Clippers still working on trade involving Lamar Odom, Mo Williams

The Clippers and Dallas Mavericks still had ongoing conversations Thursday about a trade involving Lamar Odom and Mo Williams, with the Clippers enlisting the Utah Jazz to possibly help the trade along, said sources who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

If the trade happens, Odom would come back to the Clippers, who drafted him in 1999, and it would send Williams back to the Jazz, who drafted him in 2003.

The Jazz could take on the Williams’ $8.5 million salary and not have to send a player to the Mavericks, which is their preference. Instead, the Jazz would send the trade exception it got from trading Mehmet Okur to the New Jersey Nets last season.

Williams has to let the Clippers know by Saturday if he’s going to pick up the option on his contract, another stumbling block that could delay a possible trade.

The Mavericks, on the other hand, have until Friday to let Odom know if they are going to buy out his $8.2-million contract for $2.4 million.

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