with Miami

W ell, you're welcome, Paul Millsap.

Because the Trail Blazers just made you a rich man. And you, too, Hedo Turkoglu. And so, who's next? Remember to tip your bartend --um, just send the tip to One Center Court.

Because it's on to Plan C for the Trail Blazers . Or Plan D. Or nevermind, because we've officially arrived at another "What now?" moment for the organization that is busy making dreams come true.

Kidding, sort of.

Utah matched Portland's ambitious $32 million offer sheet for forward Millsap on Thursday, and the temptation today is going to be to fret, and wring your hands, and wonder how far behind the Blazers will fall. But you should not.

As they were preparing the Millsap offer, which included paying Millsap $10.3 million in the first week of his contract, Portland general manager Kevin Pritchard said, "We're not just looking for a fit here anymore, it's a special fit."

Which brings us to free agent Lamar Odom.

He's tough. He's versatile. He's a winner. And he fits Portland's lineup perfectly, which is why owner Paul Allen should green light the move today to make him the next Trail Blazer .

If there's a bonus to losing Millsap a week after making him that explosive offer, it's that the Jazz didn't drag this waiting period out any longer than it needed to go. Early Thursday the Jazz asked for a one-day extension from the NBA to match Millsap's offer. But by the close of business, the team announced it had searched between the seat cushions and come up with enough cash to match the Blazers' offer.

While the Blazers were fitting Millsap for his new uniform and picking him out a locker, Odom's negotiations with the Lakers broke down. And that ends up as close to good fate as we've seen around here in a summer that feels so dismal that when draft pick Patrick Mills broke his foot people said, "Figures."

The Lakers offered Odom a three-year, $27 million contract. It's not enough. Odom wants more years, and Portland can offer just that. Which is why Pritchard should stop reading this column and pick up the telephone now to close a deal with Camp Odom.

I know there's friction on the court between LaMarcus Aldridge and Odom. But this is show business, not show friends. If Kobe Bryant and Ron Artest can find love in the name of winning, so can Aldridge and Odom.

Miami is already talking with Odom. And there's always the threat of Odom shunning the Blazers for Miami or, eek, a return to Los Angeles for less money. But Portland shouldn't be afraid of being rejected in favor of those cities, lest it let fear run the franchise. If you do that, you're already beaten.

Blazers fans might cringe at the thought of a former Laker in a Blazers uniform. But what they should consider is how badly it would hurt the Lakers to lose a player of Odom's caliber. The Lakers would never have won the NBA championship without him, and they know it.

There's been a lot of spin control going on with the Blazers this summer. It's been painful to watch, and at one point during a few days of negotiations with Brandon Roy's camp, Pritchard sounded defeated and down. But sometimes fate smiles on you in the strangest of ways.

Losing Turkoglu hurt, but it could end up being a blessing. So could losing Millsap, who was going to be overpaid as a backup.

You want toxic?

Spend today fretting over the loss of another player and the disappointment of the summer instead of getting about chasing down a player who I think is better than either Turkoglu and Millsap.

That would be Odom.

Here's hoping he's in your Blazers starting lineup next season.

John Canzano: 503-294-5065;

JohnCanzano@aol.com

Read his blog at

oregonlive.com/canzano.

Catch him on the radio on

The Bald-Faced Truth, 3-6 p.m.

weekdays on KXTG (95.5).