Calling Kobe's bluff

I just got done interviewing FC Barcelona's Juan Carlos Navarro, who played in the NBA last season with his best friend Pau Gasol, but returned home to Spain in the offseason for a reported five-year, $15 million euro contract.

Earlier in the day, I'd asked Kobe Bryant what he thought of Navarro's game and he said: ``I think (Navarro) is a great player. I think he'd be great in this kind of system, the way he moves without the basketball, he's a great shooter.''

When told of Bryant's praise, Navarro had a quick laugh.

``I think so too,'' he said. ``If Kobe wants to pay for my buyout (approximately $10 million euro), I'll come.''