It’s the ultimate “What If?” in the world of trades that never happened, but it’s interesting to now know that this was at least discussed.
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Those who worked in Cleveland’s front office remember it for one reason: It was the only time a team ever called to make an offer for James. “Never”, Bryant told Holmes.
Kobe Bryant was 28 years old and almost at the peak of his powers in the summer of 2007: He would win his lone NBA MVP award the following season. They countered by offering anyone else on their team for Bryant.
LeBron James was just 22-years-old at the time and was coming off of an NBA Finals run with a team that gave him very little help.
From that point, there was the move to South Beach, a few years spent there, and then the return to Cleveland. “That wasn’t one of the teams that was on my list”.
On the season, Bryant is averaging 16.9 points. LeBron averaged 25 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists during that season and it was clear that he was the next big thing in the National Basketball Association. And so the Lakers called up the Cavaliers to inquire about what would have been the biggest trade in league history.
When all was said and done, the Cavaliers let it be known to the Lakers that LeBron James was the one-and-only untouchable they had.
James told ESPN.com that he believed the story, while Bryant says he would have turned down the deal.
While James and Bryant would have gone down as legends regardless of the trade talk results, the status quo was probably best for everyone.
When asked about the possible trade now Kobe, who had a no-trade clause in his contract, said he never would have approved the deal. “Never. The trade to go to Cleveland?” The two players have never met in a playoff series despite one or the other being in every NBA Finals between 2007 and 2015 but they were nearly traded for one another, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
Los Angeles (11-43) has lost 12 of its last 14 games, including two straight losses against San Antonio and Indiana.
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While he had requested a trade in May 2007 and a deal of some kind appeared to be imminent, Kobe and the Lakers managed to get back on the same page.
