<P> In the 1996 NBA Draft , the Hornets selected Kobe Bryant with the 13th overall pick . Before he was chosen by the Hornets , the 17 - year - old Bryant had made a lasting impression on then - Lakers general manager Jerry West , who immediately foresaw potential in Bryant 's basketball ability during pre-draft workouts . West even went on to state that Bryant 's workouts were some of the best he had seen . Immediately after the draft , Dave Cowens expressed that the Hornets had no use for him . Fifteen days later , West traded his starting center , Vlade Divac to the Hornets for the young Kobe Bryant . </P>
<P> In the 1996 NBA Draft , the Hornets selected Kobe Bryant with the 13th overall pick . Before he was chosen by the Hornets , the 17 - year - old Bryant had made a lasting impression on then - Lakers general manager Jerry West , who immediately foresaw potential in Bryant 's basketball ability during pre-draft workouts . West even went on to state that Bryant 's workouts were some of the best he had seen . Immediately after the draft , Dave Cowens expressed that the Hornets had no use for him . Fifteen days later , West traded his starting center , Vlade Divac to the Hornets for the young Kobe Bryant . </P>
who did charlotte hornets trade kobe bryant for
who did charlotte hornets trade kobe bryant for
Vlade Divac
Vlade Divac