Kobe Bryant has opted not to terminate the final two years of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers and is expected to sign a three-year contract extension later this month. Bryant, who led the Lakers to their 15th NBA crown with a convincing 4-1 series win over the Orlando Magic last month, has spent his entire 13-season career in Los Angeles. He had until Tuesday to become an unrestricted free agent but decided not to exercise that option. Pistons land pair The Detroit Pistons acted quickly to remake the former championship contender by agreeing to five-year contracts with Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva on Wednesday, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press. Those were the first big moves of the NBA's free agency period, which began just after midnight. Detroit, thanks to the Chauncey Billups-Allen Iverson trade, is one of the few teams with significant salary cap space this summer. Gordon and Villanueva are former University of Connecticut teammates who will remain in the Central Division. Gordon was Chicago's leading scorer and Villanueva played for Milwaukee. Jason Kidd also seems in high demand, meeting with two suitors. So does Polish center Marcin Gortat, who could land an offer to be Kidd's teammate. And Ron Artest might be able to swap Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady for LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal. Cleveland was believed to be interested in Villanueva, in need of another forward who can defend on the perimeter. Perhaps James has a different one in mind, with the Plain Dealer of Cleveland, citing anonymous sources, reporting on Wednesday that James and Artest met on Tuesday in Los Angeles. Artest's agent, David Bauman, said his client would like to remain in Houston, but also will consider a team's championship potential. Artest is the only healthy member of the Rockets' trio of stars, with Yao and McGrady both injured and perhaps out for at least the early part of next season. In that case, he may be willing to listen to a pitch from another title hopeful. Kidd listened to pitches from the Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks on Wednesday. The Mavericks can offer significantly more money to their point guard, and owner Mark Cuban showed his interest by flying to New York to meet with Kidd before the Knicks did. The Knicks said they didn't make an offer to Kidd. New York is also trying to retain its free agents, David Lee and Nate Robinson, but won't spend too much because it wants to maintain enough salary cap space to be a major player in 2010. NBA finalists the Orlando Magic are bracing for the loss of two key players. Hedo Turkoglu, one of the top free agents available, will be in Portland on Thursday to meet with the Trail Blazers, according to agent Lon Babby. Teams are interested in Gortat, who backed up All-Star Dwight Howard. Deals can't be signed until July 8, after next season's salary cap is set.
