‘Three-Ring Circus,’ part 2: How did the Lakers land Kobe Bryant?

Editor’s note: This is the second installment of a five-part serialization of “Three-Ring Circus,” Jeff Pearlman’s book about the Lakers era that featured Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and Phil Jackson. The book, which was written before Bryant’s death in January, was released Tuesday.Three-Ring Circus
Kobe, Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty
Parts1 2 of 14The 1996 NBA draft was held on June 26, inside the Continental Airlines Arena, the Eas