He probably hunkered down with his agent, Rob Pelinka, the likely mastermind of Bryant’s media blitz in May and June, and discussed a variety of options.

One is to keep quiet until training camp begins — and then not show up. This would be vintage Kobe, reminiscent of his behavior during the 2003-04 season, when he reacted to authority by rebelling at every turn. It caused coach Phil Jackson to call him “uncoachable” in a book. Bryant might very well just stay at home, weather the torrent of reaction from fans and media, endure the threats of fines, and simply say he won’t report until he’s traded.

It would make sense for him to keep plans like that under wraps until October, so he won’t have to be grilled about the situation during the summer and during Team USA functions.

Another option is that he might have decided to put his Sicilian tendencies on the back burner for another season. He can opt out of his contract in two years. If he performs for the Lakers in the 2007-08 season, then during the summer of ’08 he’ll have Kevin Garnett leverage. It will be clear to the Lakers that he hates being there, he has every intention of opting out in ’09, and so it would behoove the Lakers to trade him.

Granted, this second option is a little implausible, because it would require Bryant to budge from his previous position that he wants out immediately. It would demand that he play another season with the Lakers, and play hard, because any indication that he’s dogging it would reflect poorly on his reputation. He would have to occasionally run into Buss or Kupchak and make small talk. He would also be forced to talk to Odom and Bynum and explain to them that when he demanded a trade he had no idea whatsoever that that meant sending those two teammates to some outpost like Indianapolis.

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A purple-and-gold optimist could cite some ways in which Bryant might be pleased with these new, improved Lakers. For instance, there’s the addition of Fisher; the return of Chris Mihm; the absence of Kwame Brown (ankle and shoulder surgery); the hoped-for good health of Odom; and in a sad twist, the Achilles’ injury to the Los Angeles Clippers’ Elton Brand, which means the Lakers might win one or two more games this season.

Other than that, the horizon is bleak. The Lakers have not acted, and Bryant has not reacted.

Something’s up. It’s a little too quiet on the Kobe front. And that probably means trouble is brewing for the Lakers.

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