one point he had targeted the New York Knicks as an option but the team did not bite. The Lakers have shown some interest but it never appeared serious. If Odom is the Clippers' first choice, he will likely sign on the line.
