There is some hope that the Los Angeles Lakers could trade for Chris Paul.
A decade ago the Los Angeles Lakers traded for a younger Chris Paul to partner him alongside Kobe Bryant and continue the team’s championship-winning ways. This partnership would have created one of the best backcourts in league history, with Bryant at the tail end of his prime and Paul right in the midst of his.
The trade was ultimately nullified by then-league commissioner David Stern, who acted on behalf of the New Orleans Hornets, who at the time did not have an owner.
Now, similar to a decade ago and fresh off of an NBA Championship, a new Chris Paul trade has been brought to the table and there some that are hopeful that it will happen.
Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus broke down what it would take for a Chris Paul trade after an Eastern Conference executive told Pincus the following:
"“Chris Paul would love to come back to L.A. I know it would be a dream come true for Chris. I know LeBron loves and trusts him and he would be a good fit.”"
As explained by Pincus, to make this trade happen the Los Angeles Lakers would have to send Danny Green, Kyle Kuzma, Quinn Cook, Avery Bradley and JaVale McGee. Bradley and McGee would have to opt into the trade as they have player options for next season.
We did list the Thunder as a potential trade fit for Kyle Kuzma, after all.
That is a lot, but the dream of CP3 being a Laker would finally be fufilled and we would get to see a big-three of Paul, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. With everyone in the league getting better, why not?
Well, when you really break it down, this is a trade that could be detrimental to the Los Angeles Lakers. While this is far from trading away a bunch of young pieces, it absolutely still hurts the Lakers both now and in the future.
Here are the three key reasons why this trade will absolutely not happen.