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Chris Paul Explains Why He Rejected The Warriors’ ‘Stephen Curry And Klay Thompson Trade’ Offer In 2011
A blockbuster trade between the New Orleans Hornets and the Golden State Warriors almost happened in 2011. The possible trade involved former New Orleans superstar Chris Paul and Warriors sharpshooters Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. It could’ve changed the whole landscape of the NBA, but Paul had the last call on the trade, which affected the completion of the trade.
It was reported that the trade eventually failed to materialize because of Paul who wanted out of New Orleans, but was unwilling to stay with the Warriors once his contract expired. In an appearance on Uninterrupted’s WRTS podcast on Monday, the Oklahoma City point guard discussed the dead trade and explained his decision.
“Yeah, I remember it. True story,” Paul told Maverick Carter and Paul Rivera. “Yep. that happened with a few teams. I actually never wanted to come out west. I’m born and raised on the East Coast, so I never was crazy about [Los Angeles] and all that until I finally got out here and lived out here. But at that time, all I really knew about The Bay, because I had been there to play the games, and everything was so hilly … “
Chris Paul 🔁Splash Brothers. A 2011 trade that almost happened.
@CP3 explains why he rejected it on #WRTS: After Party.
Watch 📺: https://t.co/Bbr4SDruqG
Listen 🎧: https://t.co/WXweDcD8fy pic.twitter.com/M3hhJzXznU— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) April 28, 2020
But a few days after this trade was first reported and began surfacing all over different outlets — the former general manager of the Warriors Larry Riley refuted the news and said that the trade never took place at all. However, this is now contrary to Paul’s statement, who confirmed that the trade was indeed true.
This isn’t the first time that a blockbuster trade with New Orleans Hornets involving Chris Paul was botched up. The same year, the New Orleans Hornets completed a trade that would’ve sent the point guard to the Los Angeles Lakers as a part of a three-team deal. The trade unfortunately was vetoed by former commissioner David Stern.
