The Lakers made one of the best trades in NBA history in 1996 – Vlade Divac for rights to Kobe Bryant. Not only did the deal get them Kobe, shedding Divac’s salary helped them clear the cap room to sign Shaquille O’Neal. But Divac – who’d spent his entire seven-year career with the Lakers at that point – said he nearly blocked the deal from happening.
Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports:
Divac was in Europe and was stunned when his agent told him about the trade. Days later, Divac said he informed the Lakers he planned to retire, which would have prevented the team from trading him for Bryant.
“It felt like someone from behind hit me with a hammer,” Divac told Yahoo Sports. “It was the first time in my career that something happened in a way I didn’t plan. I was devastated. I was thinking, ‘I play basketball for fun.’ My father said when I brought my first [basketball paycheck] back home, ‘Who gave this to you? Are they crazy? Do they know you would play basketball even if they don’t pay you?’
“I am not going to play basketball because I have to play. I am going to play for fun. I was 28. I am not going to go somewhere and be forced to play basketball. I told my agent that I am not going to Charlotte. I loved L.A. I loved the Lakers. For every kid that played basketball, it was basketball heaven being with Magic and the other guys.”
A meeting with Jerry West changed Divac’s mind, and he played a key role on two 50-win Hornets teams. Divac then signed with the Kings and became an All-Star for a team that repeatedly advance in the playoffs. He returned to the Lakers to play with Kobe and finish his career.
