Mavericks reveal exact details of Kobe Bryant trade offer they made Lakers in 2007 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Former Dallas Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban revealed the exact details of the Kobe Bryant trade offer they made to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2007.
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In a recent appearance on the Club 520 podcast, Cuban revealed that the Mavericks were set to trade for Bryant in exchange for two first-round picks, Josh Howard and Jason Terry.
“It was 2007, Kobe was ready to get out," Cuban said. "And I was on Dancing with the Stars. Google me. I didn’t win. There was a dude named Elvis who was a production assistant, right? And he was just Kobe love everything. I’m between breaks, I’d be like, Elvis, I need a quiet spot. And I would talk to Rob Pelinka, his agent at the time, and he’s like, “Okay, if you can get Dr. Buss to approve. And I talk to Dr. Buss and he was ready to do it. And it was like two first, Josh Howard and Jason Terry for Kobe. And I thought, “Okay, this is done. And I told Elvis, “This is done.” And I went to practice on my jive or whatever. And then we got a call from Rob that Mitch Kupchak, right? Had talked Kobe out of it. That close. And I was telling Dirk the whole time. He goes, “You can trade me. I would trade me for Kobe, too. And I’m like no Dirk the whole point is y’all two.”
Mark Cuban Nearly Landed Kobe Bryant Before Lakers’ Dynasty Took Off
Bryant had expressed frustation withthe Lakers organization at the time and demanded a trade out of Los Angeles. He was adamant on a trade, and no team was closer to trading for the Black Mamba than Cuban and the Mavericks.
However, the late great Dr. Jerry Buss and then Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak ultimately convinced Bryant to give the Lakers another chance.
A season later, Bryant led the Lakers to the NBA Finals appearance and eventually led L.A. to back-to-back titles.
As for the Mavericks, they won their lone championship in 2011. In the playoffs that season, they defeated Bryant and the Lakers in the second round of that Finals run, sweeping them in the process.