We already believed the Lakers and Pistons agreed to a Kobe Bryant trade in 2007, reportedly with Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Amir Johnson and a first-round pick going to Los Angeles.
Kobe confirmed he used his no-trade clause to veto a trade to Detroit.
Kobe on The Grantland Basketball Hour:
"I said, “I gave you a list of teams I’m comfortable being traded to. That wasn’t one of them. So, no.”"
The Pistons would have much better off with Kobe, who led the Lakers to a couple titles after that. Meanwhile, Hamilton and Prince declined, and Joe Dumars practically gave away Amir Johnson.
But Kobe earned his no-trade clause, and he had every right to use it here. As much fun as it would have been to have him in Detroit – and my opinion of Kobe is probably less favorable than the average NBA observer – he clearly made the right choice.