Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports: Many around the league still sense Clippers owner Donald T. Sterling doesn't care.

One agent, who has had close dealings with the team, said recently that Sterling not only wouldn't deal forward Lamar Odom before he can pursue free agency in the 2002 offseason, but that the owner is hoping the versatile 22-year old continues to screw up. That way, the well-positioned agent said, Sterling would have a ready-made excuse to lose Odom to free agency.

Odom, if you'll recall, was suspended earlier this season after he admittedly "chose to experiment with marijuana."

Nonetheless, the Heat remains infatuated with Odom -- at one point a few years ago offering power forward P.J. Brown for the draft rights to the forward. Coach Pat Riley would not directly address the Odom issue recently, but there was a certain glow in his eye as he was talking.

In addition, given the opportunity to offer an extension to their former No. 1 overall draft choice, the Clippers instead allowed center Michael Olowokandi to become a free agent this summer. If you haven't noticed, the supposed former draft bust has finally begun to deliver a post presence.

Winderman also has news from around the league in this column.