- Recapping the Lakers’ wildly successful offseason and an in-depth preview of the upcoming 2023-24 NBA campaign
- Report: Golden State Warriors turn down signing Dwight Howard in favor of extra wing
- Shams mentions Lakers as he lists potentials landing spots for Buddy Hield
- Jason Kidd dishes on Kobe Bryant inspiring him to create basketball program for young women
- Jeanie Buss speaks out on death threats she got when Lakers were struggling last season before trade deadline
- Orlando Magic head coach says Paolo Banchero is combination of LeBron James, Jayson Tatum and Carmelo Anthony
- Chandler Jones brings LeBron James into the equation as he continues bizarre barrage of messages
- Damian Lillard claps back at haters who discredit Lakers 2020 bubble title: ‘Everybody else had the same opportunity’
- LeBron James sends prayers to Nick Chubb after Browns RB suffers devastating injury
- Report: Lakers waive guard ahead of training camp
Report: Detroit Pistons Tried to Trade for Kobe Bryant in 2007
- Updated: May 21, 2020
With all of Kobe Bryant’s accomplishments during his 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, it’s easy to forget there was some immense turmoil during his career.
After Shaquille O’Neal was traded in 2004, Bryant had to deal with a very poor supporting cast for three years. In 2007, his frustration boiled over and he demanded a trade himself.
According to Ken Berger of CBS Sports, Bryant was close to becoming a Detroit Piston that fall.
“Bryant’s first choice was Chicago, where he’d try to eclipse Michael Jordan’s mark of six championships in his idol’s very shadow,” Berger reported. “But Detroit also was on the list, the person said, on the following conditions: Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace couldn’t be included in the deal.
“At one point, Bryant had envisioned teaming up with Billups, Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace.”
There are conflicting reports about who the Lakers would’ve gotten in return, but it appears the package would have been centered around Richard Hamilton.
If it happened, this trade would have extended the Pistons’ championship window, which was rapidly closing at the time. Perhaps they would’ve taken down the mighty Boston Celtics that year and won another ring, if not more.
Needless to say, it would’ve probably been the beginning of the end for the Purple and Gold. Having traded away two of the all-time greats in just three years, other superstars may have been dissuaded from wanting to join the team in the future.
As fortune would have it, the trade was called off at the last minute, and instead, the Lakers would team Bryant with Pau Gasol a few months later en route to two more NBA championships.