Chris Paul, a future Hall of Famer in the NBA, has been traded six times throughout his career and has made a significant impact on each team he has played for.
There were several notable trade scenarios involving Paul, including a potential joining of forces with Kobe Bryant on the Los Angeles Lakers, which was vetoed by the league.
There were also rumors of a trade to the Miami Heat to play alongside Dwyane Wade.
Gilbert Arenas says the Heat considered trading LeBron James for Chris Paul after the 2011 Finals
(🎥 @NightcapShow_ )
pic.twitter.com/YWLARG6RGM— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 29, 2024
After the Miami Heat"s disappointing loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals, they considered bringing in Paul.
However, it is rumored that the trade fell through because Paul refused to give up his No. 3 jersey, and Wade also desired to keep his No. 3.
Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas contradicts this rumor and claims that it was LeBron James who the Heat wanted to trade in exchange for Paul.
This revelation is surprising considering that James was in his prime and had yet to win his first NBA title.
Although James" performance in the Finals was criticized, it is hard to imagine the Heat giving up on him so soon, especially since they went on to win back-to-back titles and appear in four straight NBA Finals.
Arenas mentioned that the Heat considered trading James following his poor performance against the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 Finals.
Ultimately, the trade did not happen because both Paul and Wade wanted to wear No. 3 on their jerseys.
In that championship series, the Heat led 2-1 at one point but lost the next three games to the Mavericks.
James underperformed, being arguably the third-best player on the team behind Wade and Bosh. He averaged 17.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game while shooting 47.8 percent from the field.
Since that Finals loss, James has won four NBA titles, two of them with the Heat. It is now clear that the Heat made the right decision by not trading James for Paul.
Without James, it is questionable whether the Heat would have won championships in 2012 and 2013, as he was the team"s best player.
In an astonishing revelation, Gilbert Arenas shared on Shannon Sharpe"s podcast that the Miami Heat considered trading LeBron James for Chris Paul right after their loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals.
This potential trade, if it had happened, could have had a significant impact on the NBA landscape and the careers of both James and Paul.
The loss to the Mavericks led the Heat to question their team dynamics, with a particular focus on James" performance.
Despite his strong regular-season contributions, James" performance in the Finals declined, prompting the team to consider a blockbuster trade.
Chris Paul, who was playing for the New Orleans Hornets at the time and later traded to the LA Clippers, was seen as a potential game-changer for Miami.
This previously unknown scenario adds an intriguing dimension to the legacies of James, Paul, and the Heat"s Big Three era.
"Who said anything about the big three having LeBron [James] in it? So who’s gonna leave?… What was the reason they lost to [the] Dallas [Mavericks]?"
Gilbert Arenas believes the Heat almost traded Bron for Chris Paul 👀
(via @NightcapShow_)pic.twitter.com/wM1XwAuSf4
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 29, 2024
Examining the financial and logistical aspects of the rumored trade, Paul was in the last year of his rookie extension in 2011, earning an average salary of $14.9 million.
Conversely, James had taken a pay cut to join Miami and was set to earn $16 million in the 2011-12 season.
Therefore, any trade would have required additional pieces from the Hornets to balance salaries and comply with NBA trade rules.
This insight into the complexities and financial considerations involved in pursuing championship success sheds light on the inner workings of NBA teams.
CP3 almost joined Heatles but him and Wade both wanted to wear #3
"We talked for a while, what the team would look like, we were getting excited"
"Riley didn’t pull the trigger because CP wasn’t wearing number 3 in Miami"
"I was almost in Miami, whole trade over jersey #" 😳 pic.twitter.com/bbarJFFNYy
— Emo Jimmy (@WheelerJaylen) February 28, 2024
The potential impact of a near-trade scenario on the NBA"s landscape is being speculated upon.
If the trade had happened, the Miami Heat"s dynasty could have been reshaped with Chris Paul leading the team, and LeBron James"s legacy may have taken a different path.
This story emphasizes the important decisions and “what-ifs" that shape the careers of NBA legends.
The idea of Chris Paul replacing LeBron James on the Miami Heat was considered but did not come to fruition.
The Heat"s decision to keep James proved to be successful as he went on to win multiple championships with the team.
Gilbert Arenas" disclosure provides insight into an alternate universe where the Miami Heat"s Big Three era could have included Chris Paul, thus altering the narrative for some of the game"s greatest players.
Gilbert Arenas" revelation about the potential trade between the Heat and Hornets provides a fascinating glimpse into what could have been a significant shift in NBA history.
Fans had these to convey:
Chris Paul and almost getting traded pic.twitter.com/RhNa64wf2O
— ɪᴍ.ʀɪʟᴇʏ シ ✞ ☘️ (@CookedByRiley0) February 29, 2024
Lmaoo yea ok I don’t think anyone was gonna trade 4 time mvp in his peak for cp3
— 23 💫👑 (@Br0nToLA23) February 29, 2024
Chris Paul has like 2-3 rings in hypotheticals💀💀💀 pic.twitter.com/FTGCPCV8Zy
— E-Man (@WigginsWick22) February 29, 2024
CP3 when it comes to almost getting traded pic.twitter.com/ApFnQhac8X
— Yasser (@078Yasser) February 29, 2024
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) February 29, 2024
So they were gonna trade the best player in the league at that time, AT HIS PEAK, AFTER ONE YEAR…. Yeah right.
— YaBoySavior (@YaBoySavior) March 1, 2024
Why would the CHAMPION Give his number up on his team though lol CP Needed the rings.
— MiamiHeat Legend 900 (@GotHEATLikeMIA) February 29, 2024
Cp3 was so good then that this trade could have happened
— wälë🌚 (@walehustler1) February 29, 2024
Lebron did get outscored by Jason Terry that series
— yungkuch (@YungKuch) February 29, 2024
God saved them they didn’t
— Michael returns✌️ (@michaelthekid01) February 29, 2024
I'm a big heat fan, and I knew all about this. A lot of ppl don't know this
— Tommy Italian 305 (@tommy_italian_) February 29, 2024
— Zanesjsjs (@zanesjsjs2885) February 29, 2024
It’s DWade’s team and CP3 expected him to give up his number. This is why some players don’t deserve a chip.
— Rage Kwitt (@RageKwitt) February 28, 2024
Chris Paul would've had a few rings to his name if he let go of his ego. Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James might of been up there as one of the greatest Big 3s ever assemble
— ☸︎ (@swervv856) February 28, 2024
Cp3 chose a jersey number over a ring. Wild
— 🎰 (@8DirtyBird) February 28, 2024
lol why would DWade give up #3? He’s stamped as the greatest shooting guard of all time not named Michael Jordan and only because of injuries is he not ahead of Mike, CP hasn’t been half as good as DWade ever
— Conner💜 (@conye_west99) February 28, 2024
CP3: 0 rings, top 10 PG all time
CP-who gives a shit: 3 rings, top 3 PG all time— serpentine burrito, MD (@Breesiferous) February 28, 2024
Bro let his ego stop him from greatness never considering this man top 5 or 10 in anything ever again
— Viewsfrth6 (@amirsworld_75) February 28, 2024
Sorry CP3 Wade was better and should have first rights to the number… So both him and melo could have joined
— Zach (@blind_side_73) February 28, 2024
And now, he’s CP0. And DWade has 3 rings soooo.
Also 33 was already in the rafters, cmon CP be serious
— Stevie Bovo (@BovoStevie) February 28, 2024
My mans really chose the #3 over a ring 😭 pic.twitter.com/oLSbOpykhx
— DERRiCK OF THE LEAF (@DerrickOfDaLeaf) February 29, 2024
