Clippers Will Do ‘Whatever It Takes’ to Get Bryant

Going on the record for the first time with what has been evident for months but only whispered until now, General Manager Elgin Baylor said Thursday that the Clippers were prepared to do “whatever it takes” to put Kobe Bryant into a Clipper uniform next season.

Less than 24 hours into the free-agent negotiating period and no longer bound by tampering rules, Baylor said the Clippers had spoken Wednesday night and again Thursday with Bryant’s agent, Rob Pelinka, and had set up a meeting with Bryant that would take place “very soon.”

Baylor also noted during a conference call that Bryant, who opted out of his Laker contract, has “expressed interest in us” and that he expects Bryant to indicate early on in the recruiting process which way he is leaning.

“I don’t think it’s going to take as long as probably a lot of people think it’s going to take,” Baylor said. “I think he’ll let us know one way or the other just exactly where we stand.”

The signing period starts July 14.

Like every other team with room under the salary cap to lure Bryant away from the Lakers, the Clippers are at a financial disadvantage. Though the cap for next season won’t be set until the middle of the month, Bryant would leave about $30 million on the table if he signed with any team other than the Lakers.

The Lakers can offer a maximum contract of about $130 million over seven years, any other team about $100 million over six.

Still, the Clippers believe that they’re in the running for Bryant, who reportedly is intent on remaining in Southern California and has narrowed his focus to the two teams that share Staples Center.

“We wouldn’t be wasting our time if we didn’t,” Baylor said.

They formally started the courting process Wednesday night, Baylor saying that Bryant’s upcoming trial in Eagle, Colo., on a felony sexual assault charge had “no bearing on our decision” to pursue the unrestricted free agent.

“We’ve had initial conversations, we’ve spoken to his agent,” Baylor said. “As far as Kobe’s concerned, let me say this: We’re willing to do whatever it takes to get Kobe. We feel Kobe will be a tremendous upgrade for us and he would fit in very well with our young, talented players, and so we will have more talks.”

Those talks will include a face-to-face meeting with Bryant, probably after the holiday weekend, a source said.

“We intend soon to sit down and talk to Kobe and go over all specifics and just see what he has in mind,” said Baylor, declining to say when the meeting would take place. “We will talk to him about the organization, about the players....

“He likes our team, from what I understand in talking with his agent, and he’s very interested in our team. Once we sit down and meet with Kobe, which we intend to do very soon, then we’ll have more specifics.”

Added Baylor moments later, underlining the Clippers’ keen interest: “Whatever it takes, whatever we have to do, we’re willing to do.”

But the Clippers, keeping their options open in case they fall short, also have contacted representatives of a number of other free agents, Baylor said, noting, “We don’t know how it’s going to go, so we’ve got to be prepared.”

Among those that most interest the Clippers is Seattle’s Brent Barry.

But their focus clearly is on Bryant. They are clearing cap space for a maximum slot and have been since last fall, when they heard Bryant would actually consider making the move.

If he does come, the Clippers will drop Quentin Richardson.

Richardson, a restricted free agent, was in Denver on Thursday meeting with the Nuggets, as was his best friend and fellow free agent, Darius Miles.

“We’re just checking out the facilities and having a good time,” Richardson told the Rocky Mountain News.