LAKERS: BULLS GM SAYS NO DEAL FOR KOBE.

Byline: Elliott Teaford Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO -- Chicago Bulls general manager John Paxson put an emphatic end to weeks of rumors and speculation with one definitive statement Thursday.

He said Kobe Bryant would not be traded from the Lakers to the Bulls anytime soon.

"There's not a deal done," Paxson told reporters in Chicago. "There's not going to be a deal done. All the things that were out there were really unfair to all of us who were trying to do our jobs. The misinformation -- I think gets in the way of the process. It's just such a complicated thing and we kind of put it to rest now."

The rumor mill was cranked up to full speed Wednesday with reports that the Lakers, Bulls and Sacramento Kings had almost completed a three-team trade.

Bryant would have ended up in Chicago in that scenario and the Lakers would have received Ben Wallace from the Bulls and Ron Artest from the Kings.

What's more, a story on ESPN.com suggested the Bulls were willing to include budding superstar Luol Deng in a deal for Bryant. However, Bryant was against such a deal because he did not wish to be dealt to a team gutted by the trade.

Bryant is the only player in the NBA whose contract includes a no-trade clause.

He demanded to be traded during a series of radio appearances in May, voicing his frustrations over the Lakers' first-round playoff ouster.

The Lakers have attempted to grant his wish. The Bulls were the most aggressive suitors, Lakers coach Phil Jackson confirmed earlier this week.

Bryant said Thursday he has kept up with the trade talk if only to keep his teammates abreast of the developments.

"I just have to keep tabs on how my teammates are reacting to it," said Bryant, who has four years and more than $88 million remaining on his Lakers contract but can terminate the deal after the 2008-09 season.

"They are just rumors," he added. "We've been doing a pretty good job of staying focused. I've talked to them. From that standpoint, I don't think it's that difficult. If you didn't speak to them or kind of fill them in, it would get a little confusing."

By keeping Bryant, at least for the time being, the Lakers will hang onto the game's top player. Bryant has led the NBA in scoring the past two seasons and scored 45 points in the Lakers' opening-night loss to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.

Jackson sounded pleased to have learned that Bryant would not be traded to Chicago. Asked where Paxson's announcement left the Lakers, Jackson said, "Maybe having our cake and eating it, too."

Then, referring to Lakers majority owner Jerry Buss, Jackson added, "Dr. Buss reiterated many, many times that we do not want to trade Kobe Bryant, but we'll listen to any (offers) that come our way that would give us equal (value) for him."

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