More than a decade after one of the most controversial non-trades in NBA history, Chris Paul has broken his silence on the failed 2011 deal that would have sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers. In an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, the veteran point guard offered clarity on the moment that reshaped not only his career but the league at large.
Chris Paul Finally Opens Up on Vetoed Lakers Trade: “It Wasn’t Allegedly”
“Just so you know, that Lakers situation isn’t allegedly,” Paul said. “The league owned the New Orleans Hornets at the time.”
The trade in question was a three-team blockbuster that would have paired Paul with Kobe Bryant in what many saw as the NBA’s next superteam. Pau Gasol would have landed in Houston, and the Hornets—then controlled by the league due to owner George Shinn’s financial issues—were set to receive a solid return: Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, Lamar Odom, Goran Dragic, and a first-round pick.
But NBA Commissioner David Stern, acting as the de facto owner of the Hornets, vetoed the deal. At the time, the league cited “basketball reasons.” Since then, it’s been viewed as a heavy-handed move to prevent a potential dynasty.
Paul’s comments put to rest years of speculation. He also reflected on the timing, pointing out it happened “right after the CBA negotiations,” suggesting deeper league interests were at play. The veto sent Paul to the Clippers instead, launching “Lob City”—an era of excitement, but one without the championship pedigree many expected if he had joined Bryant.
Now 40, Paul just completed his 20th NBA season, averaging 8.8 points and 7.4 assists with the San Antonio Spurs. With free agency looming, he remains undecided about his future. “It’s with my family more than anything,” Paul said, noting that he’s lived apart from them for six seasons.
In revisiting this long-buried moment, Paul not only cleared the air but reignited the “what if” debates that have haunted Lakers fans and NBA historians alike. The veto didn’t just alter careers—it shifted the league’s landscape.