The Lakers have had daily conversations with Sasha Vujacic's new agent, Rob Pelinka and ``remain optimistic'' about re-signing Vujacic, their restricted free agent, according to Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak.

``We're hopeful we can make a deal sometime in the near future,'' Kupchak said.

In the last couple of days, in light of Hawks guard Josh Childress' shocking signing with a Greek team, there has been renewed concern among NBA general managers about foreign teams approaching NBA stars with offers of more lucrative contracts. This is a concern with Vujacic, who is from Slovenia and played professionally in Italy before coming to the NBA, but Kupchak said that he does believe Vujacic wants to remain in the NBA.

``There is a vibrant European market that we're aware of, much more so of late,'' Kupchak said.``I don't think it'll go away soon. Until you have a players' signature on a contract, you're always concerned.

``I do believe he wants to play in the NBA, but he has an obligation to seek out a deal that fits what he wants as a free agent and only he knows what that is.''

Just got done speaking with Andrew Bynum's agent David Lee for a quick update on how Bynum's knee is doing. Bynum was in Los Angeles earlier this week, worked for the Lakers team doctors, and was cleared for everything, according to Lee.

Bynum is now down in Atlanta with his personal trainer. The Lakers, Lee said, have a standing invitation to drop in on Bynum down in Atlanta and see his progress.

``He's absolutely fine, he's going to come in as a beast,'' Lee said. ``He's got no atrophy anywhere. The kid's in great shape. Maybe it comes with being 20 years of age.''

As for the negotiations on Bynum's contract status, Lee said that the discussions have been tabled until September.

``We aren't going to talk again until September until they have a chance to see what they're getting,'' Lee said. ``But I don't have any concerns about it.''

Lee said that once negotiations begin, it was ``very important'' that the extension be completed by the time the season starts. Lee of course, will be seeking a max (five years, $80 million) extension.

``I know what we want, I know what the rest of the league thinks of Andrew. I just hope the Lakers are on the same page,'' Lee said.

I got an email today from Sade Council, from 360i on behalf of NBC Olympics, detailing all the cool interactive ways fans can keep up with Kobe and the US Olympic basketball team in Beijing.

Head over to:
http://www.nbcolympics.com/widgets/

There are widgets for:
Top News, Videos and Photos
Slideshows
Videos
Medal Count (currently a countdown clock but will automatically change once the games begin)
News and Results (also currently a countdown clock)

Kobe's also got a pretty extensive profile page

So guess who pays attention to women's basketball?

Apparently, Kobe Bryant and the US men's basketball team.

Speaking with reporters in Las Vegas today, Bryant said he jumped up when he saw the highlights of the Sparks-Detroit Shock brawl on ESPN last night.

The brawl began when Detroit's Plenette Pierson got tangled up with the Sparks' Candace Parker. Parker fell to the ground, Pierson aggressively tried to stand over her, Parker pulled Pierson down and all heck broke loose at the Palace.

"Candace is going to be a target. She's an incredible player," Bryant said. "I think it's good for her that she didn't back down and I think it's good for her teammates to step in there."

In case you were wondering, here's a quick look at the schedule for Kobe Bryant and the USA Olympic team once the preliminary rounds begin in Beijing.

August 10
9:00 a.m. Russia - Iran
11:15 a.m. Germany - Angola
2:30 p.m. Spain - Greece
4:45 p.m. Lithuania - Argentina
8:00 p.m. Australia - Croatia
10:15 p.m. USA - China

August 12
9:00 a.m. Iran - Lithuania
11:15 a.m. Croatia - Russia
2:30 p.m. Greece - Germany
4:45 p.m. China - Spain
8:00 p.m. Angola - USA
10:15 p.m. Argentina - Australia

August 14
9:00 a.m. Germany - Spain
11:15 a.m. Australia - Iran
2:30 p.m. Angola - China
4:45 p.m. Lithuania - Russia
8:00 p.m. USA - Greece
10:15 p.m. Argentina - Croatia

August 16
9:00 a.m. Greece - Angola
11:15 a.m. Russia - Australia
2:30 p.m. Croatia - Lithuania
4:45 p.m. Iran - Argentina
8:00 p.m. China - Germany
10:15 p.m. Spain - USA

August 18
9:00 a.m. Iran - Croatia
11:15 a.m. Australia - Lithuania
2:30 p.m. Greece - China
4:45 p.m. Angola - Spain
8:00 p.m. USA - Germany
10:15 p.m. Argentina - Russia

Quarterfinals on August 20, Semis on August 22, Finals on August 24.

The Lakers ended summer league play with a 92-79 loss Saturday to the Denver Nuggets, finishing their eight-day stay in Las Vegas with a 2-4 record. Joe Crawford, the Lakers' lone draft pick last month, scored 17 points on 8-for-18 shooting and Coby Karl added 13 points.
Crawford and Karl are hoping to sign with the Lakers and earn a roster spot for next season. Crawford said when he was drafted that he hoped to prove he belonged in the NBA, and it appeared he accomplished that goal.
Karl is hoping to be re-signed after playing 17 games last season with the Lakers.
The ball is in GM Mitch Kupchak's hands now.

The Lakers conclude their six-game summer league schedule in Las Vegas with a game today against the Denver Nuggets (3:30 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center). They fell to 2-3 after an 89-71 loss Friday night to the Toronto Raptors. Pat Calathes scored 10 points and Lorenzo Mata-Real (UCLA) had five points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers. Joey Graham led Toronto with 20 points.

Ronny Turiaf officially joined Golden State tonight when the Lakers declined to match a four-season, $17-million offer from the Warriors. Turiaf will get more playing time next season with the rebuilding Warriors than he would have with the Lakers. GM Mitch Kupchak said tonight he would now pursue Sasha Vujacic full bore. Kupchak had hoped to retain both Turiaf and Vujacic.

Andrew Bynum was cleared to resume offseason conditioning and basketball activities, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said this afternoon. Bynum is expected to recover fully from a left kneecap injury that cut short his season and to be the Lakers starting center for 2008-09. Pau Gasol will move from center to power forward. Bynum is set to begin his offseason workouts next week.

Luke Walton underwent successful surgery on his right ankle today. Dr. David Thordarson performed the surgery, removing bone spurs and scar tissue and also cleaning out cartilage debris. Walton is expected to be fully recovered by the start of training camp in October.

Nothing new to report, but I just found out that the Lakers have until midnight tonight to match the Warriors' offer sheet to Ronny Turiaf. I expect the Lakers to take every last minute before letting Turiaf walk to Golden State. The Warriors' offer of $17 million over four seasons is too rich for the Lakers. Turiaf told our sister paper, the Contra Costa Times, that he's been "chilling" at home while awaiting word.

No word yet on whether the Lakers have declined to match the Golden State Warriors' offer of $17 million over four seasons to restricted free agent Ronny Turiaf. Check back this afternoon, when Turiaf is expected to join the Warriors. There also could be news on what the Lakers plan to do to replace Turiaf, a backup forward-center.

Joe Crawford made a running jump shot with 2.9 seconds remaining to give the Lakers a 95-93 victory Wednesday night over the MInnesota Timberwolves in the Las Vegas Summer League. Crawford, the Lakers' lone draft pick last month, scored 10 points. Nik Caner-Medley led the Lakers (2-2) with 19 points and Coby Karl added 14. The Lakers play the Toronto Raports on Friday night.

Sasha Vujacic recently left agent Bill Duffy for Rob Pelinka after leaving Pelinka for Duffy. Vujacic, a restricted free agent, has yet to receive an outside offer and talks with the Lakers on a new conract haven't gone anywhere yet despite a stated desire by the player and the team to get a long-term deal done.The Lakers extended a one-season qualifying offer of $2.6 million to Vujacic, which ensured their right to lock him up as a restricted free agent.

Coby Karl scored 18 points in the Lakers' 81-73 loss Tuesday night to the Philadelphia 76ers in the Las Vegas Summer League. Karl scored in double figures for the third consecutive game, making a statement so far in the summer league.
Karl, a guard who played 17 games with the Lakers last season after signing as a free agent from Boise State last summer, needs a new contract for 2008-09. He's been impressive while leading the Lakers' summer league team in scoring.
Joe Crawford, the Lakers' lone draft pick last month, added 16 points Tuesday.
The Lakers (1-2) continue summer league play against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 5:30 tonight at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

We'll be sure and follow up with Jordan on this when he returns. It sounds like quite a trip. But for now, here's the release:

Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar, in partnership with the Peres Center for Peace, will be hosting basketball clinics for Israeli and Palestinian children in Israel from August 4-11,2008. The trip will serve as a follow up to Farmar's visit in 2006 to the Seeds of Peace camp in Maine. This program uses sports to bring together Israeli and Palestinian children. The children play different sports together, and discuss the shared problems and challenges in their daily lives.

Luke Walton will undergo surgery Friday to remove bone spurs from his right ankle, the Lakers announced. Walton's recovery period will be determined after surgery. He suffered from nagging ankle, hamstring and hip injuries during the season.

The Lakers probably won't swap Lamar Odom for Sacramento's Ron Artest this summer. But the Kings and Miami Heat could be more likely trade partners, according to the latest report on the Artest saga in the Sacramento Bee.
The Kings could deal Artest and Kenny Thomas to the Heat for Shawn Marion, a trade that would seem to make more sense than the aforementioned Odom-Artest swap. Artest's expiring contract of $7.4 million doesn't match Marion's expiring $17 million (and change) deal with the Heat, so Miami would have to take another player to make the numbers work.
Thomas is making $18 million over the next two seasons.
Interested though they may be in acquiring the muscular Artest, the Lakers are believed to be dead-set against trading Odom. They want to see the 6-foot-10 Odom play alongside 7-footers Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum next season.
The Lakers also don't want Thomas and his bloated contract.

Lamar Odom and Dwyane Wade played only one season together with the Miami Heat before Odom was traded to the Lakers. But Wade remains an Odom booster, mainly because he would like to play with the 6-foot-10 forward again some day.
"I love L.O. as a person and, of course, as a player," Wade said in an interview with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "We had one year together. I wish we could have had more.
"It's a guy who I've always said it's a possibility when he left that he can maybe come back. ... A player like that, we would love to have a chance to get because he's so versatile."

Once unrestricted free agent James Posey signs a new contract (probably with the New Orleans Hornets early this week), then you can expect more signings to follow. Other free agents have been slow to sign because they've been waiting to see what kind of deal Posey receives and from whom.
Later in the week, you can expect the Lakers to let restricted free agent Ronny Turiaf walk, refusing to match the four-season, $17 million offer sheet he received from the Golden State Warriors. It's just too much for the Lakers to spend on a backup.
Once they let Turiaf go, then the Lakers probably will focus their efforts on signing a replacement. As previously reported, they could sign free agent Jorge Garbojosa, a 6-foot-9 power forward from Spain who has played with the Toronto Raptors. Kurt Thomas also could be a possibility.
The Lakers also hope to re-sign restricted free agent Sasha Vujacic. Talks are ongoing, which you can take to mean that Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and Bill Duffy, Vujacic's agent, are still a ways apart on a new contract.
No other team has stepped forward to make Vujacic an offer, so the Lakers' hopes to get a deal done soon are very much alive. This could be the week that everything starts to fall into place around the league.