Chris Paul Trade Rumors: Why Trade to Lakers Is Still Alive

Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers looks like a dead deal. After what we saw last week, there is no way this trade could go through, right? However, you would be wrong, because the trade talks between the Lakers and Hornets could resurface soon.

This original trade that would have sent the All-Star point guard to the Lakers was vetoed by the NBA owners like a bunch of disgruntled fantasy basketball owners in your league. 

However, according to ESPN.com-Los Angeles: 

"

ESPN.com learned Tuesday that a Lakers deal for Paul has not yet been ruled out, contingent on the fact that they can recruit at least one other team to supply some of the young pieces that the league is demanding. But the Lakers do still have Gasol as a centerpiece, who could either replace Paul as the Hornets' franchise player or give New Orleans a top-20 player to be dangled in subsequent deals.

"The Lakers are definitely still in this," said one source close to the talks.

"

Getting Paul over their city rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers, would keep them as the dominant team in their market. 

However, being the dominant team in the city of LA is only one thing. With Paul in their starting lineup, it gives the Lakers a scary starting rotation consisting of: Paul, Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace (Ron Artest) and Andrew Bynum. 

Adding Paul does seem like a bigger priority for Lakers management this offseason. According to that same ESPN.com-Los Angeles article:

"

Yet sources say there is some sentiment within the Lakers' organization that actually rates Paul as a bigger free-agent priority than Howard, based on the premise that they'd still have Kobe Bryant and Bynum to team with Paul in a formidable new three-man core.

"

With Paul coming to the Lakers, it would not only give them their own version of Miami’s “Big Three,” but Paul would give the Lakers their next megastar to carry them into the next five to 10 years of basketball. 

Bryant is entering into his 16th season as a Laker, and you would think that he is on his last legs. Paul could play with Bryant in his final three, maybe four years. Bryant then could pass the Lakers’ torch to Paul in Kobe’s final year. 

The Paul-to-Lakers deal is not dead, it’s like it has a light pulse. Just like when the Knicks were dominating the headlines with rumors of Paul going to New York; they will sit in the shadows while the Clippers have their moment in the sun. 

Just do not be surprised if Paul ends up wearing a Lakers jersey by the time the 2011-12 season is over. 

Follow @tjmcaloon