Kobe Thanks Hornets For Trading Him

[Blame Rasho]

Well that is disingenuous

[bwgood77]

I take it he wanted to get back in the news somehow with all this free agency stuff? No one cares. What an idiot.

I hope someone replied to his tweet @Kobe$23 million while sitting at home #Lakers suck

[DrewBynum77]

It's funny how people treat Kobe today like if he was a sure HOFer back in that draft.

Kobe was a 17yo cocky high school'er and he was a guard(before him no HS guard succeeded in the NBA) and was considered a big risk. That's why he was was picked #13 at the REQUEST OF THE LAKERS.

Hornets did not want him. They wanted Divac. Only team that wanted him and somehow was discouraged by the threat that Kobe would not play there was the Nets and that's because they were not so sure about drafting a HS cocky kid that let his representatives make threats. That's the truth. Even if his representatives hinted he would not play for the nets, he was just a draftee, not a HOF Free Agent making demands. Let's try to make some sense here, people.

Before Black left L.A. to fulfill that role, West told him a draft-night deal with the Charlotte Hornets for the No. 13 pick was in the works so that the Lakers could nab Bryant. Even before knowing Shaquille O'Neal would fill the void at center via free agency, West was willing to trade Divac for Bryant.

West told Black that he didn't think it was going to happen, however, believing the New Jersey Nets were going to take Bryant at No. 8. Although Bryant had worked out for—and naturally impressed—representatives from many NBA teams, the consensus was that taking a high school guard so high in a very strong draft was too risky and it would be impossible to sell fans familiar with college names on this concept.

The New Jersey Nets had just hired University of Massachusetts coach John Calipari, and after three awesome workouts to make absolutely sure that seeing was believing, Calipari was ready to pick Bryant when others were not.

But with the legendary Lakers and the L.A. spotlight beckoning, Bryant was able to stiff-arm the Nets. Bryant's family, West and West's close friend, Arn Tellem, who was Bryant's agent, banded together in threatening the Nets that Bryant would play in Italy if selected by New Jersey—and even if it was an empty threat, it worked.

Anyways the point is: Hornets did not want him. That's a fact. Nets wanted him and may or may not have been fooled by the threats of Bryant's management. So yeh, that also fills your agenda, so hate him for choosing a better place to work, but don't try to change the history: hornets did not want Kobe Bryant.

[TheDoors24]

Didn't he threaten everyone that he'd go overseas if he didn't get to the Lakers?

Mostly the Nets and the hornets didn't want a high school kid and they did tell him they didn't need him.

Considering he's a 5 time champion I guess he knew what he was doing.

[JohnsHopkins]

I take it he wanted to get back in the news somehow with all this free agency stuff? No one cares. What an idiot.

I hope someone replied to his tweet @Kobe$23 million while sitting at home #Lakers suck

If lakers suck wtf do you call the entire suns franchise? A cheap skate owner with no rings despite having one do the most talented teams of the decade...

[Devilzsidewalk]

It's funny how people treat Kobe today like if he was a sure HOFer back in that draft.

Kobe was a 17yo cocky high school'er and he was a guard(before him no HS guard succeeded in the NBA) and was considered a big risk. That's why he was was picked #13 at the REQUEST OF THE LAKERS.

Hornets did not want him. They wanted Divac. Only team that wanted him and somehow was discouraged by the threat that Kobe would not play there was the Nets and that's because they were not so sure about drafting a HS cocky kid that let his representatives make threats. That's the truth. Even if his representatives hinted he would not play for the nets, he was just a draftee, not a HOF Free Agent making demands. Let's try to make some sense here, people.

Before Black left L.A. to fulfill that role, West told him a draft-night deal with the Charlotte Hornets for the No. 13 pick was in the works so that the Lakers could nab Bryant. Even before knowing Shaquille O'Neal would fill the void at center via free agency, West was willing to trade Divac for Bryant.

West told Black that he didn't think it was going to happen, however, believing the New Jersey Nets were going to take Bryant at No. 8. Although Bryant had worked out for—and naturally impressed—representatives from many NBA teams, the consensus was that taking a high school guard so high in a very strong draft was too risky and it would be impossible to sell fans familiar with college names on this concept.

The New Jersey Nets had just hired University of Massachusetts coach John Calipari, and after three awesome workouts to make absolutely sure that seeing was believing, Calipari was ready to pick Bryant when others were not.

But with the legendary Lakers and the L.A. spotlight beckoning, Bryant was able to stiff-arm the Nets. Bryant's family, West and West's close friend, Arn Tellem, who was Bryant's agent, banded together in threatening the Nets that Bryant would play in Italy if selected by New Jersey—and even if it was an empty threat, it worked.

Anyways the point is: Hornets did not want him. That's a fact. Nets wanted him, and may or may not have be fooled by the threats of Bryant's management. So yeh, that also fills your agenda, so hate him for choosing a better place to work, but don't try to change the history: hornets did not want Kobe Bryant.

I still don't get it - you post an article about Kobe threatening to play in Italy if the Nets drafted him to prove your point that Kobe wouldn't force a trade to LA

[bwgood77]

I take it he wanted to get back in the news somehow with all this free agency stuff? No one cares. What an idiot.

I hope someone replied to his tweet @Kobe$23 million while sitting at home #Lakers suck

If lakers suck wtf do you call the entire suns franchise? A cheap skate owner with no rings despite having one do the most talented teams of the decade...

No, I don't call them that. I meant they suck now (and I was just saying it because Kobe was being an a hole disrespecting a franchise himself). I guess you missed that. Suns sucked last year. Rarely does either team suck. Suns 5th winningest franchise of all time. Yes, no championships, but it's been a fun team to be a fan of despite some brutal times being knocked out in the playoffs. Those were all tough.

It's been fun when we knocked the Lakers out of the playoffs, and sucked when they knock us out.

[goldenarmz97]

Korny Bryant.

[Imon]

....hmmm come on Kobe you know better than that.

Charlotte gets unfair criticism for that trade too. No high school guard had been thought of back in 96 as a potential HoF player so Kobe going 13th doesn't seem as strange back then as it does now.

At the time the Hornets got back a solid veteran (Vlade) in exchange for Kobe. A good deal at the time. Nobody knew Kobe would be Kobe and the Hornets knew he didn't want to be there anyways.

The Hornets basically used the 13th pick to get Vlade. Not bad when you view it in the proper context.

Dirk might as well thank Milwaukee for trading him if Kobe is going to have revisionist history.

[PCProductions]

Hard to make use of a player who refuses to play for you or anybody but the Lakers.

[Blame Rasho]

Divac, who was to be dealt for the rights to Bryant, initially didn't want Charlotte, either. He had no desire to leave L.A., in part because his wife, Ana, is an aspiring actress. When Divac threatened to retire if the Lakers sent him to the Hornets, trade talks came to a halt.

Tellem, well-known in NBA circles as a hardball negotiator, guaranteed two days ago that Bryant would not be a Hornet under any circumstances. He expressed confidence that the deal for Divac would eventually go through and Bryant would be in a Lakers uniform.

Yesterday, Divac agreed to the trade.

It wasn't the first time Tellem had come across as harsh, arrogant and manipulative, leaving some to question whether Bryant and his family were being well-served by the agent. But in trying to arrange where Bryant would play, Tellem was adhering to the family's wishes.

``We got an ultimatum from Kobe, too,'' Sacramento Kings player personnel director Jerry Reynolds said. ``Not just Charlotte. We were at No. 14, and we were strongly considering taking Kobe, but he was gone.''

In declining an invitation to visit Sacramento, Calif., for a workout and interview, Bryant told the Kings not to bother drafting him, Reynolds said.

``It's depressing that any player and his representation, who have their choice of entering or electing not to enter the draft, turn around and don't follow the rules of the draft,'' Reynolds said. ``But in the end, you've got to look at the player, not the agent. After all, the agents work for the players. It isn't the other way around.''

Tellem says a bigger issue is at hand.

``I think what people should understand and respect is that this is a business,'' he said. ``Most players, when they're drafted, rarely have the opportunity to have their dreams fulfilled. But we were in a position to do it, so we went for it, and we achieved it. You can't begrudge anyone for trying to get their career objectives accomplished. Everyone else in this country does that every day of the week.''

If his move to the Lakers had been thwarted, Bryant was not without options. He forfeited his college eligibility by hiring an agent and signing an endorsement deal with adidas, but he could have played a season in Europe and gone back into next year's draft.

``It is rare that someone can have, and has, the opportunity to play for the Lakers,'' Tellem said. ``They're one of the premier franchises in all of sports. Kobe has that opportunity now. Take a survey of most players in this league and they'd choose the Lakers as the team they'd want to play for. What's wrong with Kobe feeling that way?

[Blame Rasho]

....hmmm come on Kobe you know better than that.

Charlotte gets unfair criticism for that trade too. No high school guard had been thought of back in 96 as a potential HoF player so Kobe going 13th doesn't seem as strange back then as it does now.

At the time the Hornets got back a solid veteran (Vlade) in exchange for Kobe. A good deal at the time. Nobody knew Kobe would be Kobe and the Hornets knew he didn't want to be there anyways.

The Hornets basically used the 13th pick to get Vlade. Not bad when you view it in the proper context.

Dirk might as well thank Milwaukee for trading him if Kobe is going to have revisionist history.

Very well said...

[koko]

July 1st, eh? Seems to be a pretty special day for Kobe. #2003 #Colorado

it doesn't get eddie vedder than this

[DrewBynum77]

It's funny how people treat Kobe today like if he was a sure HOFer back in that draft.

Kobe was a 17yo cocky high school'er and he was a guard(before him no HS guard succeeded in the NBA) and was considered a big risk. That's why he was was picked #13 at the REQUEST OF THE LAKERS.

Hornets did not want him. They wanted Divac. Only team that wanted him and somehow was discouraged by the threat that Kobe would not play there was the Nets and that's because they were not so sure about drafting a HS cocky kid that let his representatives make threats. That's the truth. Even if his representatives hinted he would not play for the nets, he was just a draftee, not a HOF Free Agent making demands. Let's try to make some sense here, people.

Before Black left L.A. to fulfill that role, West told him a draft-night deal with the Charlotte Hornets for the No. 13 pick was in the works so that the Lakers could nab Bryant. Even before knowing Shaquille O'Neal would fill the void at center via free agency, West was willing to trade Divac for Bryant.

West told Black that he didn't think it was going to happen, however, believing the New Jersey Nets were going to take Bryant at No. 8. Although Bryant had worked out for—and naturally impressed—representatives from many NBA teams, the consensus was that taking a high school guard so high in a very strong draft was too risky and it would be impossible to sell fans familiar with college names on this concept.

The New Jersey Nets had just hired University of Massachusetts coach John Calipari, and after three awesome workouts to make absolutely sure that seeing was believing, Calipari was ready to pick Bryant when others were not.

But with the legendary Lakers and the L.A. spotlight beckoning, Bryant was able to stiff-arm the Nets. Bryant's family, West and West's close friend, Arn Tellem, who was Bryant's agent, banded together in threatening the Nets that Bryant would play in Italy if selected by New Jersey—and even if it was an empty threat, it worked.

Anyways the point is: Hornets did not want him. That's a fact. Nets wanted him, and may or may not have be fooled by the threats of Bryant's management. So yeh, that also fills your agenda, so hate him for choosing a better place to work, but don't try to change the history: hornets did not want Kobe Bryant.

I still don't get it - you post an article about Kobe threatening to play in Italy if the Nets drafted him to prove your point that Kobe wouldn't force a trade to LA

I explicitly stated my point on that post many times: Charlotte Hornets drafted Kobe Bryant at the request of Los Angeles Lakers. Therefore, Kobe is not lying. Charlotte Hornets --just like the 12 first teams that had draft picks on that night-- did not want the services of Kobe 'jellybean' Bryant. That's a known fact.

Nets was the only team that showed a real interest in drafting a HS kid, but alongside of the empty threats they also had the desire to draft a way more safe pick. Kittles did his job very well until that injury. He also out-worked Bryant for the first years.

Here's the next part of that quote:

With Michael Jordan's agent, David Falk, pressuring Calipari to take Falk's guy, Villanova's Kerry Kittles, at No. 8, the forces of persuasion were too convincing; an hour and a half before the draft, the Nets stepped aside.

That's how close this retrospective about Bryant's brilliant workout against Cooper and a turning point in Lakers history came to being mere what-if speculation.

[Run DLC]

That ego. And some Lakers fans think this guy would take a backseat to a younger superstar even at this point in his career. Lakers aren't going anywhere for the next two years.

[Blame Rasho]

What is wrong with Laker fans admitting that the trade was made because Kobe wanted to go there. He isn't the first nor the last player to do that. Kobe posts that tweet and comes off as a douchebag but you want to defend that? Ok... it is just stupid that you make up your own narrative. Elway didn't want to play for the Colts, it doesn't mean anything in the big picture but it is acknowledged that he forced his way to Denver because he used the threat of playing baseball as an option just like Kobe did with playing overseas.

[RIP Kobe]

there's no real proof that kobe forced his way out of charlotte.

i love the saying:

"people will believe the worst, but question the good"

[The4thHorseman]

Did Kobe even talk to Charlotte after being drafted?? His tweet makes it sound as if he was completely in the dark of what was going to happen and was overjoyed to be drafted by them at the time

Truth be told, he knew the whole time "before the draft even started" that the plan was get drafted by Charlotte and be traded to LA for Vlade. That's why his camp told Calipari and the Nets not to draft him with the 8th pick (which they wanted to) If they did, that put a wrench into team Kobe's plan.

[JohnsHopkins]

I take it he wanted to get back in the news somehow with all this free agency stuff? No one cares. What an idiot.

I hope someone replied to his tweet @Kobe$23 million while sitting at home #Lakers suck

If lakers suck wtf do you call the entire suns franchise? A cheap skate owner with no rings despite having one do the most talented teams of the decade...

No, I don't call them that. I meant they suck now (and I was just saying it because Kobe was being an a hole disrespecting a franchise himself). I guess you missed that. Suns sucked last year. Rarely does either team suck. Suns 5th winningest franchise of all time. Yes, no championships, but it's been a fun team to be a fan of despite some brutal times being knocked out in the playoffs. Those were all tough.

It's been fun when we knocked the Lakers out of the playoffs, and sucked when they knock us out.

I concur

[abark]

It's funny how people treat Kobe today like if he was a sure HOFer back in that draft.

Kobe was a 17yo cocky high school'er and he was a guard(before him no HS guard succeeded in the NBA) and was considered a big risk. That's why he was was picked #13 at the REQUEST OF THE LAKERS.

Hornets did not want him. They wanted Divac. Only team that wanted him and somehow was discouraged by the threat that Kobe would not play there was the Nets and that's because they were not so sure about drafting a HS cocky kid that let his representatives make threats. That's the truth. Even if his representatives hinted he would not play for the nets, he was just a draftee, not a HOF Free Agent making demands. Let's try to make some sense here, people.



Anyways the point is: Hornets did not want him. That's a fact. Nets wanted him, and may or may not have be fooled by the threats of Bryant's management. So yeh, that also fills your agenda, so hate him for choosing a better place to work, but don't try to change the history: hornets did not want Kobe Bryant.

I still don't get it - you post an article about Kobe threatening to play in Italy if the Nets drafted him to prove your point that Kobe wouldn't force a trade to LA

I explicitly stated my point on that post many times: Charlotte Hornets drafted Kobe Bryant at the request of Los Angeles Lakers. Therefore, Kobe is not lying. Charlotte Hornets --just like the 12 first teams that had draft picks on that night-- did not want the services of Kobe 'jellybean' Bryant. That's a known fact.

Nets was the only team that showed a real interest in drafting a HS kid, but alongside of the empty threats they also had the desire to draft a way more safe pick. Kittles did his job very well until that injury. He also out-worked Bryant for the first years.

Here's the next part of that quote:

With Michael Jordan's agent, David Falk, pressuring Calipari to take Falk's guy, Villanova's Kerry Kittles, at No. 8, the forces of persuasion were too convincing; an hour and a half before the draft, the Nets stepped aside.

That's how close this retrospective about Bryant's brilliant workout against Cooper and a turning point in Lakers history came to being mere what-if speculation.

It's not about him lying. He's trying to come off as if he was this unwanted high school kid when his agent was the one trying to get him to LA by any means necessary. It might not be all out lying, but he's trying to construct a disingenuous narrative.