A notable free-agency option could open up for the Los Angeles Lakers, and it’s a familiar face. Chris Paul could enter free agency this offseason, and if he does, joining LeBron James and the Lakers could be in the cards.
Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus told The Athletic’s Jovan Buha that if Paul hits free agency, he could join the Lakers.
“I would be remiss without mentioning Chris Paul is a real possibility,” Pincus said on Buha’s Block. “There is a reasonable chance he gets traded or just cut by the Warriors. He and LeBron obviously have a close relationship. There is a universe where the Lakers sign Chris Paul. It makes a lot of sense to me. Is Chris coming for the minimum? I don’t know. I don’t want to say he comes cheap to the Lakers, but in the absence of a better offer, I could see that.”
The Lakers acquired Paul in 2011 in a blockbuster trade that was later vetoed by the league shortly after it was agreed upon. Adding Paul now obviously wouldn’t have the same impact that it did then, knowing his age. However, in a way, it would feel like destiny fulfilled, knowing his history with the organization and his friendship with LeBron.
Like any other player around his age, Paul is not what he once was, but he proved to be productive in Golden State, averaging 9.2 points, 6.8 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game. Sadly, though, it was for a Warriors team whose season didn’t really go anywhere.
Paul wouldn’t necessarily be the game-changer he would have been in 2011 for the Lakers, but he would be a steady presence that the Lakers could certainly use.
Author(s)
Matt John is an NBA journalist covering the NBA for The Sporting News. He focuses on the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks.
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