Chris Paul was almost a Los Angeles Laker in 2011.
The organization was finalizing a blockbuster trade on Dec. 8 with the then-New Orleans Hornets to acquire the 12-time All-Star when former NBA Commissioner David Stern vetoed the deal.
On Thursday, Paul broke down the failed trade on the Pat McAfee show.
“Just so you know, that Lakers situation isn’t allegedly,” Paul said.
“Our owner at the time, George Shinn, I guess, fell on hard times and didn’t have the money and sold the team back to the NBA (allowing Stern to prevent the Lakers from pairing Kobe Bryant with the former Hornets star point guard).”
It’s reasonable to assume Paul and Bryant would have been an unstoppable duo in Los Angeles. Although Bryant was technically outside his prime in 2011, at age 33, the dynamic isolation extraordinaire was still a 20+ points-per-game scorer with the Lakers.
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Paul was a high-upside young stud hoping to compete with a contending franchise and take the next step in his career.
However, after Stern realized the deal wasn’t in the Hornets’ best interest (the franchise would have traded Paul for Lamar Odom, Luis Scola, Kevin Martin, Goran Dragic, and a 2012 first-round pick), he prevented it from going through.
Paul landed with the Los Angeles Clippers a few days later in a trade, giving the Hornets Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu, and the Minnesota Timberwolves' unprotected 2012 first-round pick.
Paul, who spent the 2024-25 season with a San Antonio Spurs squad that missed the playoffs, could join the Lakers in a shocking offseason move at age 40.
The four-time assists leader will be a free agent this summer, and there’s a chance Los Angeles could view him as an ideal veteran to help Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
It wouldn’t be wise to count out the possibility of Paul spending the final leg of his outstanding career with the franchise that nearly acquired him 14 years ago.
More NBA: Lakers forward could leave for Warriors to help Stephen Curry win ring No. 5, per writer