The Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers discussed swapping Kobe Bryant for LeBron James in 2007.
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Love got injured with less than a minute left in the first half when he tried posting up Kobe Bryant. However, following the game Love said he only has a “stinger” and doesn’t expect to miss any time.
Love needed six months to recover from that surgery, returning late in the preseason, although one source said the team was being overly cautious and it doesn’t appear to be as serious.
It was an emotional game on Wednesday as the Lakers visited the Cleveland Cavaliers for the final time this season. LeBron James was only 22-years-old and his Cleveland Cavaliers were fresh off an NBA Finals appearance, where they lost to the San Antonio Spurs in four straight.
The injury didn’t dissuade the Cavaliers from signing him to a maximum contract and he was back in time for the start of the season.
In Boston, Isaiah Thomas had 36 points and 11 assists, including a fade-away jumper that sent the game to an extra period. Russell got drilled in a sensitive area by a James pass in the fourth quarter. “We talk about the game, we talk about different strategies that center around the game”. “I just wanted to win the damn thing”.
Cleveland carried a 19-point lead into the fourth quarter.
Bryant and LeBron James shared a moment before the game.
The Cavaliers had to at least be tempted by the idea of acquiring Bryant, who at the time was the best player in the league, but they decided James was untouchable.
“We never crossed paths unfortunately”, Bryant said. “I know our fans will give him a great reception, well deserved”.
“I remember sitting down and talking with him”, Bryant said. A deal with the Bulls broke down when Bryant didn’t want forward Luol Deng to be included in the trade, believing he was a big piece to championship contention in Chicago.
Prior to the injury, Love converted two of his nine attempts from the field, including two of his five three-point shots and a pair of free throws for eight points. James entered the night trailing Paul Pierce for 15th place on the NBA’s career scoring list….
3-Point Goals-L.A. Lakers 13-28 (L.Williams 4-6, Russell 3-5, Clarkson 3-5, Bryant 3-7, World Peace 0-5), Cleveland 13-31 (Irving 3-6, James 3-6, Smith 3-7, Jefferson 2-3, Love 2-5, Shumpert 0-2, M.Williams 0-2).
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Man, can you imagine miserable-ass Kobe being forced to waste an entire year of his prime in Cleveland alongside Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Daniel Gibson?
