The Lakers’ Kobe Bryant. (John McCoy/Los Angeles Daily News file)
SANTA BARBARA — A frenetic atmosphere engulfed Kobe Bryant as he greeted eager campers, watched an Argentina-Holland World Cup match decided by penalty kicks and, of course, addressed an uncertain offseason.
Bryant stayed cool through it all, oozing a persona that had contradicted his on-court snarl and mirrored his confidence amid adversity.
What if the Lakers’ grand experiment in pursuing both LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony fail to work?
“It would be fine,” Bryant said Wednesday at his eighth annual basketball camp at UC Santa Barbara. “It would be more than fine.”
Instead, Bryant lauded the Lakers for being “extremely aggressive” ever since free agency began. The Lakers became one of five teams along with the Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks to host Carmelo Anthony for a sales pitch meeting. The Lakers’ 2 1/2 meeting with Anthony featured a dose of heavy hitters in executives Jim and Jeanie Buss, general manager Mitch Kupchak, vice president of business operations Tim Harris and executives to AEG and Time Warner Cable SportsNet that detailed both their rebuilding plan and marketing opportunities. While Bryant met with Anthony afterwards, Kupchak and Harris reportedly flew to Cleveland to meet with James’ agent, Rich Paul, for the following day.
“They’re going for it,” Bryant said. “There are no if’s, and’s or buts about it. They’re being extremely aggressive. They have solid concepts and plans to get it done and are putting out all the stopts to make sure we can put a contender on the floor next year. That’s all you can ask for.”
The Lakers usually have the upper hand in such circumstances with 16 NBA championships, Los Angeles’ warm climate and the city’s proximity to Hollywood and beaches. But the Lakers are coming off their worst season in L.A. franchise history. They have no head coach. And only Bryant, Steve Nash, Robert Sacre and rookie forward Julius Randle have guaranteed contracts. It does not help that a more secure paycheck awaits for Anthony and James if they resign with their respective teams.
“Some players would be leaving some financial stability on the table,” Bryant said. “But that being said, you can only speak to the strengths that you have as an organization. The strengths we have is the flexibility, the market and a proven track record. That’s what you stick to.”
How was Bryant’s message received?
“Very receptive. I think as players nowadays understand we have to look at every option,” Bryant said. “If you’re a free agent, that’s what you want to do. You want to sit and look at everything and give serious consideration and weed them out from there.”
With that, Bryant expressed a vote of confidence in Jim and Jeanie Buss a mere four months after publicly challenging them to improve their relationship. The two have experienced tension when the Lakers passed up on Knicks president Phil Jackson last season in favor of Mike D’Antoni, who resigned in late April. Jim and Jeanie have also faced an adjustment period sine the passing of their father, the Lakers’ late owner Jerry Buss, who oversaw 10 NBA championships after purchasing the club in 1979. Currently, Bryant described Jim and Jeanie Buss as “on the same page and ready to go.”
Bryant said he “would love to play” with Anthony, arguing their friendship and chemistry with two U.S. Olympic teams could enable to volume-scoring players to adjust their game. Bryant also believes Anthony’s arrival would lead the Lakers toward keeping Pau Gasol, who has also weighed options with Oklahoma City, Miami, San Antonio, Chicago, New York and Golden State.
“It’ll help his decision a lot more,” Bryant said. “It’s tough for Pau. Pau is extremely loyal and it’s a very tough postion to be in to be a free agent never being n this position before. My biggest message to him was to make sure you enjoy the process. Don’t stress yourself out. The ball is in your court and your decision to make.”
But what if these high caliber free agents decide against playing for the Lakers?
“If God forbid we end with absolutely nothing, it’s not for a lack of effort,” Bryant said. “That’s something I would be extremely proud of. We put forth the effort and gave it your best shot.”
Anthony’s absence would represent a large pebble producing a ripple effect in the Lakers’ offseason plans. The Lakers would unlikely keep Gasol, who has said he wants to play for a championship contender. The Lakers would seem more likely to keep Steve Nash, whose $9.7 million contract expires after this season. The Lakers would zero in on second-tier free agents, including Sacramento’s Isiah Thomas and Washington’s Trevor Ariza. But the Lakers would likely offer no more than one to two-year deals, mindful of maintaining their purchasing power for Kevin Love in 2015 and Kevin Durant in 2016.
“Plan B is a solid plan,” Bryant said. “You just have to play the waiting game a little bit and see how things shake things out.”
Some of that would entail relying on Randle, whom Bryant gushed about his “tenacity and competitive spirit.”
“He has the tools,” Bryant said of Randle, whom was selected seventh overall. “He can handle the ball and make plays with the ball and shoot the ball. Now it’s on us to make sure he fully develops to reach his full potential.”
Bryant also largely approved of the Lakers hiring their expected coaching candidate, Byron Scott. In addition to three coaching stints with the New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets and Cleveland Cavaliers, Scott won three NBA championships with the Lakers during the Showtime Era and served as a mentor to Bryant during his rookie year during the 1996-97 season.
“We’ve had a tremendously close relationship throughout the years,” Bryant said. “Obviously I know him extremely well. He knows me extremely well. I’ve always been a fan of his.”
Amid all this uncertainty, Bryant provided assurances on one significant variable. His health. After missing the past six games because of overlapping injuries with his left Achilles tendon and left knee, Bryant reported fully healthy and optimistic for next season. He also reported weighing at 218 pounds, which he says is the weight he usually plays with mid-season.
“I’ll lean down some more, but physically I feel great,” Bryant said. “I don’t think about the knee at all when I train. I don’t think about the Achilles at all when I train. I feel sharp, crisp. Now it’s just time to add on from there.”
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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com