Laker fans are still angry about it a decade later, and it remains the most talked about trade that never happened in NBA history.
In December 2011, after an NBA lockout mercifully ended and teams were gearing up for a Christmas start to the season, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak and Hornets GM Dell Demps put together a three-team trade that would have sent Chris Paul to join Kobe Bryant on the Lakers. Some quality players — Luis Scola, Goran Dragic and Lamar Odom — were on their way to the then New Orleans Hornets in the deal.