So after eight long months of wondering, the Lakers answered all questions and are the 2009 NBA Champions.
They're going to take some time to enjoy this, especially guys like Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, who played straight through last year's NBA Finals--then the Olympics--into this year's finals. As a matter of fact, Kobe played more games surrounding an Olympics than any player ever, and will most likely shut down for a few weeks.
But the Lakers could have two big questions to answer in this off season, and those answers won't come easy:
--What will they do if Phil Jackson retires? I think it's unlikely, but there's no question that it's possible. Phil has some health issues that make it impossible to assume he's automatically coming back. If he leaves, deciding who will replace him would be one of the biggest decisions of this decade. The short list would include current assistants Kurt Rambis and Brian Shaw, along with former Laker and current Hornets coach, Byron Scott. My guess? Phil returns for one more season, and then he's done--but it's just a guess.
--If they can only afford to keep one free agent, should it be Lamar Odom or Trevor Ariza? Before the playoffs, I think Odom was kind of an obvious answer. But after seeing Ariza's performance in both the Western Conference Finals against Denver, and the Finals against Orlando, this decision is anything but a slam dunk. Odom is bigger, more versatile, and a better rebounder and scorer. But Ariza is a better defender, a better shooter, and is younger. I would probably keep Odom, but that just me. What I thinking might happen (and I realize this could be wishful thinking) is that both Odom and Ariza will take less money to stay in LA. Any time a player is asked to leave millions on the table, it usually doesn't work out. But both guys say their open to it.
Other questions will arise, but for the most part, the future for the Lakers looks as bright as any team in the NBA. The question most of the reporters at the finals was asking wasn't if the Lakers might win one more title, but how many.