Lakers Rumors: LA Lakers Foolishly Optimistic in Latest Chris Paul Trade Talk

I never figured the Lakers to be romantics, but they are firm believers that true love does endure as they set off on another fool's errand for Chris Paul. 

On Tuesday, a rumor floated to the top of ridiculous rumblings that are circling the Hornets drain. The Lakers didn't get humiliated enough the first time around, and now seem keen on really getting punched in the stomach. 

ESPN's Marc Stein tweets a rumor that should be received by Lakers fans with both hope and fear. 

If this goes as well as their last tryst went, the Lakers will soon give up Pau Gasol for nothing. Hell, I say flirt with the Hornets all year. Let's get really silly and continue displacing players until the Lakers are just Kobe Bryant going five-on-one. 

The Lakers are no doubt dangling Pau Gasol to the Hornets, but I hope that is all they are dangling. Without Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum ready to serve a five-game suspension, the roster is getting mighty thin. 

What puzzles me is that the Lakers are sure to come away from this deal with the NBA-owned Hornets as either failures or a depleted squad. There is no middle ground. 

The Hornets have received a couple of deals from the Lakers and Clippers, and both were perfectly fair in the eyes of most observers. 

So it goes without saying that any deal that will pry Paul from the cold lock David Stern has on him will be felt by the winning organization for years. 

The Lakers are in danger of actually overpaying for Paul and I just don't see the value in such things. When a trade partner is stubborn and unreasonable, you move on and consider yourself lucky to have seen such things. 

Instead, the Lakers are jumping into the waters once again knowing that they are most likely going to drown. This makes no sense. I should get used to that kind of thing. This is the new NBA, after all, where the Lakers dump cash and lose out on deals. 

Funny, I never pictured the Lakers as losers, but that is how this preseason is playing out. 

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