Coach Phil Jackson has decided to sign a contract extension that keeps him with the Lakers for two more seasons.

Jackson met Wednesday with Jerry Buss and informed the Lakers' owner of his decision.

Jackson, 62, will get a modest raise from the three-year, $30-million contract he signed in June 2005, which was the richest per-annum coaching deal in U.S. pro sports history. Jackson is expected to make $11 million or $12 million a season in his new deal.

"Everyone connected with Phil is pleased with his decision, something that only he could make after considering all aspects of what it means to be a head coach," said Jackson's agent Todd Musburger. "Obviously, he's up for it. There is a spring in his step."

The Los Angeles Lakers have assigned guard Coby Karl to the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

Karl was signed by the Lakers as a free agent on July 30, 2007. He has appeared in two games this season, averaging 1.0 points and 1.0 assists in 2.0 minutes.

The 6?5? guard from Boise State averaged 14.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a senior and was named First Team All-WAC. Karl?s 1,698 career points ranks third on Boise State?s all-time scoring list while leaving Boise State as the all-time leader in games played (127) and three-pointers made (266).

As expected, Martin, with a bruised bone in his right knee, did not play against the Pacers,  but Coach George Karl said, "We're very hopeful" that Martin will play in Denver's next game which is  Thursday at the Los Angeles Lakers.

Martin, who is returning this season from right knee surgery, bruised his knee Saturday in Houston.

After several seasons playing with a gaping hole at point guard, Phil Jackson and the Lakers now have veteran Derek Fisher and surging second-year player Jordan Farmar.

Jackson, however, insisted on talking about rookie Javaris Crittenton, who has had very little playing time.

"Even though I'm sheltering this young man, he's going to be a player," Jackson said." We know that. He's got a future with this club."

Lakers' Coach Phil Jackson has been mentioned in some circles as a possible fix for the Knicks when or if there is a shakeup at the Garden. Though you never say never, the smart money has Jackson staying with the Lakers.

Earlier this week, Jackson, with a 2-year, $20-million extension waiting, said he hadn't thought about his future. Last night Jackson admitted he has given it some consideration and plans to talk with Lakers' owner Jerry Buss.

"I have thought about it, but I'm not willing to state what my position is. I think I should sit down and talk to Dr. Buss about it," said Jackson, who claimed his hip replacement last year would not interfere.

Kevin Garnett had 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead the new Big Three in its first game against the rival Lakers, and Paul Pierce added 20 points and nine assists to help the Celtics beat Los Angeles 107-94 on Friday night.

Kobe Bryant scored 28 points for Los Angeles, which got no help from having California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sitting courtside. Instead, the Celtics fired up the crowd for the renewal of the rivalry by putting a muscle-bound clip of Schwarzenegger's movie "Predator" on the scoreboard.

Phil Jackson and the Los Angeles Lakers are in town tonight to meet the Milwaukee Bucks, and the veteran coach has his team riding high with a 7-3 record.

The pre-game conversation touched on a few subjects, including Lakers' center Andrew Bynum, Bucks' rookie Yi Jianlian and a former Lakers' center known as Shaquille O'Neal.

A reporter asked Jackson what he thought of Miami Heat Coach Pat Riley benching Shaq less than a minute into a game with the New Jersey Nets on Saturday, after O'Neal blew a pick-and-roll coverage.

"Wasn't it a back-to-back, with Boston and New Jersey?" Jackson asked. "He didn't even let the big guy get warmed up, huh?"

"I think it's sending a message. It probably helped the team all the way around."

Jackson said he never did anything similar with O'Neal when the big man was playing in Los Angeles.

"No, I confronted Shaq a few times," Jackson said. "He was a guy that didn't like to be embarrassed. The biggest thing I probably ever did was stop him when he was coming off the court one time and ask him what he thought was the greatest record that Wilt (Chamberlain) had."

The Lakers gained some roster flexibility in Tuesday's two for one trade, which saw Trevor Ariza join the organization in place of Brian Cook and Mo Evans, who both head to Orlando.

According to the L.A. Times, immediate speculation had the Lakers filling the extra roster spot with unsigned free agent Chris Webber, although a Lakers' official quickly downplayed such a scenario unless another post player went down for an extended period of time. (Kwame Brown is out indefinitely because of a sprained left knee.)

Webber, 34, averaged 11.2 points and 7.2 rebounds in 61 games last season for Philadelphia and Detroit.

Trevor Ariza was sitting in an NBA locker room and wearing a Lakers' jersey, right where he hoped he would always end up.

"I think everybody from L.A. was a Lakers' fan growing up," the newest member of the Lakers said. "I think I liked Eddie Jones a lot. I think they had just drafted Kobe [Bryant] and had Shaq [O'Neal] and all those guys."

Ariza helped lead L.A. Westchester High to two state championships and then played a year at UCLA before making himself available for the NBA draft. He became the youngest player ever for the New York Knicks and, four seasons later, found himself a member of his hometown team.

"I'm super excited to be back home with my family, to be around a great organization, get a new start, get a chance to start over," Ariza said.

The Lakers, who acquired Ariza from the Orlando Magic for Brian Cook and Mo Evans on Tuesday, are hoping Ariza can play strong defense at small forward and fill the lanes in transition on offense.

Ariza, who will wear jersey No. 3, passed a physical but did not play Wednesday against Milwaukee because he arrived after the Lakers' morning shoot-around.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was honored in a halftime ceremony by the Bucks tonight, as the team re-dedicated his No. 33 jersey and hung a new banner from the rafters.

The Hall of Famer and former Bucks' center thanked the Bradley Center crowd as the Bucks saluted his six years with the team, from 1969-'75, which included an NBA title in 1971 and a trip to the Western Conference finals in 1974. Abdul-Jabbar won three league MVP trophies while with the Bucks and three more with the Los Angeles Lakers, the Bucks' opponent on Wednesday.

"I've been here since Monday, and seeing old friends and teammates has been a wonderful experience for me," the 60-year-old Abdul-Jabbar said.

"When I first came to Milwaukee, I didn't know what to expect and I had no idea what the fans were all about."

Abdul-Jabbar said he still can recall a road playoff victory over Philadelphia and finding 200 to 300 fans at the airport when the Bucks returned home.

"Their support never faltered the whole time I played here," Abdul-Jabbar said.