"Kobe Bryant has done a lot of things in his career, winning five championships, two NBA Finals MVP trophies and a regular-season MVP award.

Now he's doing something else — recruiting for the Lakers.

Derek Fisher credited the 12-time All-Star with being a main reason to return to the Lakers, and now Bryant will put aside past differences to meet with free-agent guard Raja Bell on Wednesday in Los Angeles.

Bryant once said he had "bigger fish to fry" than Bell after a squabble with the former Phoenix Suns guard, but now Bryant is hoping the Lakers can reel him in with what's left of their midlevel exception: $1.77 million next season.

Bell, who will be 34 in September, played only six games with Charlotte and Golden State last season because of a torn ligament in his left wrist, but he is a career 41.1% three-point shooter and still capable of solid on-ball defense.

Bell to the Lakers is not a sure thing. He is having discussions with five other teams — Miami, Chicago, San Antonio, Portland and Utah — and will not make up his mind until next week, said his agent, Herb Rudoy."