2007 was a pre-social media world, so if this would have happened, it would have been BIG story, not as big if Twitter was around, but still massive. Remember at that time Kobe and LeBron were different players.
LeBron was just coming of age and Kobe was in his prime.
Wonder how many titles they would have won?
In the summer of 2007, Bryant was 28 years old and coming off a season in which he averaged 32 points per game and shot 46 percent from the field. He had three rings and would win his first Most Valuable Player award the following season.
Bryant was under contract for two more seasons, but he was frustrated with the Lakers after three consecutive subpar seasons following the Shaquille O’Neal trade.
“At that time, the Lakers had to do something. I was just losing faith in what they were trying to do. It was like I was a meal ticket,” Bryant told ESPN’s Baxter Holmes this week. “You come out and score 40, 50 points, fill the seats, we’re going to keep the payroll at a minimum, generate revenue. It’s like, look, listen, I am not with that, dude. I have to win without Shaq. I’ve got to do it. We’ve got to do something.”
According to multiple sources, as the Lakers went through their options, a call was placed to the Cavs. The intent of the call, sources said, was clear: Would the Cavs make James available in a potential deal for Bryant?
The Cavs said that James, indeed, was untouchable, sources said. Then they attempted to make the Lakers a different offer for Bryant, offering anyone else on their team in a package for him.
In the end of course everyone rejected the various trade combinations.
What I will always remember is that Kobe would have been a Bull, but Luol Deng was a sticking point. Bryant wanted him to stay on Bulls and Lakers wanted Deng in the package.