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Marks on the move?While the Heat snatched Lamar Odom, Fleisher said free agent forward/center Sean Marks is considering an invitation to the Clippers' training camp. Via South Florida Sun-Sentinel Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Heat to get Odom after allThe carefully conceived plan has worked. The Heat has managed to pry restricted free agent Lamar Odom from the Clippers, giving the team its most significant free agent signing of the summer. Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor said in a statement Monday that the Clippers have declined to match the Heat's six-year, $65 million offer sheet to Odom. ''After long and careful consideration, we have elected not to match the offer sheet presented to us by Lamar Odom,'' Baylor said. ``In the final analysis, the decision was based on issues of character and other risks involved.'' Baylor's criticism of Odom's character is in reference to Odom's two suspensions for violating the league's anti-drug policy. But Baylor was also upset Odom made negative comments about the Clippers more than two weeks ago. Odom called the Clippers ''basketball hell,'' and he believed he was ''running in muddy waters'' with the team. But Odom chose not to take a return shot at the Clippers on Monday, choosing instead to focus on his future. ''I'm really looking forward to having a brand new start and helping this team win and turning into a man,'' Odom said via telephone. ``The Clippers questioning my character really doesn't matter to me, especially when I have a guy like Coach Riley vouching for me.'' Odom, who was heading from Los Angeles to Miami Monday night, found out about the Clippers' statement Monday afternoon. ''I was elated,'' said Odom, who will likely be introduced in a news conference Wednesday. ``I was going to work out before I heard, and it gave me a lot more energy to work out.'' Odom has not spoke to Riley since hearing the news, but he did speak with Riley early Monday and told Riley how grateful he was. ''If they asked me to run through a wall for them right now, I would,'' Odom said. Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Odom headed to MiamiLamar Odom will join the Heat. The Clippers have decided not to match the six-year, $65 million offer sheet to the versatile forward Monday. "After long and careful consideration, we have elected not to match the offer sheet presented to us by Lamar Odom. In the final analysis, the decision was based on issues of character and other risks involved," Clippers GM Elgin Baylor said in a statement. After more than two decades without signing a high-priced free agent or retaining a marquee player, Clippers owner Donald Sterling has committed $124 million this off-season by matching offers to restricted free agents Elton Brand (six years, $82 million from Miami) and Corey Maggette (six years, $42 million from Utah). Letting Odom go to Miami would represent significant savings for Sterling, but that would make Odom the fourth significant L.A. free agent this summer -- along with center Michael Olowokandi, point guard Andre Miller and sharpshooter Eric Piatkowski -- to leave the club without compensation. Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Clippers Aug 2003 Archive
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