The Lakers had a near-perfect June, breezing through the NBA Finals in five games and capping it off with a victory parade and championship rally under sunny Southern California skies.
The first day of July, however, wasn't as picturesque.
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Lakers are far apart with free agents Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom
LAKERS
Ariza isn't pleased with offer of $28 million over five years. The situation for Odom, who is said to be seeking $9 million to $10 million a year, is less clear.
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The Lakers remained far apart on negotiations Wednesday with their two main free-agent pieces, forwards Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza.
In particular, Ariza and his agent weren't thrilled by the Lakers' annual offer of $5.6 million over an unspecified number of years. Ariza, 24, was hoping for $7 million to $8 million a year. Odom, 29, is believed to be seeking $10 million a year, though it was unclear what the Lakers offered him.
Ariza's agent, David Lee, went down to the wire last October with the Lakers while negotiating an extension for another one of his clients, Andrew Bynum. This one is at an early impasse as well.
"All we're looking for is little appreciation for what Trevor has done," Lee said Wednesday. "I don't think they believe Trevor is serious about leaving, and that's too bad. I didn't think we'd be in this situation. I am disappointed and surprised by what I thought would be some feelings for the people who have given you everything they've got."
The Lakers declined to comment.
Ariza is drawing interest from Portland, Houston, Cleveland, Toronto and the Clippers.
Of those teams, only Portland and Toronto have enough salary-cap room to offer more than the Lakers' current offer, though the Trail Blazers and Raptors are reportedly in pursuit of Orlando forward Hedo Turkoglu.
Said Ariza: "It's business. I understand what they are trying to do and I understand that I have to do what is best for me. I'm really not worried. It will work itself out."
Odom and Ariza were pivotal in the Lakers' championship run, though they are running out of teams with which to make big deals.
Detroit had the biggest salary-cap surplus this summer, but the Pistons agreed to terms Wednesday with Chicago guard Ben Gordon and Milwaukee forward Charlie Villanueva, all but ending their spending spree.
Whichever team loses the Turkoglu chase, Portland or Toronto, still will have money to spend, as will Memphis, but the Grizzlies already have a promising young small forward (Rudy Gay) and now own a decent power forward after agreeing to acquire Zach Randolph from the Clippers for Quentin Richardson.
