Kobe recruiting Bell?

The Lakers still have one open guard spot, so it makes sense they would seek a veteran with the experience of Raja Bell. Here are the top few lines from a story posted on ESPN.com: "The seemingly hard-to-picture prospect of Kobe Bryant and old nemesis Raja Bell playing for the same team remains alive. The longtime rivals will sit down for a face-to-face chat Wednesday in Los Angeles to further discuss the feasibility of the Lakers signing Bell in free agency, sources close to the situation said. Bell is traveling to Los Angeles this week to watch the ESPYs and has arranged to meet with Bryant to hear the Lakers' face of the franchise make yet another recruiting pitch to the 33-year-old swingman."

The story goes on to recount Bryant's feud with Bell during the 2006 playoffs, when Bell clobbered Bryant on a drive to the basket. Bryant and the Lakers squandered a 3-1 series lead to Bell and the Suns. The report also indicates Bryant has phoned Bell several times. Bell could serve as a replacement for free agent Shannon Brown.

If he signs, Bell would join Bryant, Derek Fisher, Steve Blake and Sasha Vujacic in a backcourt that would be far more experienced than the one that helped the Lakers win the last two NBA championships, a scary prospect for league rivals.