Will Ariza Beat Odom in July?

The Lakers' $78 million payroll (5th highest in the league) was justified with a championship, but ye old shoe is fixing to drop in July. For much of the year, the common consensus had L.A. being forced to choose between small forward Trevor Ariza and bench talisman (slash able starter) Lamar Odom. Recently, Phil Jackson told FanHouse's Tim Povtak the team would try to keep both, God Buss willing.

Regardless, there's the matter of what each should get in unrestricted free agency, whether in L.A. or elsewhere. Ariza, of course, is the young tyrant defender with a new-found deep stroke and athleticism up, down and out the wazoo. (Note: I have no idea where on the body the "wazoo" is.) Odom somehow morphed from the embodiment of unactualized potential into a (gasp) crafty veteran with versatility and smooth moves.

Who should get a fatter contract?

The first thought would be to look at current salaries, for better or worse. Odom made $14 million this season. Ariza made $3 million on what was actually his second contract (not his rookie deal, as some have reported). To this point, Odom has been far more valued by the NBA than Ariza, which is understandable. Last year, Orlando thought so little of Ariza it traded him for a package of Brian Cook and Maurice Evans. Odom got traded (along with Caron Butler and picks) for near-peak Shaquille O'Neal. Before this season, there was a vast disparity in how the league saw these two players.

But Ariza became close with the great impenetrable Kobe Bryant, being gifted a shooting bible last summer. Ariza beat out Odom, Luke Walton and Vlad Radmanovic for the starting small forward position on the basis of his incredible defense and easy athleticism. It was Ariza hitting nearly half his threes in the postseason -- with more made playoff threes than any other Laker, even Kobe. That's amazing for a guy who came as a career 25 percent deep shooter. At 23 years old, with a $3 million contract and a roster spot on the championship favorite, Ariza added a great skill. And it paid off in the form of an O'Brien.

Of course, Odom reinvented himself too. Coming into a contract year, Odom embraced his role as the sixth man. His minutes (below 30 per game for the first time ever) and shots (below 10 per game for the first time ever) dropped. Some players, especially proud former "franchise" guys like Odom, don't react well to that. But L.O. became exactly what L.A. needed. It's telling how uneven the Lakers bench became once Andrew Bynum fell in January and Odom assumed the starting power forward role. When Bynum returned in April, Odom held his head high when returning the mention. And he was a true difference-maker in the playoffs -- he earned this trophy as much as Kobe, Pau Gasol and Phil Jackson.

But Odom will turn 30 just after opening day of next season. Ariza turns 24 later this month. There's a perfect solution somewhere in here -- a shorter, lucrative deal for Odom with a long, secure and strong contract for Ariza. But the Lakers must lock up Ariza first. His market is basically the entire NBA, until someone offered something more than $6 million a year. Mitch Kupchak should move quickly to capitalize on the warm feelings for the championship parade to get Ariza for five or six seasons at or slightly above the amount -- $50 million over six years would be fine -- while hoping no team like Memphis or ... Memphis breaks the bank for Odom. (Really, the market for L.O. is pretty limited.) L.O. can't possibly draw $10 million again.

Would he be happy to take a similar number as Ariza ($6-7 million) after giving up his status for the good of the team? You wouldn't think so. I envy Kupchak's position, because damn these players are talented. But I don't envy his decision on Odom. Without L.O., the Lakers bench will regress. But you can't pay too much with so much locked up in Kobe, Gasol and Andrew Bynum.

(We won't even get into Kobe's opt-out and subsequent max contract right now. Another time.)