Of greatest concern to Kupchak appears to be whether Jackson will have the motivation to return after winning his 10th title to surpass Red Auerbach for the most in NBA history. Jackson, 63, has said he intends to honor the three-year contract extension he signed before the 2007-08 season as long as he's healthy, but Kupchak said he "absolutely" could envision his coach deciding to retire on top.

"I don't think he'll do it but it seems to make sense," Kupchak said. "We're going to need some direction. Maybe not tomorrow, but the next couple three weeks. We can't wait until September to get a coach."

Jackson's decision is one of several crucial ones that may determine whether this championship season is remembered as a one-hit wonder or the dawning of another dynasty. Forwards Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza both become unrestricted free agents on July 1 and will seek multi-year contracts, while Kobe Bryant can opt out of the two years and $48 million left on his contract.

While Bryant said this past week that he couldn't envision playing for any other team next season and "it won't be an issue," if he terminates his contract and seeks more money, it could damage LA's chances of keeping both Odom and Ariza. The Lakers already have $74 million committed to eight players for next season, with the luxury-tax threshold expected to drop slightly from this season's $71.1 million level and more sharply in 2010-11.

"This business is a tough business," guard Derek Fisher said. "Because of salary-cap and luxury-tax restrictions, it makes it hard to keep everybody you want to keep at all times. That's the unfortunate part about it, but in terms of my thinking, every player that's in this locker room now needs to be back in this locker room next season."

For Kupchak to keep the Lakers together, it will depend on the willingness of owner Jerry Buss to pay a heavy luxury-tax penalty to re-sign both Odom and Ariza. Kupchak said he last sat down with ownership about two months ago and plans to have another meeting in the next week or two to determine salary parameters for next season and devise an offseason strategy.

Losing either Ariza or Odom could be damaging for a Lakers team that relied heavily on both during the playoffs. Ariza shot 48 percent from three-point range in the playoffs, made two key game-turning steals against Denver and sparked LA's Game 4 comeback victory over Orlando, while Odom overcame a back injury to average the team's third-most points (12) and second-most rebounds (9) coming off the bench.

Although Odom has intimated he'll take less than his current $11.4 million salary to stay with the Lakers , Ariza is expected to seek at least double the $3.1 million he made this season. Both players said they want the chance to remain in LA to defend their championship.

"Of course I want to be a Laker ," Odom said. "I have to do what's best for the family, the organization, for myself, but I hope I end up back here."

Reach Jeff Eisenberg at 951-368-9357 or jeisenberg@PE.com

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Parade on Wednesday

A victory parde in honor of the Lakers will take place Wednesday, beginning at Staples Center, trveling South on Figueroa Street and culminating in front of an expected crowd of 95,000 fans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Double-decker buses carrying players, coaches and team executives will depart from Staples Center at 11 a.m. The Coliseum gates will open at 9:30 a.m. for anyone who wants to watch the parade on giant video screens, while fans can also stand anywhere along Figueroa.

JEFF EISENBERG

* * *

TOP 10 GAMES

1. D-Swish comes through

(June 11, 2009

Derek Fisher's game-tying three in regulation and the go-ahead three in overtime cap a comeback victory over Orlando and propel the Lakers to a 3-1 lead in the Finals.

2. Celebrating title No. 15

(June 14, 2009)

With a 99-86 title-clinching victory over Orlando, the Lakers avenge last year's loss to Boston, Kobe Bryant wins his first Shaq-less championship, and Phil Jackson surpasses Red Auerbach with ring No. 10.

3. Rallying past Denver

(May 27, 2009)

A soaring dunk by Shannon Brown (above) ignites a 21-3 second-half run, rallying the Lakers from a seven-point third-quarter deficit to hold off the Nuggets and take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference finals.

4. Revenge, Part I

(Dec. 25, 2008)

On a festive holiday afternoon at Staples Center, the Lakers give their fans the Christmas gift they had been wanting for since June: a victory over the hated Boston Celtics.

5. Road Warriors

(Feb. 8, 2009)

With flu-ridden Kobe Bryant queasy and glassy-eyed and Andrew Bynum watching at home from LA, the Lakers still experience something no other NBA team had at the time: a victory celebration on Cleveland's home court.

6. Revenge, Part II

(Feb. 5, 2009)

In an arena where they had experienced nothing but heartache the previous year, the Lakers out-scrap and out-muscle the Boston Celtics to complete a season sweep. Lamar Odom has 18 points in the second half and overtime and hits the game-winning free throws.

7. Kobe's 61

(Feb. 2, 2009)

His team in dire need of an emotional lift after learning that Andrew Bynum would miss the next two to three months earlier in the day, Kobe Bryant delivers a Madison Square Garden-record 61 points, serving notice that the injury won't spell the end of LA's title hopes.

8. Fisher's message-sender

(May 6, 2009)

Whether you consider Derek Fisher's hockey-style check of Houston's Luis Scola a sign of toughness or a dirty play, it shows the Lakers are not going to be pushed around in the playoffs the way they were a year ago.

9. Kobe vs. Ron-Ron

(March 11, 2009)

With Lamar Odom suspended, Andrew Bynum injured and the team coming off a blowout loss in Portland, Bryant shreds a trash-talking Ron Artest for 18 fourth-quarter points and leads the Lakers to a 102-96 road win.

10. Bynum's breakout night

(Jan. 21, 2009)

It's rare that a blowout victory over the Clippers would make this list, but Andrew Bynum's career-high 42 points and 15 rebounds spark a stretch of six games in which he averages 26 points and 14 rebounds.

JEFF EISENBERG

* * *

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR THE Lakers

Will Phil Jackson retire? The Lakers' coach has said he intends to fulfill the final year of his contract as long as he's healthy enough to do so, but General Manager Mitch Kupchak fears he may choose to go out on top.

Can the Lakers keep Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza? Both are unrestricted free agents seeking long-term deals. Given that the Lakers already have $74 million committed next year, it seems they'll have to part with one of them.

Will Kobe Bryant opt out? The Lakers star says he'll return next season, but he has the option of terminating his contract on July 1 and seeking more money.

What will the point guard rotation look like? Derek Fisher declined in the final two months of the season, aside from his memorable threes in Orlando, but Jordan Farmar didn't look ready to usurp him. Shannon Brown also is an option, but he's a free agent, too.

How will Andrew Bynum's knee respond? The Lakers are hoping a couple of months' rest will help their young center regain the explosiveness and confidence he lacked after returning from his second straight knee injury.

JEFF EISENBERG

* * *

Lakers ROSTER BREAKDOWN

SIGNED FOR 2009-10 (WITH CONTRACT STATUS)

Kobe Bryant, G, $48 million, two years

Comment: Can opt out of contract but says he can't envision not returning

Andrew Bynum, C, $58 million, four years

Comment: Can he avoid injury next season and validate the contract extension he signed in November?

Jordan Farmar, G, $1.9 million, one year

Comment: Performance and playing time were spotty after return from midseason knee injury

Derek Fisher, G, $5 million, one year

Comment: Two clutch threes against Orlando made up for 28.4 percent three-point shooting the rest of the playoffs

Pau Gasol, F/C, $34 million, two years

Comment: Lakers haven't lost three in a row since he arrived in February 2008

D.J. Mbenga, C, $959,000, one year (non-guaranteed)

Comment: Seldom-used 7-footer could be back to provide defense and depth

Adam Morrison, F, $5.3 million, one year

Comment: Hardly played since coming over in midseason trade

Josh Powell, F/C, $ 900,000, one year (non-guaranteed)

Comment: Did enough to return, but not enough to take Lamar Odom's minutes if the Lakers don't re-sign him

Sasha Vujacic, G, $10.5 million, two years

Comment: Role diminished thanks to Trevor Ariza's emergence and poor shot selection

Luke Walton, F, $21.8 million, four years

Comment: Underrated defender, superb passer, but still must improve his shot

Sun Yue, G, $700,000, one year

Comment: He has one more year to show enough potential to prove he's worth keeping

* * *

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (with 2008-09 salary)

Lamar Odom, F, $11.4 million

Comment: Has said he'd take less than he made this year to stay

Trevor Ariza, F, $3.1 million

Comment: His strong perimeter defense and 48 percent three-point shooting in the playoffs should make him lots of money

Shannon Brown, G, $797,581

Comment: He's interested in returning, and the triangle offense fits him well because he doesn't have to handle the ball

JEFF EISENBERG