Kobe Bryant isn’t worried; Carmelo Anthony isn’t traded (yet)

The rain started to fall Friday afternoon, and it was hard to distinguish it from the tears of troubled Lakers fans.

Kobe Bryant spoke for the first time since last Sunday, holding court with dozens of reporters who descended upon All-Star weekend, though he didn’t have many solutions.

Will the Lakers recover?

“We don’t have a choice,� he said. “Got to.�

What was he thinking after the Cleveland game?

“I don’t know. I’d rather not think about it.�

Have the Lakers, losers of three in a row, hit rock bottom?

“If it’s rock bottom, there’s only one place to go and that’s up. For us, three games is the equivalent of eight or nine. It’s too much.�

Did he have any concerns about the Lakers getting back to the NBA Finals?

“None.�

Everything’s fixable?

“Absolutely.�

Bryant did not talk to reporters after the Lakers lost in Charlotte and Cleveland but was forced to appear at the annual All-Star media day. He showed up 20 minutes late, though he wasn’t necessarily missed. Another story outweighed the plight of the Lakers on the first day of All-Star weekend.

Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony was swamped by reporters as he faced every-which-way trade rumors that had him being shipped to the New Jersey Nets, according to the Bergen (N.J.) Record, or meeting with the New York Knicks for a possible deal, according to the New York Daily News.

“I’m hopeful something can get resolved,� he said, declining to shed any specific light on possible destinations. “The Nuggets have to weigh their options. If it’s a deal with somebody else that’s legit, we all have to talk about it. But time is ticking, man, and time is money.�

The trade deadline is next Thursday. Anthony, 26, can become a free agent in July.

“I’m cool, calm and collected,� he said. “I’m not getting no sleep, but my nerves are good.�

The Record reported that Anthony and Denver teammates Chauncey Billups, Renaldo Balkman, Melvin Ely and Shelden Williams would be sent to New Jersey for rookie Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, Troy Murphy, Ben Uzoh and four first-round picks.

The trade was pending Anthony’s approval of a three-year extension worth $65 million.

More transactions?

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard deflected a question when asked if the Lakers should eventually take a long look at acquiring him before he becomes a free agent in 2013. With the All-Star Game taking place Sunday at Staples Center, it won’t be the last time he’s asked about the Lakers.

“As of right now, I’m in Orlando and that’s the only thing on my mind, is getting our team back to the Finals,� he said. “Hopefully we’ll see the Lakers in the Finals, but that’s the only thing on my mind. I haven’t thought about what’s going to happen two years from now. I want to win a championship in Orlando and I want to do my best to try to get one there.�

Sorry, Coach

Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams had an interesting assessment when asked if he had any regrets about his relationship with Jerry Sloan, who abruptly resigned as Utah’s coach last week.

“Yeah. I wish we would’ve had a better one,� he said. “I wish we would’ve talked more. I think we’re a lot similar. I think that’s why we bumped heads a lot. We wanted to win so badly. When things aren’t going right, we’re both stubborn. I think that cost us a lot in our relationship.�

They’re fine

Some media members aren’t buying that the Lakers are in trouble.

“First of all, the Lakers to me are as Hollywood as you can get,� said TNT analyst Kenny Smith. “Over the last two years, I’d say the same things have happened where they seem disengaged to the regular season … almost disrespectful.

“They do something that is a cardinal sin to everyone who plays basketball — they turn it on when they want to. That is why the alarm is always on, but … they have so much talent. This is not a first-time event. This is not an oddity.�

Lockout still looming

Bryant is as knowledgeable as any player in the NBA about the chances of an owners’ lockout simply because he’s teammates with Derek Fisher, the president of the players’ association.

Bryant is not overly optimistic.

“We’re obviously very concerned about it. We don’t want to see the game suffer,� he said. “It’s not looking good right now but there’s still plenty of time left, so hopefully we can figure something out.�

The owners plan to lock out players when the collective-bargaining agreement expires June 30, a move that might eventually delay the start of the season … or worse.

“It’s our responsibility as players to make sure the next generation is taken care of 100%,� Bryant said.

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Times staff writer Baxter Holmes contributed to this report.