The Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards and Charlotte Bobcats have each engaged in preliminary trade talks with the Chicago Bulls regarding Taj Gibson, according to a source.

The Bulls reportedly did not like the possible return from any of the teams.

The Bulls could be determined to move salary to create room and pair Derrick Rose with a second superstar.

“The way that works is this, when something gets close or they think there’s something there that makes sense they’ll come to me,’’ Tom Thibodeau said. “Every conversation that they’re having I don’t know about nor do I want to know about. I think it’s important for me to be focused on the guys we do have.

The Los Angeles Lakers are already beginning to do due diligence on Dante Exum.

''I got a call from the Lakers asking about him and they may end up with a good pick," Luc Longley said.

''I've had a few calls from other NBA teams mostly asking about him, they see the skill package but these days they're all concerned about character.

''That will help push Dante further up the draft, because he's the type of person they'd want to have in an organization."

Exum declared for the NBA Draft this week and will be represented by Rob Pelinka.

Longley has offered Exum advice on adapting to the NBA spotlight and handling the intense scrutiny afforded to high draft picks.

''I was around him all summer with the Boomers and he showed more poise than I expected, his decision-making is very good,'' he said.

The Los Angeles Lakers might pursue Eric Bledsoe in restricted free agency this offseason.

The Lakers would presumably have to overpay Bledsoe in order for the Phoenix Suns not to match.

Bledsoe was traded by the Los Angeles Clippers to the Suns in the offseason.

Kobe Bryant was examined on Tuesday night and still has pain and swelling in his left knee, the Los Angeles Lakers announced.

Bryant will be examined again in approximately three weeks.

Bryant suffered a fracture in his knee in December.

Bryant will miss the All-Star Game with this diagnosis.

Carmelo Anthony's wife, La La Anthony, expects her husband to re-sign with the New York Knicks.

"I definitely think he will stay," La La Anthony said in an interview with Bravo TV's "Watch What Happens Live." "I know that he wants to stay, and I support him wherever he wants to go.

"Listen, I used to live in Denver with him. If I can live in Denver, I can live anywhere. I just want him to be happy."

Anthony is expected to opt out of his contract to become a free agent this summer.

The Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers are the most probable teams to sign Anthony should he decide to leave the Knicks.

Kobe Bryant said he spoke to Carmelo Anthony and congratulated the New York Knicks' star about his 62-point game on Friday.

Bryant was careful not to tamper but also stated he would be willing to give Anthony free agency advice if the forward asks.

"Everybody wants to play in Los Angeles … palm trees and beaches are a little bit more appealing," Bryant said Sunday.

"If he wants to call me for advice later as a friend, I'd be more than happy to give it to him."

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guard Manny Harris to a second 10-day contract.

In five games with the Lakers this season, Harris is averaging 6.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 20.9 minutes.

Harris spent most of the season in the NBA D-League.

With the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers experiencing difficult seasons, Carmelo Anthony's free agency options apparently now include the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls traded Luol Deng for draft picks and are leaning toward using its amnesty provision on Carlos Boozer. The Bulls could sign Anthony to a max contract to have him join a core of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Jimmy Butler.

"Chicago is much more in play for him than L.A.," the source said.

The Knicks are cap-strapped until 2015, but the Bulls have "shown themselves to be a big market franchise with small-market sensibilities," writes Wojnarowski.

Kobe Bryant was voted into this year's NBA All-Star Game as a starting guard, but the Los Angeles Lakers' star made it clear that he would rather not play in the event.

"No, I don't think so," Bryant said flatly.

"With all due respect to the fans who voted me in, and I certainly appreciate that ... but you've got to do the right thing as well. My feeling is you've got to reward these young guys for the work that they've been putting in."

Bryant admitted he'd play limited minutes if he has to play. He added he expected a two-game penalty from the NBA if he skipped it, meaning he might reluctantly suit up.

"It just means somebody will have to lose a spot, unfortunately," Bryant said. "Our backups will be playing a lot if I go in there and do my two minutes and sit down."

The 2014 NBA All-Star starters were announced Thursday night on TNT.

Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin and Kevin Love are the starters for the Western Conference.

The Eastern Conference will be represented by Dwyane Wade, Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony.

The starters selected by the fans, who vote for two backcourt and three frontcourt players.

Durant, Curry, James and George all received more than one million votes.