What If Chris Paul Joined Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles? A Trade That Could Have Shaped NBA History
In December 2011, the NBA was shaken when news broke that the Los Angeles Lakers had agreed to acquire Chris Paul in a blockbuster three-team trade. The deal would have sent CP3 to the Lakers, Lamar Odom, Kevin Martin, and Luis Scola to the then-New Orleans Hornets, while Pau Gasol would have landed with the Houston Rockets. But just as the basketball world was preparing for a new Kobe Bryant-led superteam, NBA Commissioner David Stern famously vetoed the trade, citing “basketball reasons.” With the Hornets being owned by the league at the time, many believed pressure from small-market owners fearing another Lakers dynasty influenced the decision.
For Indiana Pacers fans, who have often seen their team compete in the shadow of big-market franchises, this moment is one of the most fascinating “what ifs” in league history. The ripple effects would have altered not just the Lakers, but the entire NBA landscape—including teams like the Pacers.
Chris Paul’s Legacy: The Ring That Never Was?
Chris Paul is widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, but the absence of a championship has always followed him. Pairing CP3’s elite playmaking and leadership with Kobe Bryant’s killer mentality could have been the perfect combination to capture multiple titles.
Paul’s high basketball IQ and ability to control the tempo would have extended Kobe’s career at an elite level, allowing Bryant to focus on scoring rather than heavy ball-handling duties. For Pacers fans who remember battling Kobe-led Lakers teams in the early 2000s, the thought of him adding another Hall of Fame-level partner is terrifying. If this trade had gone through, Paul might have earned the ring (or rings) that forever changes how we talk about his legacy.
Kobe’s Sixth Championship and the Jordan Debate
At the time of the trade, Kobe was still near his peak and hungry to match Michael Jordan’s six championships. With CP3 running the offense, the Lakers could have realistically added one or two more titles. Kobe ending his career with six—or even seven—rings would have shifted the GOAT conversation in ways Pacers fans and NBA historians still debate today.
Imagine the Lakers facing the Big Three Miami Heat in the Finals with Kobe and Chris Paul leading the charge. That matchup alone could have gone down as one of the greatest battles in league history, and it’s not hard to picture Kobe hoisting another Finals MVP trophy.
The Death of Lob City and a Different Clippers Era
One of the biggest dominoes from Stern’s veto was the birth of Lob City. After the trade fell apart, the Clippers moved quickly to acquire Chris Paul, pairing him with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. That high-flying Clippers team became a Western Conference powerhouse and, at times, a rival for Indiana Pacers squads built on grit and defense.
If CP3 had gone to the Lakers, Lob City never happens. The Clippers might have remained in mediocrity, and the balance of power in Los Angeles would have stayed firmly purple and gold.
The Lakers’ 2010s Struggles That Never Come
After the veto, the Lakers’ decline came fast. Lamar Odom was so upset by the blocked trade that he requested to be moved. Pau Gasol’s confidence wavered, and by 2013, the Kobe-led Lakers were no longer contenders. Meanwhile, the Pacers were battling the Miami Heat in back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals, and many wondered if Indiana could finally break through if the Lakers and other Western juggernauts weren’t dominating the headlines.
With CP3 on board, the Lakers might have remained a dynasty through the early 2010s, setting up potential Finals matchups against the Pacers had Indiana made it past LeBron’s Heat. That alternate timeline could have rewritten Indiana basketball history as well.
Basketball Reasons or Business Reasons?
David Stern’s explanation—“basketball reasons”—has gone down as one of the most infamous phrases in NBA history. For Pacers fans and small-market supporters, it was seen as a rare victory against big-market dominance. But at the same time, it robbed the league of what could have been one of the greatest duos ever assembled.
Final Thoughts
The Chris Paul-to-Lakers trade will forever stand as one of the NBA’s ultimate “what ifs.” For Kobe Bryant, it might have meant chasing Jordan and rewriting his legacy. For Chris Paul, it could have erased the “ringless” narrative once and for all. For the Lakers, it might have extended their dynasty and prevented years of struggle. And for the Indiana Pacers and other teams, it would have reshaped the competitive landscape entirely.
As fans, we’re left to imagine the highlights that never happened: CP3 lobbing to Kobe in crunch time, Staples Center roaring, and another Lakers banner hanging in the rafters.
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