Why did the Lakers trade Eddie Jones in 1999?

[ChrisKreager]

In March of 1999, Eddie Jones was traded to the Hornets for Glen Rice.

Looking back, it was a trade that I looked back as one that didn't make a lot of complete sense.

Rice had been around for 10 years and, though extremely accomplished as a three-point threat, had a lot of mileage. Jones was in only his 5th year and had been a very capable and popular player (he, Ceballos, and Van Exel were a capable Laker trio in the pre-Shaq years, and he formed a good backcourt partner for Kobe).

I know Rice got a ring in 2000, but that title was not due heavily to what Rice did.

If they don't make that trade, Eddie would have been a capable third scoring option after Shaq and Kobe. Maybe he could have made a difference in 2003 or 2004?

[hawkfan]

In March of 1999, Eddie Jones was traded to the Hornets for Glen Rice.

Looking back, it was a trade that I looked back as one that didn't make a lot of complete sense.

Rice had been around for 10 years and, though extremely accomplished as a three-point threat, had a lot of mileage. Jones was in only his 5th year and had been a very capable and popular player (he, Ceballos, and Van Exel were a capable Laker trio in the pre-Shaq years, and he formed a good backcourt partner for Kobe).

I know Rice got a ring in 2000, but that title was not due heavily to what Rice did.

If they don't make that trade, Eddie would have been a capable third scoring option after Shaq and Kobe. Maybe he could have made a difference in 2003 or 2004?

To clear out more shots for Kobe.
Eddie wanted to be the closer, except that he couldn't close. Never could during his career.
So they sent him to Charlotte to close games.
Also, Charlotte's owner was cheap and didn't want to pay Glen Rice.

[Clippersfan86]

Exactly what Hawk said pretty much. Gist of it is that they believed in Kobe bigtime and wanted to let him develop. He wasn't getting any minutes at all the first two years he was in the league.

[hawkfan]

Glen Rice made a mistake.
He should have accepted being a third option.
He would have won more championships.
Also, he should have actually tried to play defense.

[YAWN]

http://d0inw0rk.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/kobe-bryant-8-dunk1.jpg

..

[Lebron23]

A 21 yrs.old Kobe Bryant was already better than Prime Eddie Jone.

[Xiao Yao You]

He wasn't getting any minutes at all the first two years he was in the league.

Sure he was. He was in the rotation out of high school from the first game. Like Kemp and Garnett before him and McGrady after him.


A 21 yrs.old Kobe Bryant was already better than Prime Eddie Jone.

In some aspects at least.

[Dwade305]

Eddie Jones had shitty a$$ conditioning(almost every 4th quar he was exhausted), never lifted weights, never went that extra mile really to better his game. Lakers made way for Kobe, it was a no brainer.

[monkeypox]

Eddie was a fan favorite but always shrank during the playoffs. Loved the guy but he was soft. At the time the thought was that the Lakers were just 1 3pt. sharpshooter away from complete dominance. We Laker fans had been talking for a couple of years already about how amazing it would be to have someone like Rice, the purest shooter in the league at the time, on the Lakers. Unfortunately the long jump shot is the first thing to go sour with age and we got like one good year out of him before his ego became a problem.

[All Net]

Eddie was a fan favorite but always shrank during the playoffs. Loved the guy but he was soft. At the time the thought was that the Lakers were just 1 3pt. sharpshooter away from complete dominance. We Laker fans had been talking for a couple of years already about how amazing it would be to have someone like Rice, the purest shooter in the league at the time, on the Lakers. Unfortunately the long jump shot is the first thing to go sour with age and we got like one good year out of him before his ego became a problem.

Wasn't just Rice's ego but also his wife.

[LAClipsFan33]

Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones didn't get along with a young Kobe Bryant...the Lakers made the smart choice.

[LALakerFan4Life]

Cause Shaq hated Eddie Jones.

[LALakerFan4Life]

Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones didn't get along with a young Kobe Bryant...the Lakers made the smart choice.
Eddie didn't get along with Kobe? They're close friends. Eddie mentored Kobe. Kobe even gives credit to Eddie for mentoring him.

[DavisWarriorsFan]

Cause Shaq hated Eddie Jones.
This. Shaq didn't like Jones and Nick Van Exel.

[Rooster]

Eddie was a fan favorite but always shrank during the playoffs. Loved the guy but he was soft. At the time the thought was that the Lakers were just 1 3pt. sharpshooter away from complete dominance. We Laker fans had been talking for a couple of years already about how amazing it would be to have someone like Rice, the purest shooter in the league at the time, on the Lakers. Unfortunately the long jump shot is the first thing to go sour with age and we got like one good year out of him before his ego became a problem.

At that time the trade was imminent. Eddie Jones disappears when it matters. Lakers already knew how good was Kobe. They also knew they have to give him more freedom to develop him. At that time Rice was a no brainer. He could spread the floor for Shaq and Kobe more room to operate. But Rick Fox played harder and played better defense and also can shoot. Phil played him at the end instead of Rice. Then Glen Rice wifey went public with his bitching about Rice getting benched in the 4th quarter. Maybe because of Rice contract year or whatever. At the end, Lakers won 2 more without him proving Rice was dispensable.

[Rooster]

This. Shaq didn't like Jones and Nick Van Exel.

No he was pissed because these guys are talking about Las Vegas before the Utah playoff series was over. He mention he never like Eddie Jones because he choked in tight situation and act like it was no big deal after.

[Lebron23]

Eddie Jones had a great season with the Hornets in 2000. In hindsight he could have been a much better 3rd option than Glenn Rice in the Triangle Offense. Lakers traded Jones and Van Excel because they wanted to give more playing time to Kobe.

[light]

In March of 1999, Eddie Jones was traded to the Hornets for Glen Rice.

Looking back, it was a trade that I looked back as one that didn't make a lot of complete sense.

Rice had been around for 10 years and, though extremely accomplished as a three-point threat, had a lot of mileage. Jones was in only his 5th year and had been a very capable and popular player (he, Ceballos, and Van Exel were a capable Laker trio in the pre-Shaq years, and he formed a good backcourt partner for Kobe).

I know Rice got a ring in 2000, but that title was not due heavily to what Rice did.

If they don't make that trade, Eddie would have been a capable third scoring option after Shaq and Kobe. Maybe he could have made a difference in 2003 or 2004?

Jones was traded to make room for Kobe.

Plain and simple. There is no other reason.

[oldtimer28]

Great posts all round.

Also add that people were more fixated on positions then. EJ was a clear 2 (an all rounder). GR was a clear 3 (scorer and shooter). So GR seemed a better fit for a team built around Shaq and Kobe.

[Duncan21formvp]

He and Kobe couldn’t split the shot attempts.