TWIB: Feb 5-12

​CHAUNCEY BILLUPS got his No. 1 jersey retired by the Detroit Pistons this week, the fifth jersey retirement in Pistons history. "Mr. Big Shot" was no doubt an amazing player, a 5-time All-Star, 3-time All-NBA selection, and 2004 Finals MVP with Detroit, during his 2002-2008 tenure with the team. Billups is also known as one of the greatest free throw shooters of all time, with a career 89.4% stroke. Ben Wallace had only recently got his number retired with the team, and rumor has it that  third member of the '04 championship squad, Rip Hamilton, will have his jersey in the rafters soon enough.  This team is basically the definition of "defense wins championships".

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​LEBRON AND KOBE... traded for each other?! Apparently, the Lakers had actually called the Cavaliers back in 2007 to discuss a swap of the two legends. The then-28 Bryant was averaging 31.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game, while the 22 year old LeBron was putting up 27.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists in his fourth year. Cleveland declined the offer, saying LeBron was "untouchable", but counter-offered literally anyone else on their roster for Kobe, although LA obviously said no. This whole situation came on the heels of Bryant pretty much demanding a trade, but Kobe did have a no-trade clause.

"I never would've approved it. Never. The trade to go to Cleveland? Never. That wasn't one of the teams that was on my list. It was Chicago, San Antonio [or] Phoenix," Bryant said.

"I believe it. If you give up one big fish, you got to give a big fish too," LeBron said.

Obviously the 2009 and 2010 titles, of which The Mamba won both Finals MVPs, are proof that everything worked out in the end for the Lakers. Cleveland, however, is still waiting for that fairy-tale ending...

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TRADE RUMOR ROUNDUP:  
- Hawks might have made Kyle Korver (ATL, SG), Jeff Teague (ATL, PG), and Al Horford (ATL, C/PF) available
- Cavs interested in Kyle Korver (ATL, SG)
             - CLE also looking at Tyreke Evans (NOP, SF/SG), Ben McLemore (SAC, SG), Trevor Ariza (HOU, SF/SG)
- Pacers and Magic are pursuing Jeff Teague (ATL, PG)
           - IND offered PG George Hill for Teague, and have made Hill available
- Raptors "eyeing" Thaddeus Young (BKN, PF/SF), Kenneth Faried (DEN, PF)
- Heat "gauge" interest in Hassan Whiteside (MIA, C)
- Unclear if Rockets have made C Dwight Howard available
- Celtics unlikely to get either Horford or Howard; GM Danny Ainge taking "cautious, prudent" approach...

...and so much more! The trade deadline isn't even for another few weeks (March 1st at 3:00 PM EST), so stay tuned!

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CAN WE PLEASE just take a moment to admire how incredible the Warriors are? I understand that the media (sorry) is constantly shoving them and Stephen Curry down your throat, but don't let that detract you from their greatness. For starters, Golden State is 48-4 (0.923). Wow. For perspective, the record is still Michael Jordan's 1995-96 Bulls' 72-10 (0.878) mark. If the Warriors were to finish the season 25-5 (0.833), they would beat the "untouchable" record!

Yeah, I could've taken this segment to talk more about trade rumors, or more made-up Westbrook-to-the-Knicks junk, or (like I probably should have) discuss the HOF Finalists. But I'm asking you all to just relax a little bit on the hate. We are witnessing history here, people.

Allen Iverson, Shaquille O'Neal, Tom Izzo, and Kevin Johnson highlight the list. There, now I can't feel guilty.