COOLER CLIMATE IN L.A. LAKERS, BRYANT TRY TO MOVE ON FROM ROCKY SUMMER.

Byline: ELLIOTT TEAFORD

Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO -- What, you expected another meltdown?

Kobe Bryant took the high road during the Lakers' media day, doing his best to put to rest a tumultuous offseason in which he demanded a trade and shredded team management and 19-year-old center Andrew Bynum.

"I was frustrated," he said Monday when asked about his radio rants last May. "I blew up. I was frustrated. Now it's about taking the team we have to greater heights.

"Priority No. 1 is to bring a title back to L.A. Hopefully, we're all on the same page."

Bryant apologized several months ago for trashing general manager Mitch Kupchak so publicly. He said Monday that he exchanged text messages with Bynum over the summer, apologizing for his harsh comments about him.

Bryant declined to second-guess management's inability to dramatically upgrade the team, saying he was glad to see that point guard Derek Fisher and center Chris Mihm had re-signed with the Lakers.

"I'm a soldier, man," Bryant said. "It's not a soldier's job to question whether he should fight. It's not my place. We've just got to go out there and play. I'm ready to go. Practice starts (today in Honolulu). I'm going to demand a lot from them and I'm going to demand a lot from myself, and we're going to roll. We're going to be ready."

Bryant arrived late, missing a short get-together his teammates and coaches had before they entered the gym at 10 a.m. sharp.

Bryant arrived at 10:34 a.m., with a pair of outside public relations handlers.

One of them broke up Bryant's session with reporters after roughly eight minutes, saying, "OK, that's a wrap."

Before he joined his teammates for the 51/2-hour flight to Hawaii, Bryant did his best to deflect the tough questions about his summer of unease. He said he was glad his recent discussions about the team with team executives stayed behind closed doors.

Bryant also said he was pleased by the effort the team made in pursuing trades to acquire either Kevin Garnett, who was traded to the Boston Celtics by the Minnesota Timberwolves, or Jermaine O'Neal, who stayed with the Indiana Pacers.

The Lakers simply did not wish to give up Bynum and Lamar Odom in order to swing a deal for Garnett or O'Neal.

"I know they tried," Bryant said. "It wasn't for a lack of effort (that the deals weren't completed). It means a lot because I know they tried. It just didn't happen."

Earlier, well before Bryant made his entrance, Bynum said he understood the superstar guard's frustration. Bryant's harsh words didn't upset him too much.

"The only thing it did was make me work harder and put my nose to the grindstone," Bynum said. "I think everything's cool between us."

Moments later, forward Luke Walton did his best to forecast what the next few days and weeks will be like for the Lakers. He didn't seem too concerned that a rift had developed between Bryant and the rest of the team.

"I'm 99 percent positive that by the end of training camp, nobody, at least on our team, is going to be talking about this," said Walton, who signed a six-season, $30-millon contract during the offseason. "We're going to be a team. We're going to get some wins and that's going to be the end of it."

Only 99 percent sure?

"Well, you never know," Walton said, breaking into a wide smile. "This is L.A."

Injury updates: Bynum underwent an MRI exam that revealed he has a strained muscle behind his right knee. He probably won't practice for the next few days, team spokesman John Black said. -- Odom (left shoulder surgery) is not expected to play in either exhibition against the Golden State Warriors in Honolulu, but he said he hopes to be ready for opening night Oct. 30 against the Houston Rockets.

Patterson signs: The Lakers filled out their 18-man training camp roster by signing free-agent forward Andre Patterson, who played for their summer league team. He also played last season for the D-Fenders of the NBDL and averaged 10.5 points and 7.2 rebounds.

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Kobe Bryant addresses the media horde during the Lakers' media day at their training facility in El Segundo. Bryant said, "Priority No. 1 is to bring a title back to L.A."

(2) Kobe Bryant, right, with offseason acquisition Derek Fisher, left, and coach Phil Jackson, says he knows the team tried to make a trade this summer.

David Crane/Staff Photographer