Amidst the numerous NBA trade rumors about the top contenders, few reports have emerged stating that a trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons was considered to be a possibility around ten years ago. Reports claimed that the main attraction of the deal was former Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant and Pistons' Grant Hill.

According to Bryant's former coach, Phil Jackson, the Lakers were once planning to send their top player Bryant to the Pistons, when he was in his early-30s. Morning Ledger reported that the main reason behind the possible trade scenario was Bryant's resistance to the Lakers' plans to play him off the bench.

It is stated that due to Bryant's persistence to get traded that year, the Lakers management thought of bringing in Detroit's Grant Hill. Reports claimed that the Los Angeles team's management along with Jackson and then team executive Jerry West was attracted towards Hills' versatility and defensive skills.

"Of course, Jerry told me about the conversation," Jackson recalled, reported iSports Times. "And, for a few minutes, I thought about taking the Pistons up on an offer they made to trade Kobe for Grant Hill. Make that a few seconds."

Rumors hinted that at that particular time Hill had a high average, rebounds, and assists points per game as compared to Bryant's 19 points average per game. It is reported that the trade rumors surfaced because of the reports that Hill was considered to be the most compatible player on-court with Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal.

However, the Bryant trade didn't materialize due to the coach Jackson's instincts and belief in the shooting guard. Also, bringing in Hill would have proved to be a disaster for the Lakers as his performance degraded after the rumored trade talks.

Reports stated that this decision of not trading Bryant paid off for the Lakers as they soon became the top contenders of the NBA league with continuous wins for three seasons in the year 2000, 2001, and 2002.