No Deals Made at Trade Deadline

The trading deadline came and went, the 13 Lakers remained Lakers, and management was still hoping Horace Grant might be talked out of his Orlando living room and onto the Laker bench.

The final hours did not go uneventfully for General Manager Mitch Kupchak, who was drawn into serious negotiations for Milwaukee Buck point guard Sam Cassell, made expendable Thursday when the Bucks acquired Gary Payton.

The player the Bucks requested was presumed to be Robert Horry, whose salary ($5.3 million) is near Cassell’s ($4.85 million.) Both can be unrestricted free agents after the season, though the Lakers hold an option for Horry.

Kupchak said he had been “pretty active” recently, but the restrictions of the salary cap and looming luxury tax complicated the process. He added it was unlikely the Lakers would add a player anytime soon.

Coach Phil Jackson had hoped for bench help, in particular.

“We had some aggressive looks, but we weren’t going to sacrifice some of the people we need to win,” Jackson said. “I’m not disappointed, because I believe in these guys.... We know we can use help. That doesn’t matter if it was this year, last year or the year before. Any team needs more strength at different positions. We’re not big enough behind Shaquille [O’Neal]. We know that. We still were able to win the last two nights against two power teams. And we still think we’d like to have an experienced backup behind [Derek Fisher], in case something happens there.”

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The tendinitis in Kobe Bryant’s right knee had eased by Thursday’s practice, the morning after he extended his string of 35-point games to 11, and 40-point games to seven, against the Utah Jazz.

He received treatment and generally stayed off his leg, preparing for the Portland Trail Blazers and, perhaps, the one man in the NBA who’d get the most satisfaction from ending Bryant’s streak, self-proclaimed “Kobe stopper” Ruben Patterson.

Bryant smirked and said he hadn’t considered Patterson’s intentions.

“Not really,” he said. “The last time he was in town, I had almost 40 and a triple double. I don’t really think a Kobe stopper exists. It’s kind of silly to me.”

On Nov. 3, Bryant went for 33 points, 12 assists and 14 rebounds against the Trail Blazers, and yet, Jackson said, they bring a deeper defense against Bryant.

“Without a doubt, Ruben’s the one who’s had the reputation,” Jackson said. “But, [Derek] Anderson guards him, [Scottie] Pippen has guarded him, Bonzi Wells guards him, [Antonio] Daniels has guarded him in the past. They have five guys that know him at some level, plus they have a lot of active big guys, like [Rasheed] Wallace and [Dale] Davis that can get out and double-team and trap too.”

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TONIGHT

vs. Portland, 7:30, Fox Sports Net

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- KLAC (570), KWKW (1330), KIRN (670)

Records -- Lakers 28-25, Trail Blazers 35-18.

Record vs. Trail Blazers -- 1-1.

Update -- The Trail Blazers beat the Lakers on Oct. 30 in Portland, 102-90, then lost at Staples four days later, 98-95, in overtime. Bryant averaged 29 points in the two games. O’Neal played in neither. The Lakers have won four in a row against Portland at home, eight in succession including postseason play the last two seasons. Wallace (18.6) and Wells (15.4) lead Trail Blazer scorers. Laker forward Samaki Walker, who sprained his right ankle on the opening tip Wednesday night against Utah, is doubtful.