George Karl's failed attempt to engineer a DeMarcus Cousins trade out of Sacramento wasn't the only big name he's tried to unload during his NBA coaching career.
As coach of the 1990s Western Conference power Seattle SuperSonics, Karl tried to engineer a trade that would've sent Sonics star Shawn Kemp to the Chicago Bulls for Scottie Pippen, according to Complex.com.
NBA Bust Called Kobe Bryant "Dirtiest Player" In League
In fact, the trade even had the backing of one Michael Jordan.
Of course, the proposed move was going to take place in 1994, the year His Airness decided to retire from the Bulls to pursue a career in professional baseball.
Cleveland Cavaliers Should Explore Trade Options For LeBron James
Karl's Sonics won 55 games in each of his six seasons with Seattle, but not shockingly, he and Sonics owner Bob Ackerley did not see eye to eye.
After advancing to the conference finals in 1993, the Sonics, who had Kemp and point guard Gary Payton on the roster, were shocked in the first round of the 1994 NBA playoffs by the Denver Nuggets --- marking the first time ever that a No. 8 seed beat a No. 1 seed in a playoff series.
Acklerly wanted to fire Karl after the historic loss, but general manager Bob Whitsitt asked the owner to wait a week before making any decisions. It worked. Ackerley didn't fire Karl; he fired Whitsitt.
That was around the time Karl was exploring a trade that would send Kemp to the Jordan-less Bulls in exchange for Pippen.
"According to reports, Karl had a conversation with Michael Jordan about the potential trade," Complex.com reported. "Jordan encouraged his fellow North Carolina alumni to make the deal, telling Karl the Sonics would win a championship with Pippen.
'Kemp remembers how close the trade was to happening. "Ackerley called me and told me they weren't going to make the trade,' Kemp said. 'He was telling me people were calling the local radio stations saying they were going to burn down the stadium if I was traded.'"
Without a general manager in place, Karl never was going to convince Ackerley to make the trade, which ironically ending up helping secure Jordan's legacy as the NBA's greatest player of all time because Pippen remained his wingman.
And more than two decades later, Karl was at it again, trying -- and failing -- to push a Cousins trade to the Los Angeles Lakers for a stockpile of young talent.
For more content, follow us on Twitter @SportsWN or LIKE US on Facebook
© 2023 Sportsworldnews.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
