LOS ANGELES -- It is sure to be a frenzied summer across the NBA when free agency officially begins July 1, but Kobe Bryant believes it will be mostly quiet on the western front for the two professional teams in Los Angeles.

"There's always so much talk going on, especially with big-name guys going here, going there, but that happens once in a blue moon," Bryant said on "The Mason & Ireland Show" on ESPN LA 710 radio on Wednesday. "I think at the end of the day, everybody stays."

By "everybody," Bryant was referring to Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard and Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul. Both are set to be unrestricted free agents, and ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard recently reported the two have interest in playing together.

However, Bryant already has begun the pitch process of bringing back Howard.

"I spoke to him maybe a couple weeks ago, just to check in with him, see what he was doing, see what he was up to, see how his summer was going," Bryant said. "But I haven't spoken to him since. I know he's got a big decision to make and I'm sure he'll take the visits and talk to the players from the teams that he's considering. We'll touch base a lot more."

Bryant told ESPNLosAngeles.com earlier this month that "I have to make sure I have the final word" when it comes to getting in Howard's ear.

Despite the disappointing season the Lakers had in Howard's first year in L.A., Bryant maintained how it is important for the Lakers to re-sign Howard to a five-year, $118 million contract extension.