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J.J. Post, ESPNMar 1, 2024, 08:30 AM ET
Couple of gamers have actually been associated with more “what-ifs” in current NBA memory than Chris Paul.
The Golden State Warriors point guard has actually bet 6 groups in his 19-year profession, however any reference of his name will likewise typically conjure up one franchise for which he didn’t. In December 2011, news broke that Paul was the focal point in a hit trade in between the New Orleans Hornets and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The NBA, serving as interim owner of the Hornets due to a modification in ownership, actioned in to ban the possible offer. Paul would rather be dealt to the LA Clippers, coordinating with Lob City running mates Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan rather of Lakers star Kobe Bryant.
Paul’s climb to fame didn’t decrease with the transfer to the blue side of Los Angeles, as he led the NBA in helps two times in his 6 years with the company, engineering among the league’s most interesting teams. The concern of what he might have done in a collaboration with Bryant on the Lakers constantly stuck around.
In a brand-new episode of Dwyane Wade’s podcast “The Why,” Paul goes over another prospective trade location that might have changed the NBA landscape– the Miami Heat.
The offer would have positioned Paul on among the most stacked lineups in NBA history, headlined by the Big Three of LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Wade.
Any genuine development on the offer fell through for a non-traditional factor– jersey numbers.
It was no chance I was turning up off my number Yall do not wan na miss this story. Tune into my 1 on 1 with my bro @CP3 tomorrow #TheWhyWithDwyaneWade pic.twitter.com/LYXooPhjBW
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) February 28, 2024
“We discuss all this– who gon na have the ball, we can all play together, CP, I can play off the ball,” Wade stated. “We figured all that out. Someone stated, ‘Well, who gon na use No. 3?'”
Paul and Wade both ended up being icons for using the No. 3 uniform, and a trade would have triggered a clashing of digits that showed irreconcilable.
“Listen, I compromised not getting touches. I compromised not getting posts check out and not getting the most cash, however I am not quiting my number!” Wade exclaimed.
“Because you was older, you most likely might have simply used 33,” Paul stated.
2011 would not be the only time buzz for Paul coordinating with Wade emerged. The veteran guard was one-fourth of the” banana boat” quartet that rocked NBA Twitter in 2015. Paul, Wade and James were identified on the fruit-shaped inflatable float, with Carmelo Anthony likewise amongst the travelers.
The Heat would go on to win 2 champions in the Big Three’s 4 years of action in Miami,
