This was the Kobe Bryant trade that never happened

Kobe Bryant is one of NBA all-time greatest players. He ended his 20 year career with five NBA championships, two Finals MVP, one regular season MVP and a 18-time All-star selection. All of his achievements went as a Lakers player, the only team he ever played for. However according to Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, they almost trade for Kobe in the 2007, but as we all know, this never happened.

The Mavericks entered the 07 season after being runners-ups of the 2006 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Miami Heat. They improve their previous 60–22 record by seven wins, finishing 67–15 and claiming the top seed in the Western Conference, and qualifying for the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season. However they would end up the season losing to the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs.

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Mark Cuban knew he need a player to complement Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry, what better player than Kobe,  "I was going back and forth with Dr. Buss...he said look, 'I think we might be parting ways with Kobe.' I remember it vividly because there was PA named Elvis. ...and he was Kobe, Kobe, Kobe all the time. So it started to happen and I started telling him [Elvis] about it, and that was the kiss of death. As soon as I told Elvis, it all fell apart."

The trade made sense for the Mavs, as they needed something extra to reach the Finals, "It would've been damn good. Dirk, was like 'I would've traded me for Kobe.' I said, no Dirk, that's the whole point. We would've been something else."  continued Cuban, but the Lakers were not in a position to send their best player away as they finished the previous season eliminated in in the First Round of the playoffs by the Suns. 

Kobe after the 2007 season

That season Kobe Bryant switched from jersey number 8 to 24 and ended up winning the scoring title. He ended up playing for ten more years , winning two NBA titles back to back, and being MVP in both Finals. He also won an MVP in the 2008 season. Kobe continue with a Hall of Fame career that ended in the 2016 season.