Malone Meets With Buss, Kupchak

Laker owner Jerry Buss and General Manager Mitch Kupchak met Thursday with Karl Malone and reiterated their desire to hire Malone for a front-office position, but did not discuss Malone’s return to the Lakers as a player.

The meeting was arranged by both sides in the wake of a public feud between Malone and Kobe Bryant, who accused Malone of hitting on his wife, Vanessa, at a Nov. 23 game at Staples Center.

The lunchtime meeting in Newport Beach also included Malone’s agent, Dwight Manley.

“We all have a great relationship personally,” Manley said, declining to offer further details. “It was all a lot of respect and very open.”

Malone could not be reached for comment. Kupchak declined to comment.

Laker spokesman John Black said nothing definitive came out of the meeting, but that Malone was pleased with the overall discussion.

“Karl was very happy,” Black said. “His words were that it was a ‘great meeting.’

“The door was left open for him to return at some capacity. Karl showed some interest in that. Him coming back as a player was not even discussed in the meeting. If Karl does decide to come back and play, we would definitely be interested in pursuing that. That remains unchanged.”

Black would not say how much of the Bryant-Malone feud was discussed over lunch.

Malone and Bryant had an acrimonious cellphone conversation after Bryant’s wife felt Malone had acted inappropriately during a game at Staples Center. Malone apologized to Bryant and Malone’s agent later said his client did not make a pass at Vanessa Bryant.

Malone, 41, has recovered from off-season knee surgery and is deciding if he wants to play again. The San Antonio Spurs are the front-runners to sign him if he decides to return for a 20th season.