The Los Angeles Lakers have waived guard Sun Yue, it was announced on Friday.

?With the talent level and depth of our roster, the situation simply doesn?t provide an opportunity for Sun Yue to get the chance to play that he deserves,? said General Manager Mitch Kupchak. ?We feel it is in Sun?s best interests to be able to go to a team where he can get the minutes to play and showcase his considerable talents. We appreciate Sun?s contributions to last season?s championship team, and wish him the best of luck with the rest of his career.?

?I want to thank Sun Yue for his professionalism and for the contributions he made to our team last season,? said Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson.

If Leon Powe is able to make it back from a torn left ACL and damaged meniscus, he's looking to play for a title contender.

The unrestricted free agent is interested in playing for the Cavaliers and Magic, with Cleveland reportedly first on his list. The Mavericks and Lakers have also inquired about the forward's services.

The most optimistic scenario for Powe would be a return to the court in February

Lamar Odom will sign a four-year contract, with the fourth year at the Lakers' option.

One source with knowledge of the talks told ESPN.com the four-year deal is worth $33 million if the Lakers exercise the final year of the contract.

Neither Mitch Kupchak or Odom's agent, Jeff Schwartz, commented on the report.

The Heat and Blazers also were interested in Odom.

The Lakers will return to the Forum for a preseason game this season and they also looked hard at scheduling this exhibition in front of what could have been a massive crowd at the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The Lakers began to pursue the outdoor idea when they scrapped their plans to hold training camp in Hawaii.

League approval could not be secured due to the scheduled start time.

The Lakers are expected to pursue the idea next season.

If Lamar Odom does not re-sign with the Lakers, the clear consensus is that the balance of power will shift in the Western Conference.

?If he goes somewhere else, they?re vulnerable,? a Western Conference general manager said Wednesday. ?With him, they?re the favorites.?

Said one West advance scout: ?I definitely would think it?s unanimous in the league that if Lamar goes somewhere else, well at the very least in the West, that it gives you a glimmer of hope that even if Kobe plays great you?re right there with them.?

There is a statistic that provides a true indication of Odom?s value: individual plus-minus. Odom finished the 2008-09 season with a team-best +693 plus-minus ? better than both Bryant (+659) and Gasol (+572). Moreover, the only NBA player with a higher plus-minus than Odom?s was Cleveland?s LeBron James(notes) (+871).

?It?s about being able to pass, dribble and shoot,? a longtime NBA assistant coach said. ?[Odom] can pass, dribble and shoot. You take all three of those things away from a team and it hurts you. You?re taking away a guy that can do all that.?

The NBA is beginning to piece together its 2009-10 schedule and a few marquee matchups are rumored.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that the Cavaliers will host the Celtics on Opening Night, and that the NBA's two most recent MVPs will face off on Christmas.

The league is expected to pit LeBron James and the Cavaliers against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers on Christmas. Last year, Los Angeles battled Boston on the holiday.

Having just signed a contract extension with the Suns, Steve Nash took just a few seconds to look back on the last few years.

"You know what? I enjoy life too much to look back a lot," Nash told the Arizona Republic of his five years with the Suns. "I have too much to look forward to each day, too much left to accomplish and work for. Yeah, it's a shame and it hurts, if I take a minute to stop and think about it. But I don't really have any regrets, and I look forward to continuing to improve and being part of a great environment and a great team."

As positive and forgiving as Nash sounded, he proved that he could be bitter too.

"No one gave us Pau Gasol for nothing," he added.

Nash was referring to a February 2008 trade between the Grizzlies and Lakers. Los Angeles acquired Gasol and a 2010 second round pick from Memphis for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, the rights to Marc Gasol and two future draft picks.

A source with knowledge of the talks believes that an end to Lamar Odom's free agency saga is nearing.

As of Monday, Odom was considering a significantly reduced offer from the Lakers or one of multiple proposals from the Heat.

Miami is reportedly eager to sign Odom, and has offered him as much as a team that is well over the salary cap can: $34 million over five years with an opt-out clause after the fourth season.

One source claims that even though the Lakers have lowered their initial three-year, $27 million offer, Odom would prefer to remain to Los Angeles.

Both Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade have publicly stated how much they'll like to have Odom as a teammate.

Dwyane Wade, who has already made it known that he wants Lamar Odom back in Miami, is again lobbying for the free-agent to sign with the Heat.

On Saturday, Wade used his personal Twitter account to lobby for Odom's services.

"This is for Lamar Odom ... come back to where it started for both of us.. the franchise u help build back up wants u to End it all here," Wade wrote.

Reports out of Miami on Saturday claimed that Odom was leaning towards a deal with Heat.

With that said, Kobe Bryant has said publicly that he believes Odom will return to the Lakers.

Lamar Odom is leaning towards accepting an offer from the Heat, according to Yahoo! Sports.

Odom has not reached a final decision, according to sources, but there is a growing belief that Odom will choose Miami if the Lakers don't increase their latest offer.

"It's close, but it's not done," said one source.

The Heat reportedly have a five-year, $34 million offer on the table for the forward.