Bryant Weighs Options

In case it hadn’t been mentioned for a couple of hours, Kobe Bryant has said he will test NBA free agency this summer, a decision that could lead to some interesting moments during recesses at his sexual assault trial.

A little more than three months to freedom, Bryant on Sunday afternoon was his usual two hours early to Staples Center. Wearing gray sweats, a personal trainer and a security guard, he often shares the court with rehearsing Laker Girls, an anthem singer or two, wandering reporters and various technical folks.

But on this afternoon, he was foiled by the Clipper-to-Laker floor changeover, so he found other ways to maintain and accelerate his game, fractured this season by injury, distraction and circumstance, and now forklifts. He did eventually get his work in.

In the meantime, on the occasion of some New York musing that the Knicks had “talked internally” about possible methods of acquiring Bryant -- New York being the destination many of Bryant’s teammates have bet on for months, though that was before Isiah Thomas’ makeover of the Knicks -- it seemed sensible to review the suitors.

According to reports strewn from one end of the season to the other, the trail often following the Lakers’ schedule, Bryant will go to the Knicks because it’s New York, Philadelphia for Allen Iverson, Orlando for Tracy McGrady, Chicago because, well, Michael Jordan played there, Memphis because Jerry West is there or the Clippers because he’d be away from Phil Jackson, the triangle offense and Shaquille O’Neal and still be freeway close to the in-laws.

In the “Under Consideration Because of Potential Cap Space” division, Bryant has answered what-if questions about Atlanta, San Antonio, Denver, Utah and Phoenix, often with the same promise to consider every option. Two weeks ago, Bryant dismissed the Jazz because of his belief the organization was disrespectful toward Karl Malone. Malone has become a friend of Bryant’s in a turbulent period in which Bryant has distanced himself from all but his closest acquaintances.

Bryant has said he would consider staying with the Lakers, though the guess among teammates -- based on discussions with Bryant -- is that he will leave.

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Horace Grant said he hoped to play next season, which would be his 18th in the NBA.

Grant will turn 39 in July and is expected to undergo hip surgery in the off-season. But after recovering from last summer’s knee surgery, he was encouraged by the season’s first four months and was a sturdy performer when O’Neal and Malone missed time because of injuries.

For the next few weeks, Grant will work two hours a day with athletic performance coordinator Alex McKechnie to strengthen the area around his hip, and then attempt to convince Jackson he is worth the risk of having on the postseason roster. His goal is to play at least the final two regular-season games.

Grant put off surgery for the chance to be in the playoffs, though he said doctors at New England Baptist Hospital were prepared to perform the procedure last Friday. They didn’t, so Grant’s worst memory of Boston was the size of the needle that injected the MRI dye.

“I said, ‘Oh, my God,’ ” he said. “Think, ‘Happy place. Happy place.’ ”

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Rookie Brian Cook was activated from the injured list Sunday, taking Grant’s place on the roster. ... Uncomfortable with the 45 minutes he played Malone last Monday in the Lakers’ overtime win against Orlando, Jackson said he would be mindful of Malone’s playing time down the stretch. He said he believes Malone’s knee will improve over the final month.