Upon completion of the NBA trade deadline and Kobe Bryant’s 18th All-Star game, we review the biggest deals of a legendary generation.
Player movement is conversational fuel for the ever starving NBA community. Why a player moves on, the manner in which he moves on, and the overall aftermath provide endless conversation for the NBA fan base and league associates alike.
Kobe Bryant himself has had a take or two in the past.
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
Draft day trades are a whole other can of, ‘what if’, but the NBA trade deadline provides a unique opportunity for teams to load or unload the shelves prior to the off-season. Contenders are looking to jump the pile, lottery hopefuls are attempting to cash in on players with whom the franchise has an uncertain future.
Kobe Bryant has been in this league 20 seasons, he has accomplished many remarkable feats, and his departure will cut many deeply. But perhaps his greatest achievement, despite a few bumps in the road, comes from his deep devotion to the franchise that traded for him all those years ago. Bryant has never dawned the colours of another franchise and never will.
The Black Mamba watched for 20 straight seasons as players came and went at the deadline. The Lakers may have stayed their hand with Bryant but every year there are franchises who took risks, we review the last 20 deadlines by its gutsiest mover and its biggest deal.
Next: 2016