Suns notebook: Suns’ D’Antoni laughs off prospect of Kobe trade

Those in the Suns camp remain unanimous in their belief that the Lakers aren’t going to trade disgruntled superstar Kobe Bryant anywhere. But if they ever did, would the Lakers actually trade Bryant to the Suns — one of three teams along with the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls that are reportedly on Bryant’s list of preferred destinations?

“Are you kidding? That isn’t going to happen, even if we offered them the Grand Canyon as part of the deal,” Suns coach Mike D’Antoni said. “If we had Kobe, would we trade him (within the Pacific Division) to the Lakers? No way.”

All the Kobe-talk gained more steam over the weekend after a meeting between Bryant and Lakers owner Jerry Buss in Spain reportedly ended with Bryant once again requesting a trade. Bryant appeared to reiterate those sentiments on his Web site, kb24.com, on Sunday, but the Los Angeles Daily New reported Monday that the statement was actually three weeks old.

Bryant sighting

There was a Bryant spotted at the Suns’ workout at Grand Canyon University Monday.

No, not Kobe. Former Sun Mark Bryant was sitting among the coaches.

Bryant, who spent the past two seasons as an assistant under the recently fired Brian Hill with the Orlando Magic, has joined ex-Sun Scott Williams and former Houston assistant head coach Tom Thibodeau as known candidates for the vacant coaching spot with the Suns.

Bryant, who declined comment Monday, still has a year on his contract but was given permission to meet with the Suns by new coach Stan Van Gundy, who has yet to select his staff.

Bryant spent 15 seasons in the NBA (1988-2003) with 10 teams (Portland, Houston, Phoenix, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, San Antonio, Philadelphia, Denver and Boston). He spent two seasons in Phoenix (1996-98), arriving from Houston along with Chucky Brown, Sam Cassell and Robert Horry in the celebrated trade for Charles Barkley.

Bryant has a reputation as a strong on-the-court, developmental coach with the Magic, working on defense and rebounding with the big men.

Next!

The Suns worked out four more draft hopefuls Monday, including Eastern Washington scoring machine and early entry candidate Rodney Stuckey, who averaged 24.6 points in 33 minutes as a sophomore. He’s strong, quick, athletic and aggressive, but if the Suns keep their two picks (24th and 29th) Stuckey would likely be off the board and showed the coaches why with an impressive effort.

Vanderbilt swingman Derrick Byars played through a quadriceps injury, and Boston College forward Jared Dudley and DePaul guard Sammy Mejia also took part.

“At this point I still think we’re torn between packaging both (first-round) picks to move up or use two picks to improve at two positions,” Suns senior vice president of basketball operations David Griffin said. “We’re still open to being wowed at this point, which is good.”

Today’s workout group includes Arizona guard Mustafa Shakur and 7-foot-1 Ukrainian Kyrylo Fesenko. The Suns could call back some players for a second look beginning Friday — less than a week before the June 28 draft.