Why did the Lakers trade Eddie Jones in 1999?

[Rooster]

This. Shaq didn't like Jones and Nick Van Exel.

No he was pissed because these guys are talking about Las Vegas before the Utah playoff series was over. He mention he never like Eddie Jones because he choked in tight situation and act like it was no big deal after.

[Lebron23]

Eddie Jones had a great season with the Hornets in 2000. In hindsight he could have been a much better 3rd option than Glenn Rice in the Triangle Offense. Lakers traded Jones and Van Excel because they wanted to give more playing time to Kobe.

[light]

In March of 1999, Eddie Jones was traded to the Hornets for Glen Rice.

Looking back, it was a trade that I looked back as one that didn't make a lot of complete sense.

Rice had been around for 10 years and, though extremely accomplished as a three-point threat, had a lot of mileage. Jones was in only his 5th year and had been a very capable and popular player (he, Ceballos, and Van Exel were a capable Laker trio in the pre-Shaq years, and he formed a good backcourt partner for Kobe).

I know Rice got a ring in 2000, but that title was not due heavily to what Rice did.

If they don't make that trade, Eddie would have been a capable third scoring option after Shaq and Kobe. Maybe he could have made a difference in 2003 or 2004?

Jones was traded to make room for Kobe.

Plain and simple. There is no other reason.

[oldtimer28]

Great posts all round.

Also add that people were more fixated on positions then. EJ was a clear 2 (an all rounder). GR was a clear 3 (scorer and shooter). So GR seemed a better fit for a team built around Shaq and Kobe.

[Duncan21formvp]

He and Kobe couldn’t split the shot attempts.