Two weeks after the anniversary of one of the most infamous moments in NBA history — the league’s veto of Chris Paul’s trade to the Los Angeles Lakers — the idea of Paul finally wearing purple and gold has resurfaced once again.
And once again, it appears to be a non-starter.
Despite renewed speculation following Paul’s sudden separation from the Los Angeles Clippers, multiple league sources insist the Lakers are not pursuing the future Hall of Fame point guard, even as roster questions mount and nostalgia continues to drive the conversation.
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Lakers Not Revisiting the CP3 Conversation
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NBA insider Jake Fischer was unequivocal when addressing the Lakers’ position.
“Despite the 40-year-old’s frequently cited desire to play as close to his Los Angeles-based family as possible, sources say that the Lakers are not considering Paul as a potential in-season addition despite the many years of Paul-to-the-Lakers speculation that have swirled leaguewide.”
The timing is notable. The Lakers are navigating an injury stretch with Austin Reaves expected to miss at least four weeks, and Paul is earning under $4 million this season — a figure that would make a deal relatively easy to construct.
Still, league sources say the Lakers’ front office has remained disciplined in its approach.
“The Lakers have generally been very intentional in targeting players under 30 since the offseason when addressing various roster needs,” Fischer added.
That philosophy alone effectively removes Paul from consideration.
A Sudden Ending in Clipperland
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Paul’s availability stems from an unexpected and awkward ending to his second stint with the Clippers.
After signing a one-year, $3.6 million deal in July with the hope of closing his 21-year career where his “Lob City” legacy began, Paul’s return unraveled quickly. Following just 16 appearances — during which he averaged 2.9 points and 3.3 assists — the Clippers sent him home, signaling a pending release or trade.
The decision marked an abrupt and unceremonious exit for a player who helped redefine the franchise and remains top-five all-time in both assists and steals.
The move reopened speculation across the league — and especially in Los Angeles — but the Lakers’ stance appears unchanged.
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The Ghost of 2011 Still Looms
The conversation inevitably circles back to December 2011.
Two weeks ago marked the anniversary of the blockbuster trade that would have sent Paul to the Lakers to join Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum — a deal famously vetoed by then-NBA commissioner David Stern.
At the time, the Hornets were owned by the league itself, making Stern both commissioner and acting owner. While the move was widely criticized as preventing another superteam, the underlying reality was far more complex. Stern believed a Clippers-centered return package would better stabilize the franchise and improve its eventual sale prospects.
The Hornets ultimately received Eric Gordon, Al-Farouq Aminu, Chris Kaman, and a first-round pick — a deal that helped facilitate the team’s sale in 2012, even if it failed to deliver on-court success.
That veto permanently altered Paul’s career arc — and remains a sore point for Lakers fans more than a decade later.
Dwight Howard Offers a Different Path
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As the NBA world reacted to Paul’s sudden limbo, former Lakers center Dwight Howard floated an entirely different idea.
Howard, now playing overseas after leaving the NBA in 2022, reposted an old pitch he once made to Paul following Phoenix’s 2023 playoff exit.
“AYE @CP3 WHAT WE DOING? TAIWAN CALLING.”
He followed it up with a new message urging Paul to join him abroad.
“Aye Chris we might as well make this happen now 🤷🏾♂️ you see how they do us 😤 we could be balling like slide 4 in our 40’s overseas 🤷🏾♂️.”
Howard’s path — leaving the NBA after the 2020 title run and finding renewed freedom overseas — stands as a legitimate option if Paul opts not to chase one final NBA landing spot.
What Comes Next for Chris Paul?
Paul has previously indicated the 2025–26 season will be his last. Whether that final chapter includes another NBA stop, an overseas stint, or immediate retirement remains unclear.
What is clear: the Lakers are not part of the plan.
Two weeks after the anniversary of the trade that never was, the full-circle ending many once imagined still isn’t coming. The Lakers have moved on. The league has changed. And Chris Paul now stands at a crossroads — with his legacy secure, but his final destination still undecided.