Clippers still interested in Lamar Odom

The Clippers remain interested in free-agent forward Lamar Odom and are continuing to monitor his progress.

Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said he plans on staying in touch with Odom.

The plan is for Odom to visit the team’s practice facility sometime this week, according to NBA officials who weren’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter. The visit would be Odom’s second to the practice facility this month.

According to one executive, Odom still wants to play for the Clippers.

“I’m going to keep talking to him,” Rivers said before practice Tuesday. “I don’t know what our plans are yet. I like Lamar. I want him to be in the NBA. And if things go right, here.

“Having said that, I just want him to do well at the end. Obviously if he does well, we’d like for it to be for us. But let’s say he doesn’t come here, and he does well in the NBA, I’d be just as happy, honestly. I look at a guy, and I think he’s a good guy, and he needs another shot.”

Odom is back in Los Angeles working out, said one executive. He had been working out in Rhode Island last week in an attempt to return to the NBA.

If the Clippers do sign Odom, he’ll get a one-year deal for about $883,000.

Rivers said his personal interest in Odom is because “I’ve always liked him.”

Rivers said he knows that coaches like former Lakers Coach Phil Jackson and former Clippers
Coach Vinny Del Negro both liked Odom.

“They loved him in the locker room, and they loved him on their team,” Rivers said. “And that tells me something about the guy. I don’t know Lamar really, but that does say a lot about him.”

ALSO:

Clippers Coach Doc Rivers is OK with starters’ minutes

Upset is a bolt from the blue for Philip Rivers, Chargers

Patriots rally from big deficit to beat Broncos, 34-31, in overtime

broderick.turner@latimes.com

Twitter: @BA_Turner