How Kobe Bryant Almost Became A Detroit Piston
By: Evan Jankens
@kingofthekc
Kobe Bryant is on his farewell tour. With only four games left, everyone is reminiscing about their favorite Kobe Bryant memory.
CBSSports.com put out an interesting story called "The last, great Kobe Bryant mystery: How he almost became a Piston."
"The deal was done," another person directly involved in the negotiations told CBS Sports. "We were just waiting to set up the conference call with the league office."
In 2007, Bryant had requested a trade from the rumors after being frustrated by the Lakers recent eliminations from the playoffs.
According to one account from a person briefed on the timeline, Dumars was at a preseason game against the Mavericks when he got a call from Kupchak, who spoke the following words:
"We're good to go."
According to the story, Kobe even signed off on playing for the Pistons.
Detroit also was on the list, the person said, on the following conditions: Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace couldn't be included in the deal.
"Kobe had signed off on the deal," the person said. "He'd approved two teams: Chicago and Detroit, if the two Wallaces and Chauncey were still there."
Could you image Kobe playing for the Pistons with both Wallaces and Chauncey? This team could have, and in my opinion would have, won another NBA title. Bryant has denied that he ever approved the Pistons as being one of the teams. It seems he is the only one who has denied it, though.
Would a starting five of Bryant, Billups, Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed and Ben Wallace have won more than the two additional titles Bryant got with Gasol in LA? What superstar free agent or trade target would the Lakers ultimately have landed with all the assets acquired from Detroit in the deal?
The NBA really could have been a different league if Kobe did land with the Pistons. I know it would have changed the culture of Detroit basketball.
