When Lakers fans think about how their team fell into a downward spiral during the 2010s, it generally starts with “The Veto” — when Los Angeles attempted to acquire Chris Paul in a three-way trade that would have sent Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom to Houston and New Orleans, respectively.
The trade didn’t go through, but the ramifications of it have been felt by the franchise for years, and by the players involved. Gasol remained a Laker, but was constantly in trade rumors and had his role yanked around by Mike D’Antoni.