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The Los Angeles Lakers have already been eliminated from playoff contention, so all of their fans are already focused on the offseason — during which they can rebuild through draft, free agency and trades
Los Angeles is one of the teams expected to make major moves this summer. However, while everybody is talking about the possibility of the Purple and Gold signing one of either Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard or Kyrie Irving, it is worth noting that they will begin the offseason through the draft.
After all, it is during draft day 22 years ago that they've made one move that shaped the course of their franchise: trading for Kobe Bryant.
Back in 1996, the Charlotte Hornets selected Bryant — a young, athletic prospect from Lower Merion High School — with the 13th overall pick. Nonetheless, Kobe didn't play one single game with the team, as he was immediately traded to the Lakers in exchange for Vlade Divac.
Yes, yes, you've read this story a lot of times. Kobe eventually helped the Lakers win five championships. He became an 18-time All-Star, an Olympic gold medalist, and of course, one of the greatest players in the history of basketball.
But you see, Bryant's move to the Lakers was more than just about his individual accomplishments or the titles he brought to Los Angeles. It's the fact that he propelled the team to prominence and helped them continue their winning tradition.
Kobe was the face of the franchise for 20 years.
Imagine what he could have done for the Hornets.
Now, it's easy to argue that the trade wasn't exactly done the right way. After all, there were stories that then Lakers General Manager Jerry West and Bryant's agent that time, Arn Tellem, worked together to make sure Bryant would end up in LA. Still, the Hornets could've kept the Black Mamba instead of giving in to the pressure and losing the opportunity to have a generational talent.
Kobe, whether you believe it or not, said on multiple occasions that he had absolutely nothing to do with the trade. He insisted that the Hornets told him he would be of no use to the team, which is why he was traded. Now if you look at it in this perspective, it makes the team look worse.
On this day 18yrs ago the hornets told me right after they drafted me that they had no use for me and were going to trade me #thanku #lakers
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) July 1, 2014
Maybe Charlotte just didn't have enough faith in Bryant. After all, he is an 18-year-old kid who forego college and immediately jumped to the pros — something which probably hurt his value as a raw and inexperienced prospect.
Whatever the case is, though, it was a move that changed the direction of two franchises: elevating one and pushing the other to mediocrity.
Bryant would have made the Hornets more competitive, and it would have forced them to constantly look for solutions to make the team better in order to help Bryant win. They may have struggled for a few seasons, but it wouldn't be as bad as they are now.
The Hornets have only made the playoffs eight times since they traded Bryant. They could've had more, especially since they were in the East. Kobe had the killer mentality since he was a rookie, and he would've willed that franchise to more postseason runs.
It is a move that will forever haunt the Hornets, while the Lakers will eternally be grateful.
Now, the Purple and Gold haven't made wise decisions in the draft as of late. From 2014 to 2017, they have been fortunate to land a pick inside the top ten which they have used to select Julius Randle, D'Angelo Russell, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball. Two of those guys are no longer with the team while the other two have been dealing with injuries and inconsistencies throughout their careers.
However, the Lakers have made a draft day deal that's almost similar to what they did in 1996. In 2017, they traded Russell and Timofey Mozgov (who had a horrible contract by the way) to the Brooklyn Nets for Kyle Kuzma.
Unlike Bryant, Kuzma went to college and spent four years at University of Utah. He has shown the potential to become a great player, and he continued to stand out despite the arrival of four-time MVP LeBron James.
Remember, Kobe made a name for himself despite the fact that he had to play with Shaquille O'Neal. When The Diesel was traded to Miami in 2004, that's when the Black Mamba took over the league.
While the Lakers may have found Kobe's successor in Los Angeles, the Hornets continue to look for answers. They could lose All-Star guard Kemba Walker to free agency this summer, which means they will have to make sure that they select the right player in the upcoming draft.
They do not want their mistake 22 years ago to happen all over again.
