Newsmakers
Stays Reserve Lamar Odom has agreed on a multiyear contract to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers. After a rocky free-agent courtship, Odom will return to the club he helped to its 15th NBA title this summer. Lakers spokesman John Black confirmed an agreement Thursday, but wouldn’t discuss specifics. Odom accepted and thrived in a reserve role during the Lakers’ run to the title, averaging 12.3 points and 9.1 rebounds.
Signs The NBA’s Dallas Mavericks have signed big man Drew Gooden, expecting him to back up Dirk Nowitzki at power forward and play alongside him at center. The deal was agreed to late last week. Gooden, joining his seventh team, has averaged 12.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in his career.
Agrees Rookie receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey agreed with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders on a five-year contract that will guarantee him at least $23.5 million. Heyward-Bey is expected to join the team in time for practice today. Heyward-Bey, the seventh overall pick in April’s draft, will get a base salary of $3.825 million in the deal.
Avoids New York Jets running back Leon Washington, in a contract dispute while seeking a big raise, was a no-show as players reported for the start of the NFL team’s first training camp under new coach Rex Ryan. Washington, a Pro Bowl selection last season as a kick returner, is due to earn $535,000 this season, the final year of his rookie deal. He’s believed to be looking for about $6 million a year.
Retires Former heavyweight champion Sultan Ibragimov has decided to retire, more than a year after losing his title in a one-sided decision to Wladimir Klitschko. His promoter, Leon Margules of Seminole Warriors Boxing, confirmed to the Associated Press that the former WBO titleholder will no longer fight. In a short professional career he went 22-1-1 and had 17 knockouts.
Cleared Arkansas running back Broderick Green will not have to sit out a season after transferring from Southern California. The Arkansas athletic department confirmed that the NCAA has cleared Green to play.