Lakers: Kobe Rejected A Trade To Detroit Pistons In 2007-08 Season

[spursparker9]

In an interview with Bill Simmons and Jalen Rose on Grantland, Kobe confirmed the Lakers wanted to trade him to the Detroit Pistons in 2007, but he rejected the trade:

“I gave you a list of teams I’m comfortable being traded to. That wasn’t one of them, so no.”

In the proposed trade, the Lakers were going to receive Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Price and numerous draft picks for Kobe. With the trade not going through, Kobe shared the Chicago Bulls were his number one trade destination:

“Chicago was my number one choice.”

[ElNono]

After all the anger and angst and fury of the immediate post-Shaq era had inspired Kobe Bryant to make a trade demand, Jerry Buss finally called his superstar guard to the owner's home in the Los Angeles hills on an autumn evening in 2007.

The Los Angeles Lakers had found a trade for Bryant, but Buss warned him that it wasn't to one of his selected destinations.

"Detroit," Buss said.

The Lakers had agreed to a deal to send Bryant to the Pistons and needed Bryant's approval to waive his no-trade clause. The package included a combination of Detroit's core players and draft picks, sources say. Buss and Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak needed an answer soon, because they refused to let the issue linger into training camp.

Looking back, Bryant isn't sure it would've mattered whether it was Detroit or Chicago, Dallas or New York. In that moment, in Buss' house in the hills, it washed over Bryant how much staying a Laker for life meant to him, how no matter how dire the state of the franchise seemed, that Buss had a history of restoring the Lakers to championship contention.

"It hit me that I didn't really want to walk out on Dr. Buss," Bryant told Yahoo! Sports on Monday.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--ko...002209469.html

Dr Buss was ruthless, tbh... something his kid is seemingly lacking...

[LkrFan]

After all the anger and angst and fury of the immediate post-Shaq era had inspired Kobe Bryant to make a trade demand, Jerry Buss finally called his superstar guard to the owner's home in the Los Angeles hills on an autumn evening in 2007.

The Los Angeles Lakers had found a trade for Bryant, but Buss warned him that it wasn't to one of his selected destinations.

"Detroit," Buss said.

The Lakers had agreed to a deal to send Bryant to the Pistons and needed Bryant's approval to waive his no-trade clause. The package included a combination of Detroit's core players and draft picks, sources say. Buss and Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak needed an answer soon, because they refused to let the issue linger into training camp.

Looking back, Bryant isn't sure it would've mattered whether it was Detroit or Chicago, Dallas or New York. In that moment, in Buss' house in the hills, it washed over Bryant how much staying a Laker for life meant to him, how no matter how dire the state of the franchise seemed, that Buss had a history of restoring the Lakers to championship contention.

"It hit me that I didn't really want to walk out on Dr. Buss," Bryant told Yahoo! Sports on Monday.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--ko...002209469.html

Dr Buss was ruthless, tbh... something his kid is seemingly lacking...

Disagree. Jim didn't hesitate to kick Phillip Jackson to the curb. Might have cost us a deep playoff run or two. Instead? Pringles, Potato Head, and B Sctt patrolled our sidelines. SMH

[DMC]

What? Phil quit. He wasn't fired.

[Thread]

After all the anger and angst and fury of the immediate post-Shaq era had inspired Kobe Bryant to make a trade demand, Jerry Buss finally called his superstar guard to the owner's home in the Los Angeles hills on an autumn evening in 2007.

The Los Angeles Lakers had found a trade for Bryant, but Buss warned him that it wasn't to one of his selected destinations.

"Detroit," Buss said.

The Lakers had agreed to a deal to send Bryant to the Pistons and needed Bryant's approval to waive his no-trade clause. The package included a combination of Detroit's core players and draft picks, sources say. Buss and Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak needed an answer soon, because they refused to let the issue linger into training camp.

Looking back, Bryant isn't sure it would've mattered whether it was Detroit or Chicago, Dallas or New York. In that moment, in Buss' house in the hills, it washed over Bryant how much staying a Laker for life meant to him, how no matter how dire the state of the franchise seemed, that Buss had a history of restoring the Lakers to championship contention.

"It hit me that I didn't really want to walk out on Dr. Buss," Bryant told Yahoo! Sports on Monday.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--ko...002209469.html

Dr Buss was ruthless, tbh... something his kid is seemingly lacking...

Ruthless, my ass, Kobe had to drag that old coot off the veranda in order to get him kickstarted in the quiet aftermath of the rape. That wake up call enabled the Gasol acquisition. Then his son, Dr.'s son, Kobe didn't have a son,,,so Jim, he made his mark by insisting on drafting Bynum and defying Kobe a might later when Kobe wanted to run him (Bynum) off. So, without the adoption agency of the State of California, I'm sittin' here at like 14.

[Kool Bob Love]

So damn happy Dr. Buss isn't calling the shots anymore. Lakers would be conterders right now.

[Thread]

So damn happy Dr. Buss isn't calling the shots anymore. Lakers would be conterders right now.

& I'd be equally jazzed if Amy was still calling the shots. God love her, she saved me 1, Lovey.

[unforeseen]

& I'd be equally jazzed if Amy was still calling the shots. God love her, she saved me 1, Lovey.

Bend over. I have one saved for you, lovely.