LAKERS NOTEBOOK: RUSSELL PLAYING FOR KEEPS.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - He arrived as almost an afterthought, but in two months Bryon Russell has pushed himself so deep into the Lakers' consciousness that his long limbs and easy grin now seem like oddly familiar, essential team traits, as if they always had been there.

He's the one with the quick hands, slapping the ball away from a slow- to-react opponent for a turnover. Coming off the bench and knocking down timely 3-pointers the way Brian Shaw once did. Sneaking behind broadcasters Stu Lantz and Paul Sunderland and mugging at the camera during the pregame show.

It's become nearly impossible to envision the Lakers without Russell, and that's a good sign for the 11-year veteran because his future with them will be decided shortly.

All player contracts become fully guaranteed Jan. 10, meaning the Lakers will have tough decisions to make. Four players have nonguaranteed deals: Russell, Horace Grant, Jannero Pargo and Jamal Sampson.

Of that group, Grant is a lock to stay because the Lakers need his size and experience. Sampson is a long-term project, an investment in the future. But Pargo and Russell both play at well-stocked positions.

Russell, however, has made it nearly impossible for the Lakers to cut him, even with Rick Fox returning in the next two weeks. Russell's numbers are modest (5.2 points, 2.7 rebounds a game), but he ranks 10th in the league in 3-point shooting (.429) and his lively defense is invaluable.

Playing without a guaranteed contract for the first time in his career - a deal he signed just before training camp opened - Russell has thrived.

``It was good to bring myself back to reality,'' he said. ``I could have went for the guaranteed money. But I wanted to come in and make myself hungry again. The need to be hungry is making me play well.''

Fox's return will create a three-way logjam at small forward, and none of the three - Fox, Russell or Devean George - is likely to see much time at guard. But the sense around Lakers headquarters is that Russell has earned a permanent job.

``We'll see when Jan. 10 comes. There's no guarantees, right?'' Russell said with a laugh. ``I'm just going to keep on doing what I do.''

The Lakers won't make any decisions final, or public, until the deadline. They haven't carried a full 15-player complement since the 2000-01 season, before the NBA imposed its luxury tax. Since then, owner Jerry Buss has sought to minimize payroll by carrying fewer players.

``I think (keeping 15 players) is a possibility,'' general manager Mitch Kupchak said, ``but I wouldn't bet on it.''

--Mail call: Karl Malone continues to make steady but slow progress in recovering from a sprained right knee. His status for Friday's game at Seattle remains doubtful.

``He says he's pain-free,'' coach Phil Jackson said. ``He was moving up and down the court in preliminary drills. He's still a ways away. We're not anticipating that Friday's going to be a game he'll be back, but we'd like to have him out on the court (today), see what he can do, practicewise.''

Although Malone is able to run, Jackson said the forward feels ``a little bit of instability'' in his lateral movement. Malone probably will be re- evaluated by team doctors Thursday before Jackson decides whether to bring him on that afternoon's flight to Seattle.

Howard Beck, [phone]

howard.beck(at)dailynews.com