Bulls' GM John Paxson: There will be no Kobe Bryant deal

Bulls general manager John Paxson decided it was time to put the rumors to rest.

He announced Thursday that a Kobe Bryant trade is not going to happen and was never close to happening. The Bulls will compete with their current roster until further notice.

"The reality is, everybody knows we were having talks with the Lakers," Paxson said at the Berto Center. "But there's not a deal done, there's not going to be a deal done.

"I want to focus on trying to get our guys back on track and end all the rumors swirling around. Because there's not a deal that ever was on the verge of being done, was ever close to being done, or is going to be done right now. It's not there. So that's that."

This process began last spring when Bryant told several media outlets he wanted to be traded. The rumors heated up recently when Lakers owner Jerry Buss suggested he would listen to offers for the high-scoring star.

With Bryant's representatives pushing to get him to Chicago, a number of possibilities were discussed. But the Lakers wanted too much in return.

"It's not about not being interested. It's about there's not a deal to be done," Paxson said. "We talked a lot about parameters. We never got down to the nuts and bolts of it because there was never a deal to be done. That's the reality of it."

Paxson shot down recent talk that the sticking point was the Bulls' refusal to include Luol Deng in any deal.

"I've never thought we were at a point where you say anybody's off limits," he said. "A lot of things that were mentioned were not based on any fact whatsoever. That's the unfortunate thing."

Paxson spoke about how complicated it would be to make a deal for Bryant.

• The Bulls would have to match Bryant's $19.5 million salary.

• He has a no-trade clause in his contract and would have to approve any trade.

• He's also entitled to a 15-percent trade kicker if sent to another team, which Bryant has the right to waive.

• The Bulls were also wary of having to pay a hefty luxury tax bill if their payroll soared beyond the $67-million limit.

"The only way I would ever consider a deal is if I could go to (Bulls chairman) Jerry Reinsdorf and say, 'We're a better basketball team from top to bottom.' and on top of that, say to him, 'This is a financially responsible move to make,'" Paxson said. "I know sometimes that doesn't want to be part of a discussion. People think the owner should throw out money like its nothing. But that's not the reality in our business.

"In this case, if you've got to give up so much to get one player, that's something I'm not going to do."

There is no guarantee that Bryant won't return to the Bulls' sights before the February trade deadline. For now, the Lakers seems very reluctant to make a deal.

Paxson doesn't think he needs to address the players about putting an end to trade discussions with the Lakers. He thinks they'll get the message through the media.

"I know as a player, whenever you hear your name in a trade discussion, it can weigh on your mind," Paxson said. "It sure did when I was playing."

The Bulls began the season Wednesday with a 112-103 overtime loss at New Jersey and will open at the United Center on Friday against the Philadelphia 76ers.