Kobe Bryant did not attend a meeting with officials from the Turkish team Besiktas in Los Angeles on Thursday, reports Turkish TV reporter Ismail Senol. But Bryant's agent Rob Pelinka did, and Senol reports that the meeting was "positive." The two camps will meet again on Friday.
According to club sources, Besiktas-Pelinka meeting was positive. Kobe wasn't there. Club made an official offer. Today they'll meet again.
Last weekend while attending a charity soccer game in Washington, D.C., Kobe downplayed the potential of playing for Besiktas, which has already signed New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams. But the Lakers' star has said he'll play anywhere during the NBA lockout if the right deal can be struck, and it's unlikely his agent -- who has a number of other high-profile clients, including Andre Iguodala -- would be taking meetings with Besiktas if a deal were not remotely possible.
Kobe had previously been reported to be demanding $1 million per month to play overseas, but that might be low. Reports out of China suggest that the top NBA players could draw up to $2 million per month in the Middle Kingdom.