LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – Los Angeles Lakers forward  Lamar Odom has reached a verbal agreement on a multi-year deal  to stay with the NBA champions, the player’s agent said on  Thursday.

Lakers spokesman John Black confirmed the agreement on the  team’s official website (www.nba.com/lakers), adding that a  contract was likely to be signed “in the next few days”.

The retention of the Odom will bolster a powerful Lakers  starting line-up comprising NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant, Spanish  forward Pau Gasol and veteran guard Derek Fisher, plus forward  Ron Artest who joined the franchise earlier this month.

Odom, 29, was a significant factor in helping the Lakers  clinch the 2008-09 title, averaging more than 12 points and  nine rebounds in the postseason.

The six-foot-ten, 230-pound forward started 32 regular  season games for the Lakers when center Andrew Bynum was  sidelined with injury before fully embracing his bench role in  the playoffs.

Odom, who joined Los Angeles in July 2004 from the Miami  Heat in a multiple trade for Shaquille O’Neal, has long been  admired for his commitment to the team.

Although Odom had repeatedly said he wanted to stay on with  the Lakers after the franchise clinched a 15th NBA  Championship, an initial contract offer was withdrawn by the  team when he was slow to respond.

He was then linked with a return to Miami, where Dwyane  Wade had been lobbying on his behalf, before an agreement was  finally struck with the Lakers on Thursday.
Speaking before Game One of the NBA finals last month, Odom  summed up what he brought to the team.

“A little bit of everything,” he said. “I just go out and  play.”