NBA Trade: 11 shocking NBA trades that almost happened

2. Kobe Bryant - Chicago Bulls

Kobe Bryant very nearly joined the Bulls in 20072. Kobe Bryant - Chicago Bulls

Kobe Bryant was not a happy man in 2007. The Lakers were not doing well after Shaquille O'Neal left the team and with Shaq winning a title with Miami a season earlier, the Lakers had made him feel like he was the reason for O'Neal's departure.

Bryant was extremely public about the fact that he unhappy by appearing on numerous radio talk shows stating that he wanted to be traded.

The Bulls looked like the most likely destination for Bryant and a deal that included Joakim Noah and Luol Deng was set. Bryant though, at the time had a no-trade clause in his contract and refused to join the Bulls in any trade involving Luol Deng since Deng at the time was an elite scorer. He knew that taking him and Noah meant that the Bulls were breaking their spine and would have nothing left on their side when Bryant did arrive.

In reality, Chicago just didn't have enough pieces to make this trade happen.

In the end, it probably worked out for all three parties. Kobe and the Lakers won two more titles while the Bulls landed Derrick Rose soon after.