Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban stated that he was very close to trading for star shooting guard Kobe Bryant in 2007, even claiming that he would take periodic breaks from his "Dancing with the Stars" rehearsals in order to take phone calls regarding the deal.

According to ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM's Ben & Skin Show, the Dallas owner had apparently orchestrated the deal after a fed-up Bryant asked the Lakers to trade him. 

"When I was doing 'Dancing with the Stars,' I was taking breaks because I was talking to Kobe's agent because Kobe wanted to get traded," Cuban said on Aug. 21.

Bryant was disgruntled and the Mavericks were looking for more star power alongside power forward Dirk Nowitski. However, Los Angeles Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak had eventually talked the 34-year-old player out of it, the sports report stated.

"Literally, in between 'Dancing with the Stars' practices I thought we had traded at one time for Kobe Bryant. I even talked to their owner [Jerry Buss], I thought we were going to have a done deal and then Mitch Kupchak changed [Kobe's] mind and brought him back," Cuban said.

The radio show later questioned Cuban on whether the blockbuster deal with the Mavericks was almost official.

 "Yeah, but they [the Lakers] were smart and didn't let it happen. But Kobe was upset and he wanted out -- and this was all public, I don't think this is anything new -- and the owner was resigned to that fact," he replied. "I talked to the owner, and then I went back and practiced my rumba."

If it took place, the 2007 trade could have gone down as one of the biggest trades in NBA history.

Tags: Kobe Bryant Mark Cuban NBA Basketball Celebrities