Report: Lakers May Keep Odom Over Ariza

July 2, 2009 3:21 p.m. EST

Los Angeles, CA (AHN) - Unrestricted free agent Trevor Ariza, displeased with the Los Angeles Lakers' offer, could leave the club that he helped win the NBA crown this past season

The 24-year-old swingman, a vital cog in the Lakers run to their 15th NBA championship, was hoping for an offer ranging from $7 million to $8 million a year, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Instead, the Lakers were willing to offer him no more than the club's estimated mid-level exemption of $5.6 million over an unspecified number of years, according to the report.

The Lakers sold their draft picks to New York (first-rounder) and Miami (second-rounder) for an about $3.5 million in anticipation for the needed funds to re-sign Ariza and unrestricted free agent forward Lamar Odom.

Odom, the Lakers' other main free agent target, is seeking a deal worth $10 million a year, said the paper.

It indicated the specifics of the Lakers offer to Odom remain unclear.

A refusal to hike the offer is a clear indication that the Lakers is pursuing Odom in favor Ariza.

Apart from Cleveland, the Rockets, Clippers, Raptors and Blazers, have also expressed interest on Ariza.

In the past season, Ariza averaged 8.9 points and 4.3 rebounds during the regular season.

His stats improved in the playoffs, scoring 11.3 points and grabbing 4.2 boards per tilt.