Kobe tells Lakers he is going to stay a little bit longer - Details

Kobe Bryant has decided not to participate in the free agent frenzy that begins later Wednesday.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Bryant elected not to terminate the final two years of his contract and was expected to sign a three-year extension sometime this month.

The Times reported Bryant would make a guaranteed $47.8 million over the next two years and could earn another $86 million to $91 million with the extension, depending on NBA salary-cap figures to be determined in 2011.

There was optimism that the sides would reach agreement, one source familiar with the situation calling it "a layup" but declining to speak further about specifics.

The Times reported that under terms of the extension, the earliest Bryant could opt out again would probably be June 2012, three seasons from now. To do that, however, would leave more than $60 million on the table over the last two years.

In other words, Bryant, who has spent his entire 13-year career with the Lakers, might very well retire with them. He will be 31 next month.