Kobe Bryant can opt out of his current contract with the Lakers after the 2008-2009 season and he didn't exactly shoot down the possibility of exercising that option.

"I've been a Laker fan my whole life, I hate to even think about me going someplace else," Bryant said.

"When I re-signed here, they promised that they would build a contender and build a contender now. I don't want to have to wait anymore than I already have," he said.

"I know my patience is about as short as my 1-year old daughter. ... Here we are now, three years from then and my patience is really on `E,' so we really have to put our pedal to the metal and do something."