Kobe Bryant won't be joining the Chicago Bulls any time soon.

General manager John Paxson basically squashed the notion that the Los Angeles Lakers' superstar will wind up in Chicago, saying the teams were never on the verge of a deal and talks were over for now.

"There's not a deal done," he said Thursday. "There's not going to be a deal done. All the things that were out there were really unfair to all of us who were trying to do our jobs. The misinformation ... I think gets in the way of the process. It's just such a complicated thing and we kind of put it to rest now."

Paxson said they discussed "parameters," but the sides "never got down to the nuts and bolts of it because thera was never a deal to be done."

"That's the reality of it," he said. "People can make what they want of it, but what I know is that part of it is over with."

Paxson's comments came a day after a flurry of rumors. Speculation picked up Wednesday, with one report saying the Bulls, Sacramento Kings and Lakers were discussing a three-way deal that would bring the superstar to Chicago.

That scenario had Paxson sending Ben Gordon and a signed-and-traded P.J. Brown to Sacramento, with Chicago's Ben Wallace and the Kings' Ron Artest heading to Los Angeles. Paxson dismissed the rumor, saying a deal involving Brown would send the Bulls over the luxury tax threshold — something they're reluctant to do.

Bryant, speaking before news of Paxson's comments reached the Lakers' El Segundo practice facility, said he is monitoring the rumors "just to keep tabs on how my teammates are reacting to it."

"We've been doing a pretty good job of staying focused," he said. "I've talked to them. From that standpoint, I don't think it's that difficult. If you didn't speak to them or kind of fill them in, it would get a little confusing."

And if there's no deal with Chicago, where does that leave the Lakers?

"Maybe having our cake and eating it, too," said coach Phil Jackson, speaking after word of Paxson's comments had reached the Lakers' facility. "Dr. (Jerry) Buss reiterated many, many times that we do not want to trade Kobe Bryant but we'll listen to any comments that come our way that would give us equal parity for him."

Jefferson signs deal with Timberwolves: Al Jefferson could have waited until next summer to sign a contract extension with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In fact, that was what his agent advised him to do, hoping that a big season and his status as a restricted free agent would have brought the 22-year-old power forward the highest contract allowable under league rules.

Jefferson ignored that advice and signed a five-year, $65 million deal just before the deadline Wednesday night. In the era of "Show me the money!" and "bling bling," Jefferson's reason was stunningly humble.

"I didn't even think I was worth max (money) this year anyway," Jefferson said at a news conference on Thursday. "I would've been a fool to go up there and ask for max, having not really proved myself for that. So the number I got was the number that was my goal from Day 1. And I think it was a win-win situation."

Kings sign Udrih to fill in for Bibby: Guard Beno Udrih signed with the Sacramento Kings, potentially filling a hole in the club's lineup while Mike Bibby is out with a thumb injury.

Hamilton misses season opener: Pistons guard Richard Hamilton missed Detroit's season-opener at Miami because of what the team called "a family matter."

Rookie Arron Afflalo started in Hamilton's place.

Cavaliers pass on option for Brown: The Cleveland Cavaliers decided not to pick up its contract option for 2008-09 on Shannon Brown, a former first-round draft pick from Michigan State whose rookie season was slowed by injuries. The Cavs had until midnight to exercise the guard's $1.1 million salary for next season.

The Cavaliers did pick up the $1.7 million contract of forward Cedric Simmons for next season. Simmons was acquired in a trade with the New Orleans Hornets in September.