Basketball: Rich deal will keep Odom with Lakers

Odom, who turns 30 next November, averaged 11.3 points and 8.2 rebounds in the regular season and led the Lakers with a club-best 98 blocked shots. In the playoffs, Odom averaged 12.3 points and 9.1 rebounds a game.
The Miami Heat had also made a play for Odom, pitching up to 34 million over five seasons to have Odom join superstar guard Dwyane Wade after the Lakers pulled back from an earlier offer to Odom.
Instead, Odom's return secures the final major player from the championship run to return to the Lakers in hopes of a repeat bid next season.
The lone major loss was reserve forward Trevor Ariza, who left for Houston after the Lakers landed former Rockets standout Ron Artest.
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