Clippers won't match $63M offer, so Odom heads to Heat
By Compiled from Times wires
Published August 26, 2003
LOS ANGELES - Lamar Odom is free to join the Miami Heat after the Clippers refused Monday to match the Heat's $63-million offer.
"In the final analysis, the decision was based on issues of character and other risks involved," Clippers vice president Elgin Baylor said in a statement.
Heat spokesman Tim Donovan declined to comment until the team received official notice from the NBA that the Clippers dropped their offer. The offer sheet expires at 11:59 tonight.
Odom, a restricted free agent, becomes the fourth Clippers regular to leave this summer, joining center Michael Olowokandi and guards Andre Miller and Eric Piatkowski.
Odom averaged 14.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 49 games last season. In 230 career games, he has averaged 15.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists.
Taken by the Clippers with the No. 4 draft pick in 1999, Odom was suspended for five games in March 2001, then again for eight games that November for violating the league's anti-drug policy.
Odom, 23, also has been sidelined frequently by injuries over the past two years. He missed 45 games last season with wrist and ankle injuries after playing in just 29 games the previous season.
The 6-foot-10, 221-pounder signed a six-year offer sheet worth about $63-million with the Heat on Aug. 11.
It has been an active offseason for the Clippers, who were last in the Pacific Division last season with a 27-55 record.
The Clippers matched a six-year, $42-million offer sheet the Jazz gave to forward Corey Maggette. Los Angeles, however, chose not to match a six-year, $51-million offer that Miller received from the Nuggets.
WIZARDS: The team signed point guard Chris Whitney, welcoming back its career leader in 3-pointers and free-throw percentage. He will be a possible backup to Gilbert Arenas, who was signed as a free agent last month.
"I am thrilled to be back in Washington and to return to the community that has supported me for the majority of my career," Whitney, who spent last season with the Nuggets and Magic, said in a statement.
HOLDSCLAW HURT: Chamique Holdsclaw left the Washington Mystics' season finale at Detroit with a sprained left knee ligament. Holdsclaw, who entered the game leading the league in rebounding and second in scoring, collided with the Shock's Barb Farris and crumpled to the court in pain with 4:07 left. Detroit won 68-60.
"We're not sure right now, but it looks like it is just a ligament sprain," Mystics coach Marianne Stanley said. "It doesn't appear to be as serious as a torn ligament."
Detroit (25-9), which has the league's best record, finished its best regular season in team history.
CLEVELAND 75, CHARLOTTE 66: Chasity Melvin scored a season-high 22 to lead the host Rockers into the playoffs.
Cleveland will open the first round of the Eastern playoffs against either Charlotte or Detroit.
CONNECTICUT 72, INDIANA 62: Taj McWilliams-Franklin scored 17 as the Sun clinched its first playoff berth. Connecticut never made the playoffs in five seasons as the Orlando Miracle.
LOS ANGELES 67, HOUSTON 64: Mwadi Mabika scored 19 to lead the host Sparks. Both teams had clinched playoff berths.
SEATTLE 70, SACRAMENTO 57: Lauren Jackson scored 18 as the host Storm beat the playoff-bound Monarchs.
DETROIT: The Shock placed forward Cheryl Ford on the injured list with a lower back strain and activated center Petra Ujhelyi.
Ford, a top candidate for rookie of the year award, averaged 10.8 points and 10.4 rebounds in 32 games.
