Report: NBA Owners Kill Chris Paul, Lakers Trade
Update: ESPN is reporting that Chris Paul will not report to Hornets training camp on Friday.
(CBS) -- NBA owners have reportedly complained enough to the league to kill a deal that would have brought All-Star Chris Paul to the Lakers in a three-way trade, with Lamar Odom heading to New Orleans and Pau Gasol going to Houston.
The NBA owns the Hornets and it is believed other owners from across the league put tremendous pressure on commissioner David Stern to void the trade, or force the Lakers to add more players to the deal.
In response to the nixed trade, Paul tweeted, 'WoW.'
NBA spokesman Mike Bass told the Associated Press: "It's not true that the owners killed the deal, the deal was never discussed at the Board of Governors meeting and the league office declined to make the trade for basketball reasons."
Paul, 26, is averaging almost 19-points a game for his six-year career, with 10 assists.
The Hornets gave the Lakers a scare in the opening round of the NBA playoffs last season, led by Paul's speed and passing.
The point guard scored at least 20 points in each of the first five games of the series versus LA.
New Orleans has been listening to offers for "CP3", because he is entering the final year of his contract. He can become a free agent after this season.
