How did Kobe force the Charlotte-L.A. Draft Day Trade?

[RiseUpAtlanta]

I've always wondered how a 17-18 year old was able to get himself traded to a big market city...does anyone know the story? Why was he able to do it and not others?

[kgisbigticket]

I've always wondered how a 17-18 year old was able to get himself traded to a big market city...does anyone know the story? Why was he able to do it and not others?

Lakers already had Shaq who was only 25, what was the purpose of having Divac and Elden Campbell as backups?

[Da KO King]

Kobe was thought to still have his NCAA eligibility. Back then if he decided to go to college I believe the pro team would lose his draft rights.

[ErhnamDjinn]

Kobe was thought to still have his NCAA eligibility. Back then if he decided to go to college I believe the pro team would lose his draft rights.

so your saying he basically held the hornets hostage? Trade me or I play college ball?

[KobesOneUglyTat]

it was pre-arranged, the hornets took kobe with the intent of trading him. the trade wasn't forced it had been hammered out weeks prior.

[KobesOneUglyTat]

Kobe was thought to still have his NCAA eligibility. Back then if he decided to go to college I believe the pro team would lose his draft rights.

no, only if you had not signed with a agent. kobe had an agent.

[Da KO King]

so your saying he basically held the hornets hostage? Trade me or I play college ball?

That what I was told.

[Da KO King]

no, only if you had not signed with a agent. kobe had an agent.

I believe Kobe "only" had advisors not agents. Same function but a loophole in wording.

[KobesOneUglyTat]

I believe Kobe "only" had advisors not agents. Same function but a loophole in wording.

i'm pretty sure he had an agent who negiated the whole thing with the lakers and hornets, as well as a shoe deal with adidas.

[eliteballer]

Kobe's agent at the time was good friends with Jerry West, he was probably behind Kobe's demand.

[hawkfan]

Calipari wanted to draft Kobe for the Nets, but somehow that didn't go through. I don't know if it was Kobe or team management.

The Charlotte thing was not a hostage type deal - they wanted Vlade Divac and were willing to trade Kobe to get him.

Remember at that time, high school players going straight to the pros wasn't very common, and it usually took four or five years for a guy to get really good - see Jermaine O'Neal for more on that.

[Da KO King]

i'm pretty sure he had an agent who negiated the whole thing with the lakers and hornets, as well as a shoe deal with adidas.

The shoe deal came later that summer. I'm almost 100% certain that Kobe's people were just advisors.

By only having them as advisors Kobe would keep his eligibility. Since Kobe's family still had a good deal of money from his dad's playing career they paid out the pocket for all the pre-draft workouts/training thus keeping him good for the NCAA.

[VCDrivesAPorscheToWork]

Kobe also said there was no snowball's chance in hell he would show up in New Jersey if they drafted him, so the Nets went for Kerry Kittles instead

[NewYorkUSCtrojan]

Lakers traded Divacs to clear room and cap money for Shaq. Hoping that Kobe Bryant would become a Super Star.

Divac, though, isn't bitter about being traded after spending his first seven years in the league with the Lakers. He said Monday night he understood that basketball is a business.

With the trade, the Lakers will clear more than $ 3 million in salary cap room (for their expected Shaquille O'Neal quest) and also bring in the youngest player in their history in Bryant, who won't be 18 until Aug. 23.

"I knew they were thinking about getting Shaq and obviously in order to do that, they needed to trade me," Divac said. "I am not at all angry with the Lakers. The thing is, they are like my family. When I came here they were wonderful to me, so I want to help them in any way I can. "

[YAWN]

Kobe also said there was no snowball's chance in hell he would show up in New Jersey if they drafted him, so the Nets went for Kerry Kittles instead

I think that had to do with the deal Jerry West already had in place.