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Report: Lakers "Privately Fuming" Over Chris Paul Trade

The Los Angeles Lakers front office is reportedly "privately fuming" over the Chris Paul trade to the Los Angeles Clippers, according to the LA Times.

The approved trade comes just six days after the league nixed the Lakers’ three-team trade bid for the All-Star point guard, which included players Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol. The proposed trade shocked Odom, who failed to report to training camp and demanded a trade. He was subsequently dealt to the Dallas Mavericks. The Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said Monday the league’s move to block the trade was “completely unexpected” and that the front office “did the best [it] could to express [its] displeasure.”

After the Lakers deal fell through, the NBA-owned Hornets began trade talks with the Clippers earlier in the week before agreeing to terms late Wednesday night. The deal failed several times with reports claiming the league requested too high of an asking price for Paul. The Clippers eventually conceded and traded budding star Eric Gordon along with Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and a first-round pick in return for Paul.