In a recent appearance on “The Big Podcast with Shaquille O’Neal,” former Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban revealed a shocking piece of NBA history: the Mavericks were very close to trading for Kobe Bryant in 2007. Cuban shared that the deal was so close to being finalized that he thought it was done.
At the time, Kobe Bryant had requested a trade from the Los Angeles Lakers, and Cuban saw an opportunity to pair Bryant with his superstar, Dirk Nowitzki. The proposed trade package included Josh Howard, Jason Terry, and draft picks.
Cuban even recalled talking to Lakers owner Jerry Buss and working out the details.
However, the deal fell through when Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak stepped in and convinced Bryant to stay. Cuban expressed his disbelief, saying,
“It was literally this close. I talked to Jerry Buss and worked something out with Jerry because Kobe had asked to leave. It was going to be Josh Howard, Jason Terry, and picks—no Dirk, because I said anybody but Dirk.”
Mark Cuban reveals that the Dallas Mavericks almost traded Josh Howard, Jason Terry, and draft picks for Kobe Bryant. 👀
(🎥 @bigpodwithshaq / https://t.co/TnCaq3iZKr) pic.twitter.com/OBM8UotERZ
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 9, 2024
The revelation has sparked a lot of interest and speculation among fans and analysts about what could have been if the trade had gone through. While it didn’t happen, the story adds an interesting chapter to the history of both the Mavericks and the Lakers.