on espn.com it says kobe bryant is almost a chicago bull is that true?

Answer 1

i can't open the link because i'm not a member but i'm pretty sure it says that kobe WAS almost a bull and nearly signed a couple of years ago..... here's today's article from the chicago tribune...


Kobe as Bulls' go-to guy? Close
Lakers star admits he was eager to join team on rise after tough 2003-04 season

Published December 20, 2006


It could have happened, Kobe Bryant insists. He could have been a Bull, really wanted to be a Bull.

"We were looking at houses, we were looking at schools. We already were talking about a sign-and-trade," said Bryant, perhaps the premier individual star in the NBA today. "I liked the Bulls' direction."

Fantasy? Reality? Good story?

No one ever will know for sure, and they insist in Los Angeles that Bryant never was going to leave, that at worst he would sign as a free agent with the Clippers.

But Bryant, who was here Tuesday night as the Lakers opened a six-game Eastern Conference trip, said he was a lot closer to becoming a Bull than anyone really believes in perhaps one of the great unexplored possibilities in the NBA.

It was after the 2003-04 season, when the Lakers' championship run had come apart badly with a Finals collapse against the Pistons. It seemed clear there was no saving the Bryant-Shaquille O'Neal relationship. Pat Riley even flew out and told the Lakers he would consider returning to coach if he could get Bryant and O'Neal back together. He couldn't even reach both.

Coach Phil Jackson was leaving and his relationship with Bryant had soured, and Bryant was wrung out over the attention in Los Angeles following his infamous sexual assault case in Colorado.

He sent word to the Bulls he was interested and Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and general manager John Paxson flew out to Los Angeles to meet with Bryant and his representative.

Bryant insists he was serious, though he admits his wife, a Southern California native, was reluctant. But she also understood Bryant no longer could co-exist with O'Neal and, according to Bryant, agreed.

"She said, 'Go for it,'" Bryant said.

Bryant had his agent contact the Bulls to see if they would do a sign-and-trade deal with the Lakers.

The Bulls were at the salary cap and could offer only an exception deal starting at about $5 million. As a free agent of the Lakers, Bryant could sign the long term deal he eventually agreed to of $136 million over seven years. But the Clippers were convinced Bryant would jump the Lakers and sign with them. They printed a jersey with his name on it for a signing news conference they believed would occur. They had made several trades to create contract room for a big deal, like the Lakers did a few years before for O'Neal when he left Orlando.

Bulls sources confirm Bryant's agent did follow up and ask the Bulls if they would agree to a sign-and-trade deal, and Bryant sent word he would approach the Lakers to make the deal or threaten to leave for nothing. It would enable Bryant to get $100 million from the Bulls and the Lakers to recoup some young talent.

The notion was with Bryant gone, O'Neal would remain. The Bulls had some short-term and expiring contracts to send along, like those for Scottie Pippen and Eddie Robinson, and players they wanted to deal among Jamal Crawford, Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler. Paxson had not been a big fan of any of them as a broadcaster and subsequently traded all when he became general manager. But one or both of the big guys might have remained and teamed with Bryant. Who knows what could have happened?

A few days later, O'Neal asked to be traded.

The Lakers had made their choice. Bryant quickly resigned and O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat.

Urban legend? Hollywood fiction? A real possibility? Not even the Bulls know for sure, but it is interesting to contemplate, What if the Bulls had gotten that one go-to star they appear still to need?

Answer 2

not till proabably kobe contract expire till long time, lakers know they need kobe unlike 76ser A.I because of basically bad winning ratio. but as long lakers can go to playoff i dunno think lakers gonna trade kobe till unleast contract expire. also bull got no more $ for any serious player trade like kobe, they just send 20 some million to get ben wallance.

Answer 3

No, they were saying that back when he was a free agent, he was close to signing with the bulls.

Answer 4

omg it does say that in the rumor page but the rumor page also said that iverson was going to clippers for maggette and livingston. i'm very cynical about rumors, it's probably false

Answer 5

i wish... the bulls would be beast with Kobe, Ben Wallace, and Kirk Hinrich

Alas, no it is not true

Answer 6

where does it say that im on espn right now

Answer 7

what does that mean??

Answer 8

no