Lakers: Woj Drops Reality on Kobe Bryant Commerce That Nearly Occurred

(Photo : JEFF HAYNES/AFP through Getty Images) AUBURN HILLS, UNITED STATES: Kobe Bryant (C) of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket between Tayshaun Prince (L) and Richard Hamilton (R) of the Detroit Pistons through the first half of Game 3 of the NBA Finals, June 10, 2004, at The Palace in Auburn Hills.

Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant nearly wore one other staff’s jersey at one level in his profession as a result of he was dissatisfied with the staff’s state.

The five-time NBA champion made headlines in 2007 when he made a public commerce request following two consecutive early playoff exits. The Chicago Bulls emerged as his most popular vacation spot.

Further particulars emerged from league insider Adrian Wojnarowski, revealing that Bryant was on the point of being traded to the Detroit Pistons, with a deal already within the works.

“There was a deal with the Pistons where it was like Tayshaun [Prince], Rip Hamilton, and a bunch of picks for Kobe. They had agreed to it, essentially, Kobe had to want to do it… That trade was agreed to like the two teams had agreed on terms… and then Kobe said ‘Nah I don’t wanna do this,” the ESPN reporter mentioned.

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Back then, Bryant’s Lakers contract included a no-trade clause, which gave him the facility to decide on his subsequent vacation spot and veto a commerce if he did not need to proceed with it.

Former Pistons president beforehand shared particulars concerning the Kobe to Detroit saga

Meanwhile, former Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars added one other bit to the story, revealing that the deal had already been agreed upon with the Lakers proprietor, Dr. Jerry Buss.

However, Buss wished Bryant to make a fast choice, which Bryant was unwilling to do.

“Mitch [Kupchak] told me that Kobe said, ‘I need 48 hours or something to discuss this with my family.’ Dr. Buss was like, ‘no. We need an answer in the next day or whatever.’ And Kobe didn’t want to be forced into making a decision that quick,” Dumars shared.