Pau Gasol, Mitch Kupchak discuss rumors

Shortly after Bryant's very public demand for Lakers management to provide some clarity to the team, and specifically to Gasol, about its its intentions at the trade deadline, Kupchak called Gasol and spoke to him at length about the situation. "I have an understanding of where things are," Gasol said after the team's shootaround in Detroit on Tuesday. "Where they stand and where he stands and where I stand. He [Kupchak] told me to just keep doing what you do, keep playing hard and playing on and from that point on, we'll see."

While Kupchak did not tell Gasol that he wouldn't be traded, the conversation seemed to go a long way in settling Gasol's nerves because he hadn't been given much of any feedback about his status since he was involved in the failed Chris Paul trade in early December. "It was kind of calming to have that feedback," Gasol said. "Since before training camp, it was the first time I was approached by them."