NBA Betting: Kobe Bryant Trade to Bulls Not Happening, Paxson Says

Chicago’s not in Kobe Bryant’s future, apparently. (AI Wire photo)

Kobe Bryant isn’t going to be a Bull, and that’s no B.S., according to Chicago GM John Paxson.

The long-rumored trade that would bring the NBA’s two-time leading scorer to the United Center, where Michael Jordan ripped the twin so often, isn’t even being discussed, Paxson said.

He told reporters he wanted to "end all the rumors swirling around . . . because there's not a deal that ever was on the verge of being done, ever close to being done or is going to be done right now. It's not there. So that's that."

From the minute Bryant announced in May that he wanted to be dealt from the Los Angeles Lakers and would only accept a trade to another major market, the Bulls were in the picture. The most talked about deal included sending Ben Gordon and Luol Deng to L.A. in return for Bryant. Despite repeated statements by the Lakers and Bulls that no deal was imminent, the rumors persisted. The Bulls were the perfect fit because they had talent to give up and enough skill to still be a playoff contender with Bryant.

But that trade didn’t happen and Bryant opened the season with 45 points in a loss to the Rockets. He was back in action against the Suns on Friday.

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