Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
Moderators: cupcakesnake, bwgood77, zimpy27, infinite11285, Clav, Domejandro, ken6199, bisme37, Dirk, KingDavid
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
-
Walmart
- Starter
- Posts: 2,495
- And1: 1,461
- Joined: Apr 26, 2007
-
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
Ainge also told Durant to sign with the Warriors.
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
-
NY2k1
- Veteran
- Posts: 2,635
- And1: 1,093
- Joined: Dec 21, 2011
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
The_Hater wrote:It took 25 years for this story to come out? And Danny Ainge is involved?
Right.
My first thought to be honest
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
- sashaturiaf
- Analyst
- Posts: 3,537
- And1: 4,008
- Joined: Jan 18, 2021
-
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
To everyone who is snarky about the timing of this report. Consider this quote came out of an oral history of Kobe's draft workout and probably accounted for less than 1/100 of the word count.
I'm no Ainge fan but maybe he was just right on that occasion. For all his faults not like he hasnt been right before
I'm no Ainge fan but maybe he was just right on that occasion. For all his faults not like he hasnt been right before
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
- Optms
- RealGM
- Posts: 23,828
- And1: 20,289
- Joined: Jun 11, 2009
-
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
ForeverTFC wrote:Tatum is pretty much Kobe and he's still only 21 so looks like Ainge got the last laugh.
And this is how you destroy your basketball credibility in one sentence
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
-
scottyno
- Junior
- Posts: 389
- And1: 560
- Joined: Jan 28, 2011
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
sashaturiaf wrote:To everyone who is snarky about the timing of this report. Consider this quote came out of an oral history of Kobe's draft workout and probably accounted for less than 1/100 of the word count.
I'm no Ainge fan but maybe he was just right on that occasion. For all his faults not like he hasnt been right before
GB hadn't hit its quota of negative threads about anyone Celtics related yet this week so they needed another one
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
- grindtime22
- Assistant Coach
- Posts: 4,215
- And1: 4,694
- Joined: Jan 30, 2012
-
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
Johnny Bball wrote:Danny Ainge...an assistant coach, about 5 minutes removed from his playing days .... had a deal worked out with another team all on his own, to trade their own PICK for Kobe Bryant? And instantly knew that this rookie meant Shaq was moving.
Dany Ainge is full of ****.
He was technically an assistant at that time, but he wasn't really an assistant.
He went back to Phoenix to be the head coach, everybody knew it, it was publicly announced, and they gave him a 6 year deal. All the assistants on the staff knew he was about to be the head coach. Fitzsimmons told him he wouldn't have to wait long. It turned out to be a wait of 8 games.
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
-
Myth
- RealGM
- Posts: 11,867
- And1: 10,513
- Joined: Oct 01, 2008
-
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
ProcessDoctor wrote:I wonder if Ainge knows he’s become a meme at this point?
He was really planning to start the meme, but somebody beat him to it.
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
-
rtiff68
- Veteran
- Posts: 2,921
- And1: 3,764
- Joined: May 25, 2019
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
You know, at times the General Board can be a wretched hive of scum and villainy-- of repetition and terrible hot takes...
...and then there are threads like this, which are genuinely hilarious.
Well done, guys.
...and then there are threads like this, which are genuinely hilarious.
Well done, guys.
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
- King4Day
- RealGM
- Posts: 13,634
- And1: 9,842
- Joined: Dec 11, 2010
- Location: Pandora
-
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
Back when I first heard this story (a few minutes ago). I couldn't believe/accept it.
Now....I can't believe it or accept it.
Now....I can't believe it or accept it.
"Sometimes, the dragon wins" #RallyTheValley
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
-
Fellow72
- Junior
- Posts: 420
- And1: 148
- Joined: Mar 14, 2012
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
Why does any of this even matter? Kobe only dropped to 11 because he sabotaged his draft stock by saying he will only play for the Lakers. You think Kobe would have been happy to play on Phoenix? Hell no. It would have been the same story and they would have probably found a way to get rid of him.
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
- gavran
- RealGM
- Posts: 18,280
- And1: 9,043
- Joined: Nov 02, 2005
- Location: crossing the line
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
- Froob
- Forum Mod - Celtics

- Posts: 43,336
- And1: 61,665
- Joined: Nov 04, 2010
- Location: ▼VII▲VIII
-
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
Lmao how did he attempt to do this as assistant coach? Story doesn’t make sense from the get go.

Tommy Heinsohn wrote:The game is not over until they look you in the face and start crying.
RIP The_Hater
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
- Harry Garris
- Retired Mod

- Posts: 8,248
- And1: 13,971
- Joined: Jul 12, 2017
-
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
Froob wrote:Lmao how did he attempt to do this as assistant coach? Story doesn’t make sense from the get go.
And it's also claiming that Danny Ainge knew about the Shaq signing weeks before the draft. That was what exposed the story as BS immediately because Danny Ainge wasn't close with Shaq (if Shaq even knew he was going there at the time), he wasn't close with Jerry West or the Lakers at all so he wouldn't have told him. The Lakers didn't even have the cap room to sign Shaq so they weren't considered a contender for stealing him away from Orlando at the time by the media. The draft day trade of Vlade Divac for Kobe and his rookie contract was also the trade that opened up the cap room for the Lakers to be able to offer Shaq a deal.
There is just no conceivable way that Ainge somehow knew this series of events was going to happen weeks in advance.

Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
-
LakersLegacy
- Head Coach
- Posts: 7,484
- And1: 4,025
- Joined: Apr 27, 2015
-
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
Did Ainge tell his Pierce for rookie LeBron story yet. Heard it only didn’t happen because Ainge is too loyal, overheard Ainge saying it LoL
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
-
Ambrose
- Assistant Coach
- Posts: 4,355
- And1: 5,191
- Joined: Jul 05, 2014
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
Danny Ainge has to be the most insecure man of all time to constantly leak great ideas he had that didn't happen and that also weren't his fault at all.
~Regarding Denver Nuggets, May 2025hardenASG13 wrote:They are better than the teammates of SGA, Giannis, Luka, Brunson, Curry etc. so far.
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
- CeltsFlow
- Lead Assistant
- Posts: 4,999
- And1: 6,716
- Joined: Sep 10, 2017
- Location: Jayson Tatum Fan Club
-
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
Aki with the easiest bait thread of all time, well done
Froob wrote:SVG is like JVG from an alternate reality where JVG is interested in talking about the game
Kabookalu wrote:[Dillon] Brooks has a mediocre driving game, but insists that he's prime Manu Ginobili.
It's time to win basketball games
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
-
zaz102
- Starter
- Posts: 2,150
- And1: 1,296
- Joined: Nov 08, 2016
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
It's strange, even if they're true, I'm sure every GM has a story where they wanted a player that was a star or became a star, but the the other team's GM shut them down. Why are these non-moves being leaked?Ambrose wrote:Danny Ainge has to be the most insecure man of all time to constantly leak great ideas he had that didn't happen and that also weren't his fault at all.
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
-
StojkoVrankovic
- RealGM
- Posts: 10,721
- And1: 9,600
- Joined: Nov 29, 2011
-
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
ProcessDoctor wrote:I wonder if Ainge knows he’s become a meme at this point?
pretty sure he doesn't care about what a bunch of douchebags on the internet think, but keep doing you
RIP texas celtic, 12/10/14 - 12/10/14
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
-
MagicBagley18
- RealGM
- Posts: 14,831
- And1: 20,333
- Joined: Feb 15, 2019
-
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
Looking at the fans in this thread bashing ainge and knowing they’d take him as their teams gm in about 2 seconds also teams whose ainge’s team just eliminated as recently as last post season or have owned in previous post seasons taking shots.
Please. Rent free
Please. Rent free
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
-
KembaWalker
- RealGM
- Posts: 11,955
- And1: 13,582
- Joined: Dec 22, 2011
Re: Ainge tried to get Kobe (to Phoenix) back in 1996, Warriors said we're not trading the #11 and took Todd Fuller
StojkoVrankovic wrote:ProcessDoctor wrote:I wonder if Ainge knows he’s become a meme at this point?
pretty sure he doesn't care about what a bunch of douchebags on the internet think, but keep doing you
MagicBagley18 wrote:Looking at the fans in this thread bashing ainge and knowing they’d take him as their teams gm in about 2 seconds also teams whose ainge’s team just eliminated as recently as last post season or have owned in previous post seasons taking shots.
Please. Rent free
imagine simping on a mediocre NBA general manager








