Looking for the inside scoop on where Lamar Odom will play for next season?

You're not going to find it here.

Not much has changed since Lakers: Is Odom Ariza or Artest? almost two weeks ago. 

The Portland Trail Blazers have used their cap space elsewhere (Andre Miller).  The specifics of the Laker "four-year" offer were eventually verified (as suspected) to only include partial guarantee on the final year.

It's almost worth reposting the old article with a couple of edits and a new title.

At this point, the Lakers have lowered their offer (the true amount on the table isn't clear, is wildly rumored and not worth guessing at), making it difficult to gauge how much team owner Dr. Buss will pay to keep Lamar.

If Odom truly wanted to go to the Miami HEAT for less money, he'd have gone already.  The Lakers can pay him the most but are very cost conscious with the monster tax bill looming.

How will it end?  At this point . . . please just end, either way.

If Odom does stay, the Lakers return almost the same team as the one that won the title in June.  The lone change would be Ron Artest in for Trevor Ariza.

Artest is a bit of a wildcard but if Coach Phil Jackson can keep him focused, LA could be better than they were a year ago.  While Ariza's youth and athleticism will be missed, Artest may be better suited to guard the power small forwards in the league like Paul Pierce, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony.

The only likely subtraction might be Sun Yue who has a $100,000 contract guarantee kick in on August 1st.  If he makes the opening night roster, his entire $736,420 salary is locked in.

General Manager Mitch Kupchak has indicated that he hopes to only carry the league minimum (13 players) this season.  With Odom back, that could leave Sun without a job.

On the other hand, the Lakers are said to be considering offering Shelden Williams a make-good contract (partially guaranteed), not as an Odom replacement but as a potential young big to bolster the bench.  Williams has never quite found a niche but he also hasn't had the opportunity to play in a systemized offense like Coach Krzyzewski runs at Duke.

If the Lakers do ink Shelden, he could be a surprise low-cost improvement for a team looking at a total payroll over $110 million (including luxury taxes).

Another camp invite will be (unofficially) Tony Gaffney who played on LA's summer league entry (Vegas: Gaffney Hoping for a Laker Camp Invite).

A source close to the team has indicated that the Lakers would prefer second-round draft pick Chinemelu Elonu to play overseas rather than face an uphill battle in training camp.  That's a decision that's up to the player, not the franchise. 

If he does come to camp, he'd be a long shot to make the team and the Lakers would ultimately lose his rights. 

Kupchak might tinker with the roster with a few assets that might be attractive including Adam Morrison's expiring contract (coming off of a solid summer league).  A number of teams are interested in Jordan Farmar as well.

Should the Lakers make any moves, money may be the driving force although the team is still searching for an eventual Derek Fisher replacement (and Farmar may not be it).

If Odom leaves, the Lakers lose the heart of their bench, downgrading their chances to repeat.  Unless Andrew Bynum has a career year, LA could be vulnerable beyond their starting five.

It's not clear how Kupchak would replace Odom considering the only spending power he has left is the minimum exception.  One name that had surfaced was Joe Smith.

The Lakers won't open the door to a sign and trade, especially with the HEAT.  Once they make it possible for Odom to get paid elsewhere . . . LA loses what leverage it has in the negotiations.

It might take a wild trade to entice the Lakers to sign and trade, perhaps something like Jerryd Bayless and Joel Przybilla of the Portland Trail Blazers for Odom and Farmar . . . but that's not a rumor, that's just a writer living in fantasyland whilst waiting for the stalemate to end!

Typically the answer in these situations is to follow the money.  In most cases the player goes to the team offering the most money.  Based on that simple logic, the Lakers remain the favorite.

It's just taking way too long . . .