LA Clippers Coach Doc Rivers Confirms Meeting With Lamar Odom

Is Lamar Odom coming back to Los Angeles As a Clipper? 

Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers confirmed the reported meeting between him and free agent forward Odom at the team's practice facility on Friday.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Rivers said that he arranged the meeting to see Odom, while also confirming that he and the Clippers organization are interested in signing the veteran forward.

"I've always had interest in him," Rivers said. "I've always liked him. The teams he has played on, the coaches who have coached him have always liked him. I hadn't seen him. I just wanted to see him."

However, the one-time champion coach downplayed rumors suggesting that the Clippers are bent on signing Odom soon, knowing that teams like their rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, are also interested in signing the forward. Rivers said that no deal is imminent as of now and the team will just continue monitoring Odom and his situation.

"Obviously I do like him. But right now it was more me just sitting down. I haven't had a chance since I've taken the job to talk to Odom. We've texted each other a few times, but that was it. I just wanted to get in front of him," Rivers said.

Odom played in all 82 regular-season games and six playoff games for the Clippers last season. Odom and the Clippers were reportedly interested in inking a new deal during the offseason, but Odom ran into trouble as he made headlines with drug and personal issues.

Odom, who averaged 4.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game last season, has been working out to get in shape for the past few weeks as he prepares for a comeback in the second half of the season.

The Clippers, who still have one spot left on their roster, could sign Odom for the veteran's minimum rate, which is around $883,000 annually.