Back in 2011, the Golden State Warriors were at the gates of a trade that could have changed the course of the NBA. The Dubs have these two young players, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, who were seen as the future of the franchise. However, at some point, Golden State thought of sending them to another team for one of the best players in the league at that time.
In his book, ‘The Victory Machine: The Making and Unmaking of the Warriors Dynasty’, Ethan Strauss recalled how the Warriors were close to landing CP3 and sending Curry and Thompson to the then-New Orleans Hornets. The reason why it never went through? Chris Paul said he wouldn’t re-sign with the Warriors once his contract was finished.
Warriors had a deal in place to trade Steph/Klay for Chris Paul but CP3 said he wouldn't re-sign at the end of the season.
Hornets could of had Steph/Klay/Anthony Davis lmao. pic.twitter.com/9EPqO71WMG
— , (@dbs408) April 16, 2020
“One prospective move that would have radically altered the NBA: the Warriors attempted to trade Steph Curry and Klay Thompson for Chris Paul in 2011. In this instance, the deal was very close to completion. Myers made the offer and Hornets GM Dell Demps was receptive; the catch was Chris Paul. He wanted out of New Orleans, but he had no intention of playing for the ‘bubblegum’ Warriors. Paul told the Warriors he could do this trade, but he wouldn’t be staying when his contract was up,” Strauss explains in his book.
The Hornets missed the chance to have one of the greatest backcourts in the history of the game, but for the Warriors, Paul’s words were the best thing that could have happened to them. Curry and Thompson blossomed into two of the best players in the NBA, taking this team to become a dynasty, making five consecutive trips to the NBA Finals and winning three titles in the process.
As for Paul, he would go to the Los Angeles Clippers for Eric Gordon, Al-Farouq Aminu, Chris Kaman and a draft pick, which would be Austin Rivers.
CP3 had a lot of options when leaving New Orleans. The vetoed trade to the Lakers is a well-known story around the NBA, but this is something that could have changed the destiny of a different franchise than the Warriors.
