Kobe Bryant was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall selection during the 1995 NBA Draft. But he did not play for the Hornets and shortly after the draft the rights of Kobe Bryant were sold with the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for center Vlade Divac. This deal was designed to create salary caps to allow the Lakers to look into the free agent center Shaquille O’Neal. Bryant was then signed to an initial three-year contract with the Lakers which was worth $3.5 million. He stayed in the Lakers throughout his 20-year career.