LeBron James For Kobe Bryant? Lakers, Cavs Reported To Have Discussed Trade In 2007
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) - LeBron James a Los Angeles Laker? Kobe Bryant a Cleveland Cavalier? According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, the Los Angeles Lakers reached out to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2007 looking to swap superstars Bryant and James.
Bryant was 28 years old at the time, and coming off a season in which he averaged 32 points per game.
At the time, Bryant was frustrated in the direction the Lakers organization was headed in the post-Shaquille O'Neal era. They were following three mediocre seasons, and according to Bryant, he felt he was being used in order to just fill seats.
With his frustrations made public, everyone speculated that a huge trade was going to be made.
Lebron James had just lead the Cavaliers, with very little to no supporting cast, to the Finals and lost to the San Antonio Spurs. James would still have had three more seasons under contract.
According to ESPN's Windhorst, a feeler was made to the Cavalier's organization in hopes of structuring a deal around Kobe Bryant and Lebron James.
The Cavs were reportedly shocked to have been asked about trading James, as to them he was the ultimate untouchable player in all of the NBA, let alone their team. This also according to Cavalier's team officials was the first and only time a team has inquired about trading for James. Even though the Cavs were uninterested in trading James, they proceeded with counteroffers to the Lakers trying to land Bryant by offering anyone else besides James. The Lakers declined all offers.
James, when asked about this deal that could have happened in 2007 told ESPN, "I believe it. If you give up one big fish, you got to give a big fish too."
Considering Bryant had a no-trade clause in his contract, he would have had to approve any trade.
"I never would've approved it. Never," Bryant told ESPN's Baxter Holmes on the potential move to Cleveland in 2007. Bryant is said to have had a distinct list of three teams he would have waived his no-trade clause for, and Cleveland was not one of them.
After numerous offers to other teams - which Bryant rejected right away due to the teams not being on his list - the Lakers acquired Pau Gasol and would go on to win two out of the next three NBA Finals.
It's crazy to think that Bryant would have laced up for any other team other than the Los Angeles Lakers, but maybe not as crazy to think the Lakers will have two straight lottery picks in the NBA Draft.
