As season nears end, L.A. faces dilemma with Ariza, Odom

On a macro level, Sunday's Game 5 (8 p.m. ET, ABC) might be the last game of the 2008-09 season and also the last Finals game of the decade, but having a micro focus offers a more intriguing thought:

Is this going to be the last game in a Lakers uniform for Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza?

The forwards, who have both spent time as the starting small forward and the sixth man this year, are free agents when the season is over.

Their impact during the Playoffs, in terms of statistics, has been almost dead even. Ariza is averaging 11.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals and shooting 50.3 percent from the field and 48.1 percent from three. Odom's postseason line reads 12.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.4 blocks and percentages of 53.1 overall and 46.9 from deep.

From a camaraderie standpoint, both are equally important as well. Ariza might be Kobe Bryant's closest teammate as he's endeared himself to the star with his work ethic and competitive drive. Ariza adopted Bryant's workout routine last summer and the two play one-on-one during pregame warm-ups. Odom has endeared himself to everybody else as he's easily the most popular player in the Lakers' locker room and the team circles around him and listens to him scream to get fired up before pregame player introductions.

Should Los Angeles close out Orlando, both players will get their own chapters on the Lakers' commemorative championship DVD. Ariza's portion will include his 21 points in L.A.'s first playoff game against Utah and weave a narrative all the way through his game-clinching steals in Games 1 and 3 of the Western Conference finals against Denver. Then it will detail his 13 points in the third quarter of Game 4 of The Finals that helped totally erase Orlando's 12-point halftime lead.

Odom's chapter will undoubtedly spend too much time referencing the candy-eating habits of the 6-foot-10 forward, but should highlight his dominance against Utah when he started in place of Andrew Bynum. It should also show his fortitude against Houston when he ravaged his back after falling to the floor in Game 4 but never missed a game in the series; his 19.5 points and 11.5 rebounds averages in Games 5 and 6 of the West finals to finish off the Nuggets, and his 8-for-9 shooting night in the Lakers' overtime win in Game 2 of The Finals.

For as similar as the players are, there are two major areas where they differ: age and price tag. Odom turns 30 in November and already has logged 10 NBA seasons on those long legs of his. Ariza is in his fifth year in the league and turns 24 at the end of the month.

"There's no way the Lakers don't sign Ariza," said one Western Conference executive. "Youth, defense, improved shooting ... his game is still ahead of him. Lamar is what he is."

What Lamar is, is overpaid when you compare his $11.4 million salary this past season to Ariza's $2.9 million.

The Lakers already have $74 million in salary committed next season, with a penalty looming with the luxury tax speculated to be in the $70 million range. Even to re-sign Odom and Ariza for the same amount of money both players are making this season would put the team way over the luxury tax threshold.

Both players have stated their intentions to stay in L.A. Odom said it would take an "offer he can't refuse" to leave the Purple and Gold. Ariza, who played high school ball at Westchester right outside of Tinseltown, said "we have an opportunity to be a really good team for a long time ... To be able to stay in L.A. would be a good thing. I would love it."

Ariza is in for a raise no matter where he signs. Odom is in store for a pay cut. If they both re-sign with the Lakers, Ariza's contract will determine just how much of a hometown discount Odom will have to agree upon to keep the team in tact.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson said that the Lakers won't necessarily have to play King Solomon and choose between the two.

"I don't know if that's actually what's going to happen," Jacksons said. "I mean, that's not written in stone, that we have to make a decision between those two players. I don't think that's a case at all. This is just part of the NBA, what level the NBA has brought to the game at this point ... you have decisions to make in the free agent life."

When Odom came to Los Angeles in 2004 as a part of the Shaquille O'Neal trade, L.A. fans were tough on him, remembering his days on the Clippers underutilizing his special five-tool talents that Pat Riley said made him the first player to come into the league with the ability to play like Magic Johnson since Magic Johnson.

When Ariza became a Laker last November as a part of the Brian Cook and Maurice Evans trade, L.A. fans thought they were getting an upgrade because one bench scrub is better than two, remembering him leaving UCLA after just one season and falling to the No. 43 pick in the draft by New York.

They've quieted the doubters this season. Fans are OK with Odom tantalizing them with his tremendous talent after he wrapped up his back and played through the pain against Houston. There is patience imparted for Ariza to add some muscle and develop his ball handling and midrange game because of the vast improvements he made from beyond the arc -- he had zero 3-pointers in 89 games with Orlando, he has 38 threes in 22 games during these Playoffs alone.

"Trevor is a player that we thought was a developing player as we got him," Jackson said. "The big key with Trevor is you have to learn how to shoot the shot, and this year he's learned how to shoot the shot to go along with his drive, his slash game. And here he is in a position that every player envies, having an opportunity to perform on a championship team and be in a free agency situation behind it."

If the Lakers can keep both of these guys it will be time to shift back to a macro-level focus. Thinking about the three or four rings this Lakers team can win in the future if it stays together is much more intriguing than the one it can secure this June.

NBA.com's Dave McMenamin will be covering the Lakers throughout The NBA Finals. If you have a question or comment for him, send him an e-mail. You can also follow him on Twitter.