 |
| These two were almost teammates. (Getty Images) |
While he was dancing with stars, Mark Cuban was trying to tango with the biggest one in basketball.
Cuban said Tuesday on 103.3 FM in Dallas that while on the show "Dancing With the Stars" in 2007 he was also busy trying to work out a deal for Kobe Bryant, one that Cuban says was close. Via the Dallas Morning News:
“When I was doing Dancing with the Stars, I was taking breaks because I was talking to Kobe’s agent because Kobe wanted to get traded,” Cuban said. “Literally, between Dancing with the Stars practices I had thought we traded for Kobe Bryant. I even talked to their owner and thought we were going to have done deal, and [Lakers GM] Mitch Kupchak changed [Kobe’s] mind and brought him back.”
Who was the trade for? Who knows, but not Dirk.
That may seem like a far-fetched idea but Mavs owner Mark Cuban said Tuesday morning that it was almost a reality in the summer of 2007.
“It wasn’t Dirk for Kobe,” he said.
Most know the story well. Kobe was disgruntled with the Lakers and asked out in 2007. He demanded a trade and as the Lakers reportedly zeroed in with one potentially with the Bulls, the plug was pulled and they kept Kobe. It kind of worked out.
Cuban also said the Lakers were smart for not letting it happen. I'd say so. They went on to appear in three consecutive Finals, winning two straight in 2009 and 2010.
