Old North Banter
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One Moment that will Haunt Each North Carolina Team Forever

By Christian Candeloro

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 04: Kris Jenkins #2 of the Villanova Wildcats shoots the game-winning three pointer to defeat the North Carolina Tar Heels 77-74 in the 2016 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at NRG Stadium on April 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 04: Kris Jenkins #2 of the Villanova Wildcats shoots the game-winning three pointer to defeat the North Carolina Tar Heels 77-74 in the 2016 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at NRG Stadium on April 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 17: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks during the post game news conference with daughters Natalia and Gianna Bryant as he celebrates after the Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics 83-79 in Game Seven of the 2010 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 17, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 17: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks during the post game news conference with daughters Natalia and Gianna Bryant as he celebrates after the Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics 83-79 in Game Seven of the 2010 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 17, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Hornets trade Kobe Bryant for Vlade Divac on draft night

No one knew at the time that a draft-night trade would forever alter the future of the NBA and not in the Hornets’ favor. With the 13th pick, the Hornets traded high school prospect Kobe Bryant to the Los Angeles Lakers for established center Vlade Divac.

Divac ended up playing two seasons for the Hornets, averaging 12.6 points per game in 1996-97 and 10.4 in 1997-98. He would leave in the offseason, signing with the Sacramento Kings and leaving the Hornets with nothing to show from the trade.

All Bryant would do was become a five-time NBA Champion, two-time Finals MVP, 18-time All-Star, 2008 NBA MVP, two-time NBA scoring champion, 11-time All-NBA First Team, and three-time NBA All-Defensive Team. He would combine with Phil Jackson and Shaquille O’Neal to create another Lakers dynasty in the 2000s.

Meanwhile, the Hornets would continue to flounder and think about what could’ve been had they just stuck with their original draft pick. Well at least they learned their lesson and decided to hold onto the next generational talent that would come through the door…oh wait.

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