http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E29583%257E2585376,00.html There was no way to misconstrue what Kobe Bryant was trying to say when he stepped in front of the television cameras Wednesday, cramming five apologies and three mentions of leaving the "door open" for Karl Malone in a little more than seven minutes of talking time. Whether it was enough, however, for Bryant to make amends with the NBA's second-leading all-time scorer and bring Malone back to the Lakers remains to be seen. One day after Malone ruled out playing for the Lakers in the wake of Bryant's comments during a Monday radio interview, Malone's old team held out hope for the 41-year-old forward's return and Bryant offered his best mea culpa after the morning shootaround. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak, who was still trying to speak with Malone, added that he and owner Jerry Buss would meet next week with Malone and hoped that emotions will have subsided enough for Malone to reconsider his decision. "Everything can be smoothed out if all parties want to smooth it out," said Kupchak, who reserved a roster spot for Malone throughout the summer. Bryant, meanwhile, said he was sorry if he offended Malone in any way with his remarks and did not intend for them to be taken personally. Appearing on XTRA 690-AM/KXTA 1150-AM on Monday, Bryant said of his teammates: "It's kind of tough for them to be looking over their shoulders, wondering if (Malone's) going to come back and then everybody's minutes are going to disappear." Bryant said he was "shocked" and caught "off-guard" by Malone's angry reaction Tuesday. Malone's agent, Dwight Manley, did not return messages Wednesday. "If I felt like he was a distraction, I would have said it," Bryant said. "But I didn't say anything like, 'I don't want him to come back' or 'He's a distraction.' I didn't say anything like that. "It was in no way intended to be an attack toward Karl or anything like that. I just want to make sure that my players know that I believe in them and I believe in what we have. "So if Karl comes back, it's going to be a tremendous addition to our ballclub. But if he doesn't, I'm fine with rolling with the guys that we have here because I have confidence in them, too." In his quest for a championship, Malone took a multimillion-dollar pay cut to sign with the Lakers last season as a free agent. He is nearing 100 percent health after undergoing offseason knee surgery and could return to action as early as January. Although Bryant couldn't say Wednesday when he last spoke with Malone, who lives in the same Newport Beach neighborhood, Bryant said he would try to get in touch with him. "I'll try to give him a call and square it all out," Bryant said. "What I said was in no way directed toward him or a personal attack toward him in any kind of way whatsoever. If he felt some type of way about that, I apologize." In interviews Tuesday, Manley said Bryant was critical of Malone both in public and in private. What was said privately was unclear, but Bryant admitted Wednesday that he and Malone had disagreed recently. "You always got little things you that don't see eye-to-eye on," Bryant said. "But it's not big enough for me to sit up here and say, 'You can't come back and play here for the Lakers.' " Lakers coach Rudy Tomjanovich said the team would "roll out the red carpet" should Malone return. "It's unfortunate that the negativity came out of there," Tomjanovich said. "I don't think there's one ounce of negativity around here about Karl Malone. Nothing but respect and hoping the best for him." Kupchak added: "Things like (Malone's return) should not fall apart with one comment or one statement. Karl at some point and time does have to make a decision, and I believe he'll factor in the comments Kobe made today." Lakers forward Lamar Odom felt for Bryant and the heat he has taken. Odom also said he would welcome Malone. "I think people overreacted a little bit," Odom said. "I don't think he meant anything personal by it. (Malone's) the greatest scoring power forward ever statistically, I don't think he meant to do anything to offend him. He was just probably sticking up for some of his guys and somebody took it the wrong way." Bryant has been battered since the start of the season, first by Shaquille O'Neal, then by former coach Phil Jackson and soon after by Seattle SuperSonics guard Ray Allen. With Malone now added to the list, Bryant was asked Wednesday if he feels frustrated with things. "With everything I've been through, you just kind of shrug it off," Bryant said. "I don't hold grudges. I don't hold any anger or resentment toward anybody. I've been through a whole lot, so you just kind of forgive and move on." --

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