Rob Pelinka

He sits beside him listening to $100-million sales pitches, walks behind him entering the courtroom and, insiders say, was the first person to get a phone call last summer after his most famous client was confronted with sexual assault allegations by police in Eagle, Colo. Kobe Bryant, it seems, always takes the spotlight, but Rob Pelinka is slowly stepping out of the shadows in his role as agent and confidant to one of basketball's marquee attractions.

Among the highlights in Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak's press conference on the Lakers acquiring Cleveland guard Ramon Sessions for a 2012 first-round pick, Christian Ayenga for Luke Walton and Jason Kapono as well as acquiring Houston forward Jordan Hill for Derek Fisher. --Sessions and Hill plan to arrive in Los Angeles on Friday so they can play against Minnesota. --Ayenga will play with theD-Fendersof the Development League. --Kupchak on Sessions: "We expect him and are hopeful he will make an immediate contribution.

Kobe Bryant may take his talents to China during the NBA's lockout. There are preliminary talks about a basketball tour to China this summer — and perhaps beyond — in which the Lakers superstar, who has called China a "home away from home" and has an enormous following there, would be the headliner with several other NBA stars forming two or three barnstorming teams. Bryant and his agent Rob Pelinka are trying to put together the tour, said Minnesota Timberwolves rookie forward Derrick Williams, who also is represented by Pelinka.

The Italian team Virtus Bologna says its top offer to Kobe Bryant is a one-year contract worth $5 million. With NBA players locked out, Virtus hopes the Lakers star agrees to a deal before he arrives in Italy this week for a tour arranged by one of his sponsors. "An Italian brand well known around the world" is prepared to provide cash for the deal, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told the Associated Press on Monday, indicating the unidentified company is not Bologna's main sponsor, Canadian Solar.

The Italian team Virtus Bologna says its top offer to Kobe Bryant is a one-year contract worth $5 million. With NBA players locked out, Virtus hopes the Lakers star agrees to a deal before he arrives in Italy this week for a tour arranged by one of his sponsors. "An Italian brand well known around the world" is prepared to provide cash for the deal, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told the Associated Press on Monday, indicating the unidentified company is not Bologna's main sponsor, Canadian Solar.

Among the highlights in Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak's press conference on the Lakers acquiring Cleveland guard Ramon Sessions for a 2012 first-round pick, Christian Ayenga for Luke Walton and Jason Kapono as well as acquiring Houston forward Jordan Hill for Derek Fisher. --Sessions and Hill plan to arrive in Los Angeles on Friday so they can play against Minnesota. --Ayenga will play with theD-Fendersof the Development League. --Kupchak on Sessions: "We expect him and are hopeful he will make an immediate contribution.

Michigan-Kentucky provided the first overtime at a Final Four since the 1989 championship game, which was won by Michigan over Seton Hall, 80-79. Saturday was the fourth anniversary of that game. Four of Michigan's last eight games--victories over Michigan State, Illinois, UCLA and Kentucky--have gone into overtime. "Hard on my heart," forward Ray Jackson said. "Hard on my body, too." Said teammate Rob Pelinka: "We just want to keep everybody tuned in to their TVs.

Michigan Coach Steve Fisher, whose work often seems to be overlooked, came in for high praise from Kentucky counterpart Rick Pitino. "He has the patience of a saint," Pitino said. "I know I couldn't have coached five freshmen (last season). They understand the team concept (at Michigan). I think he's a remarkable man and a remarkable coach."

Two 911 calls to Kobe Bryant's house in Newport Beach were made for medical aid on behalf of Bryant's wife, Vanessa, according to documents released by the Newport Beach city attorney's office Wednesday. Newport Beach police responded to a 911 call from Bryant's home at 12:25 a.m. on July 3, and a summary of the investigation regarding the call states that Bryant said he placed the call "for medical assistance for his wife." Bryant was arrested July 4 in Eagle, Colo.

The Denver Nuggets (8-9) helped to facilitate the trade that brought Dwight Howard to the Lakers, acquiring Andre Iguodala for Arron Afflalo and Al Harrington. Iguodala is one of the Nuggets leading scorers at 15.6 points per game while shooting 46.3% from the field and 40% from behind the arc. He's also collecting 5.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. "I've been a fan of his since he came out of Arizona," said Lakers All-Star Kobe Bryant, who has a strong relationship with Iguodala off the court.  "I've always tried to look out for him as much as I could, talk to him about the game and things like that.

Kobe Bryant may take his talents to China during the NBA's lockout. There are preliminary talks about a basketball tour to China this summer — and perhaps beyond — in which the Lakers superstar, who has called China a "home away from home" and has an enormous following there, would be the headliner with several other NBA stars forming two or three barnstorming teams. Bryant and his agent Rob Pelinka are trying to put together the tour, said Minnesota Timberwolves rookie forward Derrick Williams, who also is represented by Pelinka.

He sits beside him listening to $100-million sales pitches, walks behind him entering the courtroom and, insiders say, was the first person to get a phone call last summer after his most famous client was confronted with sexual assault allegations by police in Eagle, Colo. Kobe Bryant, it seems, always takes the spotlight, but Rob Pelinka is slowly stepping out of the shadows in his role as agent and confidant to one of basketball's marquee attractions.

Clippers owner Donald T. Sterling wanted to send a message, so he summoned General Manager Elgin Baylor, Coach Mike Dunleavy and Corey Maggette to an impromptu meeting Saturday near the bottom of the entrance ramp at Staples Center. The Clippers had just routed the Memphis Grizzlies and Sterling figured the time was right to make his position known on the team's trade discussions involving Maggette.

It appears Corey Maggette and the Clippers are headed toward a breakup soon. Maggette's agent, Rob Pelinka, recently asked the team to trade the seven-year veteran, and the Clippers have offered Maggette to the Philadelphia 76ers as part of a proposed package for disgruntled star guard Allen Iverson. And even if they fail to acquire Iverson, the Clippers are expected to trade Maggette this season. Change can be good, Maggette said. "Me and Coach [Mike] Dunleavy ...