Disaster Averted: Remember How Kobe Almost Became a Bull?

Remember this most promising prospect?

For sports fans, bad memories often last only as long as slumps.

Or trade talks.

Or steroid scandals.

But Pembertonian — he’s got a memory like an elephant. And lately he’s been thinking – remembering — how Kobe Bryant was booed by Lakers fans just over a year ago.

Now it may be hard for L.A. to remember that now — you know, in the midst of loving Kobe Bryant.  Recent woes aside, it has been a pretty good year — 18 games up and all.

But Jack Nicholson (not to mention Ryantific) probably wouldn’t be so happy today had Kobe become a Bull.

Remember those talks? Wasn’t long ago. But the chief trade bait for the Bulls was Luol Deng.  And at the time Deng seemed like pretty sweet bait indeed: Deng, who had averaged 18 points the prior season, was considered among the future elite. As ESPN.com wrote back then:  “Deng is widely regarded as one of the league’s best up-and-coming players, a young man from Sudan by way of England and Duke University. His impeccable character is matched only by the touch on his mid-range jumper, his most effective offensive weapon.”

Well . . .

The once promising Deng — just like the once promising Bulls — has taken a turn for the worse.  Deng’s ppg has dipped to 14 points per game, and his stock has plummeted faster than Bear Stearns. 

Those Lakers fans who once booed Bryant? Well, I don’t hear them so much. And those Bulls fans who said, “Kobe Bryant’s a trouble maker — we don’t need him” would probably love to put up with him now given their team is at best a first-round elimination. (Any bets on how long John Paxson remains the GM?)

Not only do the Lakers owe Kobe for a stellar season, they also owe him for not getting stuck with Deng. It was Bryant, after all, who insisted on playing with Deng had a deal been made with Chicago.

Ironically, another failed Deng trade also worked out well for L.A.

Anyone remember talks of a Deng-for-Gasol deal?