Five Biggest “What Ifs” in Lakers History

2. What if the Chris Paul trade isn’t vetoed?

You may be asking “Why is this ahead of Magic Johnson?” It may be because it still stings, but I think that this trade altered the franchise just as much as Magic’s announcement, but in obviously different ways.

We know the story. Following the lockout, the Lakers made a deal with the New Orleans Hornets to acquire disgruntled point guard Chris Paul. The deal would send Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom out, among likely other pieces. Despite stating otherwise, David Stern, either on behalf of the NBA or on behalf of the league-owned Hornets, vetoed the trade.

The result would see Paul sent to the same-arena rival Clippers, Odom demand a trade and essentially starting the downward spiral of his career, and the Lakers fortunes to take a drastic turn for the worst.

However, what if Stern doesn’t veto the trade? The Lakers have their future superstar in Paul, still have center Andrew Bynum, and be secure for the future. Instead, we’re at the lowest point possibly in franchise history and being forced to watch Paul and the Clippers dominate. Could Paul and Bryant have combined to give the Lakers another ring? Would Paul have been enough to convince Howard to stay as well?