Why did the NBA block the Chris Paul trade? David Stern says attempts to work Chris Paul-to-Lakers trade ended ... Jul 18, 2019 Former NBA commissioner David Stern, who infamously vetoed a proposed 2011 trade that would have sent All-Star point guard Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers, said attempts to rework the deal at the time fell apart because then-Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak "panicked."