« I always say I played for the Lakers for a short while. Like, a few hours. So said Chris Paul, in a podcast dated July 2020, in reference to his abortive transfer to the Lakers in December 2011, ten years ago therefore.
« It was done. I was told it was a done deal. The press release was ready to be released. Fortunately we did not send it “, Still blows John Black, former vice-president of public relations for the Lakers, interviewed by the Los Angeles Times in a long paper on the subject.
It is recalled that at the time, the American media were almost affirmative on this transfer of magnitude, which would probably have changed the face of the league. At the heart of this exchange, the arrival of Chris Paul, then 26 years old, to the Lakers to form an incredible back line of talent with Kobe Bryant (33).
The Rockets were expected to get their hands on Paul Gasol, while the Hornets awaited the coming of Lamar Odom, Luis Scola, Kevin Martin and Goran Dragic. But the exchange did not take place due to the veto of the NBA, then owner of the Hornets.
Attract a potential buyer
« With our role as owners, interim owners, the goal was both to attract a potential buyer for the franchise and then sell it to someone. Said Stu Jackson, executive vice president of basketball operations at the time.
In the eyes of the manager that day, who confides his feelings to David Stern, this four-man package can be a good sporting operation for the Hornets. Stu Jackson also has the presence of Monty Williams on the bench of the Hornets in mind. With him, the team can aim for a first round of the playoffs but not more. ” They were going to be good but not enough While adding big contracts to the team.
The vice-president of the league even thinks that the Hornets “ would be caught in mediocrity and that a mediocre team is not necessarily attractive to a potential owner. […] And to my surprise, after an extra day, David figured it out and agreed. He made the decision to veto the exchange and not approve it. »
« David opened up on why he vetoed the bargaining chip saying the bargaining chip wasn’t enough for a player of Chris Paul’s caliber. It was only a half-truth. The other element was that he also wanted the Hornets to be attractive to a potential owner. », Continues the former right-hand man of the big boss of the league.
The Lakers “punished” by the NBA?
Once the exchange with the Lakers aborted, “CP3” is sent to the neighbors of the Clippers, December 14, 2011, in exchange for Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and a first round of draft 2012 (Austin Rivers ).
Obviously on the Lakers side, the pill has struggled to pass in some … Even if David Stern explained in 2017 that his decision ” was based only on what was good for New Orleans, and what was not good. It had nothing to do with the Lakers ».
« I got the feeling our fans were like, ‘The league just wants to punish the Lakers’“, Remembers Jeanie Buss, the president of the franchise. “As if the league is preventing the Lakers from succeeding. And that was not the case at all. David was not acting as a ‘commissioner’ but as a person protecting the Hornets. What I want the fans to know and remember is that the league isn’t trying to put us down. This was never David Stern’s intention and it wasn’t fair for David to be booed when he came to LA after that. He didn’t deserve this. »
