SEGUNDO, Calif. – The Los Angeles Lakers plan to decide soon whether Phil Jackson will be their coach next season, perhaps as early as Friday.

“The No. 1 priority for us right now is to resolve the coaching situation,” general manager Mitch Kupchak said Thursday. “We would hope to have that addressed in a short period of time.”

Speaking less than 48 hours after the Lakers were beaten by the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals, Kupchak also said the team will do whatever it takes to keep Kobe Bryant, and trading Shaquille O’Neal is a possibility if the star center demands it.

Kupchak said he spoke with Jackson on Thursday, but only about the current season – not about the coach’s future. The GM said he will meet with Jackson “at some point in time, within the next several days.”

Jackson’s agent, Todd Musberger, said it was his understanding that Jackson and Lakers owner Jerry Buss will try to meet Friday. Musberger said he didn’t know any other details about the meeting.

The 58-year-old Jackson is finishing the five-year, $30 million contract he signed with the Lakers in 1999. He coached the team to championships in his first three seasons, giving him nine to tie former Boston coach Red Auerbach for the most in NBA history.

“Phil has never said that he has no interest in coming back,” Jackson’s agent, Todd Musberger, said from his Chicago office.

Jackson said following the Lakers’ loss Tuesday night that there was “a pretty slim chance” he’ll coach the team next season.

Several other changes are expected before next season. Only five of the 14 players on the current roster – O’Neal, Devean George, Rick Fox, Kareem Rush and Brian Cook – are under contract. The Lakers have club options on Luke Walton and Jamal Sampson.

Karl Malone, Horace Grant, Slava Medvedenko and Bryon Russell are free agents, with Malone becoming one Wednesday when he opted out of the contract that would have paid him $1.65 million.

Bryant, Gary Payton and Derek Fisher can also opt out of their contracts, making them free agents.

Bryant has said he’ll opt out, and Kupchak said that makes the best business sense since the Lakers could then sign him for seven years for over $140 million. That’s one year longer than any other team could sign him and for substantially more money.

“I think we’re going to keep Kobe,” Kupchak said. “Part of that is based on conversations I’ve had with him. I’ve talked to his representatives. I think this is the place where he started his career and this is the place where he should end his career. I don’t think any other city appreciates him as much as this one does.”

O’Neal said following the finals that he was going to “take care of me,” and didn’t elaborate.

O’Neal has made clear his desire for a contract extension, which hasn’t happened. He has two seasons left on his contract – for $27.7 million next year and $30.6 million the following year. He can opt out after next season.

About possibly trading O’Neal, Kupchak said: “He has a lot to do with that as well. That would not be a good day in this club’s history. We do plan to talk to him. Players do have that option (to demand a trade). We’ll see what happens.”