Both players are free agents and just auditioned on the biggest stage. Both should command about 10 million/season. If the Lakers could only sign one, which one would you choose?

My pick would be Odom.

I would keep Odom. At 6'11", he can play at small forward or power forward and present matchup problems for anyone. He has a nice outside shot and is an above average passer. When he wants to play, he can be as good as almost anyone.

I would pick Ariza... Odom never lived up to his hype for me.

but I might take Ariza over Odom.  As good as Odom is, he's probably as good as he's going to be.  Ariza is still young, and he'll still improve, not to mention his immediate improvement on his perimeter shooting was pretty impressive.  Besides, he's so darn cute lol.

I really hope they can keep both.  I'm sure they'd want to stay with a winning team than to make so much money only to lose.

I would like the Lakers to keep both, but it ain't going to happen. The Lakers salary for 2009/10 is $74M, well over the salary cap. I expect Ariza to sign in the $5-6M range for 4 to 5 years. Even if Odom takes something substantially less than his current salary of $11M, I just can't see the Lakers willing to pay more in the luxury tax. Now if the Lakers could get rid of Vujacic and Morrison, they might be able to make it work, but who in their right mind would take those two. The Lakers only trade value is possibly Walton, who will make $4.8M next year, but is under contract thru 2013.

Now, do you even contemplate trading Bynum? He is scheduled to make $12M+ next year w/increasing salary thru 2013. The Lakers won with Bynum playing 15 minutes a game at best during the playoffs. The question is will he eventually be one of the top 2 or 3 centers in the league, or just an overpaid injury prone somewhat serviceable back-up.

Ariza!!

That idiot Isiah Thomas and the Knicks should've never traded him away!