Mark Cuban says Kobe Bryant was almost dealt to the Mavs in 2007
As the Lakers ceremoniously send Kobe Bryant into retirement amid an outpouring of love and admiration by Los Angeles fans, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said this day almost didn't happen.
Cuban revealed Wednesday that he thought the Mavericks had a done deal for Kobe in 2007.
"In [September of] 2007 I would have sworn we had a deal done for Josh Howard and [Jason Terry to the Lakers for Bryant]," Cuban told reporters before the Mavericks' regular-season finale against the San Antonio Spurs. "I was telling all the stage hands at 'Dancing with the Stars' it was done. And then Mitch [Kupchak] or Jerry Buss, or whoever, talked him out of it."
Cuban added that the Mavericks would have had to send a first-round pick to the Lakers and take back either some bad contracts or players in the proposed deal for the Black Mamba.
Cuban was so excited about the move he believed was a done deal, he told franchise star Dirk Nowitzki the good news.
"I do remember Dirk coming to me and saying, 'Look, if you can trade me for Kobe you got to do it,' " Cuban said Wednesday. "I'm like 'Dirk, that's not going to happen.' "
Kobe was upset with the Lakers' inability to bring in another star after the team traded Shaquille O'Neal to the Heat in 2004. He grew so frustrated that demanded to be traded in the summer of 2007, leading many teams to send offers the Lakers' way.
But the Lakers instead acquired Pau Gasol from the Grizzlies in a deal many believed heavily favored the Los Angeles. The Lakers would go on to reach three straight Finals and win two in a row.
Kobe does have some history with Cuban. The Black Mamba famously tweeted "Amnesty THAT" after torching the Mavs in a Lakers victory in 2013. Cuban suggested a few days earlier that the Lakers should cut Bryant.
