How did the commerce occur? VLADE DIVAC: Magic and another gamers had retired, and I used to be one of many solely veterans left. New gamers had been coming in, and the Lakers initially needed to commerce one other participant for Kobe. Nevertheless, Charlotte insisted on me. The Lakers actually needed Kobe, seeing him as a possible MVP, and so they cleared cap house to usher in Shaquille O’Neal too. In fact, I used to be offended, I didn’t wish to depart, however wanting again now, I might have traded myself for Kobe. There have been rumors that the commerce nearly fell via since you refused to go to the Hornets. Is that true? VLADE DIVAC: Once they informed me in regards to the commerce, I refused. I stated I wouldn’t go. Then they defined that it was in my contract, that if I didn’t agree, I wouldn’t have the ability to play basketball anymore. That’s once I made it clear that I performed basketball out of affection, and if that meant not taking part in anymore, then so be it. Cash is good, however it comes naturally. I’m not somebody who would go someplace simply because another person desires me to. I performed basketball for the enjoyment of it. The second it stopped being enjoyable for me, I might cease taking part in. That’s once they realized they couldn’t break me, so that they modified their strategy. They held a gathering with me and requested me to no less than go there for 2 or three weeks to no less than go there for 2 or three weeks to see if I’d prefer it. Then I may resolve. After I arrived in Charlotte, I noticed that I may really get pleasure from it there, so I accepted. However, sure, these ten days had been actually tense. -via Index / September 21, 2024