Overview
- In a Club 520 podcast interview, Cuban said Dallas had a framework with the Lakers for Bryant that included two first-round picks, Josh Howard, and Jason Terry.
- He described taking calls with Kobe Bryant’s agent Rob Pelinka during Dancing with the Stars rehearsals and said Jerry Buss appeared ready to approve the trade in his telling.
- Cuban said the deal unraveled after Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak convinced Bryant to remain in Los Angeles.
- Dirk Nowitzki told Cuban he would accept being traded for Bryant, though Cuban said the goal was to team Bryant with Nowitzki in Dallas.
- Bryant stayed with the Lakers, reached the 2008 NBA Finals, then won back-to-back titles, and the Mavericks later won the 2011 championship after sweeping Los Angeles in the second round.