Lakers and Cavaliers Discussed A Kobe Bryant-LeBron James Trade In 2007

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio – Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue was in his second National Basketball Association season with the Los Angeles Lakers when a normal practice turned into his most unforgettable Kobe Bryant story, the one that stands out in a collection of thousands.

According to ESPN, multiple sources with direct knowledge of the situation, have confirmed that it was the Lakers who first reached out to the Cavaliers back in 2007.

Bryant had demanded a trade before the 2007-2008 season, frustrated that the Lakers had stagnated and believing that the team was not properly prioritizing wining. The intent of the call, sources said, was clear: Would the Cavs make James available in a potential deal for Bryant?

The trade discussions ultimately went nowhere, with Bryant telling Baxter Holmes of ESPN that he would not have approved a trade to anywhere outside of his preferred list of cities, which included San Antonio, Chicago, and Phoenix. If he can’t go in Cleveland, the final Bryant-James matchup will take place in Los Angeles on March 10.

Trading away LeBron James at that moment in his career, even for someone as good as Bryant, would have obviously been an insane thing for the Cavs to do.

James was just 22 and coming off a trip to The Finals and signed for three more seasons.

Now Kobe will face Lebron for the first time in a long time as he missed the last few meetings due to his rotator cuff injury.

Kobe’s National Basketball Association farewell tour continues tonight against the Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena, live at 1:00 GMT.

“I’ve got to do it. We’ve got to do something”. He was considered an ultimate untouchable. The trade to go to Cleveland? Through five championships, two Finals MVPs, two scoring titles, two Olympic gold medals, and a mind-boggling 18 All-Star appearances, Bryant’s maniacal intensity and commitment to excellence never wavered. “We’ll remain extremely consistent with what we’ve been doing, which is creating innovative products that help athletes be the best versions of themselves”, Bryant said.