In the 2010-11 season, the Los Angeles Lakers’ bid for a third straight NBA championship failed when they were swept in the second round of the playoffs by the Dallas Mavericks. Their roster was getting long in the tooth, and an infusion of talent and energy was needed to get them back into the league’s upper echelon.
After a lockout was lifted in late autumn, executive Mitch Kupchak struck a trade agreement with the then-New Orleans Hornets that would’ve landed them Chris Paul in return for Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom.
That deal would’ve radically changed the complexion of the Lakers and likely made them title contenders again. But it was vetoed by NBA commissioner David Stern, as the league had recently taken over ownership of the Hornets.
While Odom was reportedly inconsolable upon hearing the team tried to trade him, Gasol said on the “LADE Show with Odom and Aron Cohen” that he found a way to stay focused on his craft and his team.
“From my perspective, I went in and had a meeting with Mitch (Kupchak) and Mike Brown who was the coach and I said to myself: I love this city, I love this team, I understand why you guys might’ve decided to go that route. Would I agree with it or not obviously I’m not gonna get into that, but I’m gonna control what I can control and I’m gonna still be grateful and thankful to be here and I’m gonna do my best to help this team as I have done in the past.
“But it was difficult, because you can’t shake that off that easily as much as I tried in many ways. Because now its like this can happen. This can happen yesterday, this can happen tomorrow.”
Because of his hurt feelings, Odom was traded days later to the Mavs for a first-round draft pick, while Gasol ended up playing three more seasons with the Purple and Gold. During that time, the Hall of Fame big man was subjected to at least one other trade rumor, not to mention criticism from Lakers fans who accused him of being soft, but he kept his head up during that time and did his job well.