As the first guard to enter the NBA draft directly from high school, Bryant was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th pick in the first round in 1996. [6] However, according to Bryant's agent at the time, Arn Tellem, it was "impossible" for Bryant to play for the Charlotte Hornets. However, Bill Branch, then the Hornets' chief scout, said the Hornets had agreed to trade draft picks with the Lakers the day before the draft. The Lakers didn't pick a rookie until the first 5 minutes of the draft told the Hornets. Prior to the draft, Bryant auditioned in Los Angeles, where he played against former Lakers players Larry Drew and Michael Cooper. Jerry West, then-Lakers manager, said "Bryant has surpassed these players." On July 11, 1996, West traded his starting center Vlad Divac to the Hornets in exchange for Bryant's draft pick. Since Bryant was only 17 years old at the time of the draft, his parents had to sign with him with the Lakers. It wasn't until the start of the new season that Bryant, who turned 18, signed his contract independently.
