Since the failed effort to wrench restricted free agent power forward Elton Brand from the Clippers, the Heat still has a fistful of cash to spend.

Tuesday night, the oft-maligned Clippers proved their intent to retain their young core of restricted free agents by matching Utah's six-year, $42-million offer sheet for guard Corey Maggette.

All signs indicate that the Clippers, who have already lost free agent center Michael Olowokandi to the Timberwolves and sharpshooting guard Eric Piatkowski to the Rockets, will do everything in their power to retain restricted free agent forward Lamar Odom.

The Heat has long coveted the left-handed 6-foot-10 star in the making and met with him last week in Miami.

"It's been obvious we have interest in Lamar," Heat General Manager Randy Pfund said last week. "It's an ongoing negotiation, ongoing evaluation and there are some triggers [this week] that probably will bring some more information into the equation."

The Clippers pulled the first trigger -- now it's up to the Heat to figure out how much they want Odom and to make him an offer that owner Donald Sterling will refuse.