Bryant Craves Swingman Role

Kobe Bryant spent the final 15 minutes of Wednesday’s practice playing one-on-one with Laker rookie Mark Madsen, talking, hooting, laughing.

And scoring. Of course, scoring.

But Bryant got some too from the game and bullish Madsen, who hit some outside shots and talked some himself before lowering his shoulder and going inside for a final few possessions.

The 6-foot-7 Bryant appears destined for another season hounding the smaller, quick guards on the perimeter and grinding with the powerful, hind-heavy forwards in the post.

Bryant is a victim of his own versatility, the qualities that also make him exceedingly difficult to defend, whether he’s on the wing or on top, initiating the offense.

Bryant, who turned 22 in August, would love to play on the wing, as Michael Jordan once did in the same triple-post offense, and then defend against the guards.

“The key to playing on the backside of an offense is you get to attack in a stealth-like manner,” he said. “Last year I was always in front of the defense, attacking head-on. Playing on the wing I’m able to attack them from behind, kind of roam around behind their sights.

“That’s one of the main reasons they brought J.R. [Rider] in here, to give me the freedom to roam to the wing. I’ll definitely play a lot more [small forward] than I did last year.”

Bryant’s independence, however, may have to wait until the Lakers aren’t so thin at guard. Ron Harper is practicing about half the time because of his creaky knees, Derek Fisher is on crutches and Brian Shaw isn’t in camp, though that might soon change.

“Not yet,” Phil Jackson said of Bryant’s transition to the wing. “With Harper limited in the amount of time he can play right now--we’re going to need Kobe in the exhibition season at least to play that guard position.”

A more permanent change could come early in the regular season.

“I hope so,” Jackson said. “That’s my wish.”

Notes

The Lakers appeared closer than ever to agreeing on a contract with Shaw on Wednesday night, and he could be in camp in the next couple of days. Bryant admitted he was beginning to become concerned that negotiations would end badly for the well-liked Shaw. “A little bit, but it’s still early,” he said. “I know Phil wants him back and I know management wants him back. I’m sure he wants to be back. I think he’s just waiting to the end of training camp. He won’t have to run as much.” . . . The Lakers signed guard Shawn Respert, adding again to a pool of small guards who might replace injured Derek Fisher. Respert, who is 6 feet 2, averaged 18.5 points last season for Italy’s Olimpia Milano, the professional team Bryant owns. Respert suspected that Bryant or Magic Johnson, the Laker vice president who also attended Michigan State, put in a word with General Manager Mitch Kupchak. “I was sitting around at home just waiting it out,” Respert said. “I didn’t want to go back to Europe.” Respert noted that Jackson has employed small shooting guards in the past. The Lakers already have Tyronn Lue and Mike Penberthy in camp and Shaw apparently on his way. “The numbers don’t look good for him, to be honest,” Jackson said of Respert. “But there’s no way we can say yea or nay on something like that because you can have so many injuries.”