EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Javaris Crittenton is but a blip in The Summer of Kobe, a point guard whose selection by the Lakers in the first round of the NBA draft was followed by question after question about Kobe Bryant.

General manager Mitch Kupchak and coach Phil Jackson addressed the media Thursday night, ostensibly to talk about their new players. The Lakers took Crittenton, who played one season at Georgia Tech, at No. 19, followed by Chinese guard Sun Yue at No. 40 and Spanish center Marc Gasol at No. 48.

Instead, Bryant dominated the discussion.

Kupchak, in his first public comments on the matter, indicated the Lakers had no intention of trading Bryant. Jackson said he has often counseled Bryant over the last few weeks to remain patient but said he supports Bryant and understands his frustration.

"We respect that and Kobe has to respect what this team has to do," Jackson said. "We're trying to work our way through this. In the heart of hearts, I believe that when it comes time in Hawaii for this team to step on the floor (for training camp), Kobe Bryant is going to be wearing a Laker uniform.

"There's a long summer ahead of us. There's a lot of things that can be done ... We're going to try and do what we have to do to replenish the amount of talent."

That long summer started May 30 when Bryant publicly demanded a trade. Kupchak wouldn't confirm whether that demand had officially been made to the Lakers, but it didn't seem to matter.

"As I said at the end of the season, with the exception of Kobe Bryant, who we intend to build this team around, nobody is untouchable," Kupchak said.

Minutes earlier, during an interview on ESPN, Kupchak seemed to leave open the possibility of a trade, when he said that he and Bryant "have an understanding about how to approach" the trade demand.

Pressed later by print reporters, Kupchak said he didn't intend to suggest a possible Bryant trade. Kupchak did, however, reiterate that the Lakers want to improve the team around Bryant. A deal for Minnesota's Kevin Garnett is assumed to be a long shot, and attention likely will turn to whether the Lakers feel it's prudent to give up both Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum for Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal.

"I don't think there will be a flurry (of trades) in the next week or two," Kupchak said. "There's some time to sort it out. By the time training camp starts, and maybe into the season, you'll see some moves."

Still unknown is what it will take to pacify Bryant, who has been quiet since his late-May radio tour. Jackson said he and Bryant had a similar "distaste in our mouths" after last season.