Lakers Rumors theory number two: Fans still say what if about Chris Paul. Think of how bad it would have been if he went to Boston?
There are two trades that were the most controversial deals in recent NBA history. One was completed and the other was not. The one that was completed featured Pau Gasol that engineered three straight NBA Finals appearances and back to back titles.
The one on December 8th, 2011 was a deal that was actually finalized to bring Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers will be a conversation that Lakers Nation will complain about for years to come. The deal was broken down like this.
- Pau Gasol was being dealt to the Houston Rockets with Lamar Odom (Man that squad might have been something!).
- Luis Scola, Goran Dragic, and Kevin Martin and New York’s 2012 1st-round pick (which ended up being Royce White) was to be moved to the New Orleans Hornets. The deal was never completed because then NBA Commissioner late David Stern vetoed the trade.
In the end, Stern accepted this deal from the Clippers. Kinda gives you an understanding of why Lakers fans were upset. This deal might have been worse.
- Hornets ended up getting Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu, and Minnesota’s 2012 1st-round pick (which became Austin Rivers).
- Clippers ended up getting Chris Paul and two 2nd-round picks.
That deal was so bad that the Hornets ended up getting the number one pick in the draft that next year.
Six Degrees of Separation concerning the Los Angeles Lakers:
The number one pick for the New Orleans Hornets happened to be Anthony Davis, the current free-agent signee of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Just think about this deal had the Boston Celtics actually swung the deal and where Rajon Rondo would have ended up according to ESPN at the time. It’s wouldn’t have been a good look for Rajon.
"Various executives believe that the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers are thus the two most likely landing spots for Paul. The Celtics, sources say, are currently presenting the strongest offer, which features Rajon Rondo, Jeff Green and two first-round picks. Boston is also trying to concoct multi-team scenarios that would help the Hornets come away with the package they desire for Paul. The Hornets’ interest in Rondo is lukewarm at best, but one scenario in circulation would involve the Indiana Pacers and route former Hornets point guard Darren Collison back to New Orleans and land Rondo with the Pacers and Paul with the Celtics."
Rondo’s saving grace? Chris Paul reportedly wouldn’t have resigned with the Celtics and David Stern went another route.
But if Paul was have been put together with the “Big 3” along with Rasheed Wallace? Well the Lakers fanbase would really be in an uproar.
But did animosity carry over to the brawl last year?