New revelations shed light on the near-trade of Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant to the Detroit Pistons almost two decades ago.
In 2007, after the Lakers faced consecutive first-round playoff exits, Bryant, who had spent his entire career with the Lakers up to that point, demanded a trade.
This demand was surprising given Bryant’s history with the Lakers, having won three championships and appeared in four NBA Finals between 2000 and 2004. However, following Shaquille O’Neal’s departure in 2004, the Lakers struggled to remain competitive. Despite Bryant’s efforts, the team lacked the necessary support to contend in the playoffs.
Although Bryant ultimately stayed with the Lakers and secured two more championships, the trade to the Pistons was close to fruition.
Reportedly, the Lakers had agreed to trade Bryant to the Pistons in exchange for Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, and other assets. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski provided additional insight into this potential blockbuster trade during a recent appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast.
Leave a Reply