NBA executives reportedly think the Lakers will try to trade for Chris Paul

[camby23]

Some league execs point to one of his old Banana Boat buddies as the final piece to LeBron’s Laker dynasty puzzle.

Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report:

“Chris Paul would love to come back to L.A. I know it would be a dream come true for Chris,” an Eastern Conference executive said. “I know LeBron loves and trusts him and he would be a good fit.”

Paul would fit well on the Lakers. With James Harden on the Rockets, Paul showed his ability to play alongside a ball-dominant scorer and passer like LeBron. Paul’s outside shooting is a big plus in that complementary role, and of course he can handle the ball and be a playmaker himself. Paul could ease the offensive load on LeBron and help set up Davis. Paul’s versatile and effective defense would also be an asset.

But Paul is due $85,569,960 the next two seasons, which complicates a trade.

And makes him attainable.

Paul is still a stellar point guard. If he were younger and cheaper, the Lakers could never get a player of his caliber. But Oklahoma City appears ready to rebuild, and a 35-year-old Paul would no longer fit.

The Lakers must send out at least $33,007,051 in salary to acquire Paul. A package that would get there:

Danny Green ($15,365,853)
Avery Bradley ($5,005,350)*
JaVale McGee ($4,200,000)*
Kyle Kuzma ($3,562,178)
Quinn Cook ($3,000,000)**
Alex Caruso ($2,750,000) or No. 28 pick ($1,964,760)***
*Bradley and McGee have player options. They must opt in before getting traded. It’s far from guaranteed they both opt in.

*Cook’s salary is just $1 million guaranteed until two days before the season officially turns over. The Lakers would have to fully guarantee his contract to keep him rostered and tradeable.

***The No. 28 pick’s salary counts only once he signs, and he can be traded only 30 days after signing.

The Lakers could also sign-and-trade Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to increase outgoing salary. He wouldn’t even have to go to Oklahoma City. If he’s leaving the Lakers, he could become part of this trade and wind up anywhere. His agent, Rich Paul, has an interest in making it happen. If Caldwell-Pope’s new team lacks cap space to sign him outright, this arrangement could help everyone (though that team would have to send salary somewhere in the trade). If Caldwell-Pope’s new team could just sign him directly, that team would need compensation for its trouble.

https://sports.yahoo.com/could-lakers-trade-chris-paul-193051228.html

[Slava]

There's no place to fill the roster with that kind of salary added to two max players who are already there. Only way Paul comes to LA is with a significant buyout or in free agency.

[Freighttrain]

No way we're trading Caruso

[NoZoLakers]

if chris paul can guard opposing sf in placement of kuz n green, sure why not lol

[Dr Aki]

zero chance unless there's a buyout

[Questionquest]

Though i love cp3, and was even more impressed by his will to win this season. As a laker fan i would hold my breath every game worried for cp3, ad and lebron's health. Scary thought really. Ad was rolling around the floor in pain every other playoff game and lebron will be a year older

[LFAHFN22]

There's no way for Chris Paul to end up on the Lakers without the return of an amnesty clause. The other incredibly unlikely option is a buyout where he gives up 50+M (minimum). This is a complete non-story.

[Kilroy]

Yeah.... No.

[Michael Jordan]

There’s a better chance of him reuniting with Harden than joining the Lakers

[Dez]

I'd be very worried if that executive was from my team given they are really underestimating the salary requirements.

[Lalouie]

pg role is already taken

wouldn't the lakers be happier with a 3d guy or some rifleman

[Pennebaker]

No way we're trading Caruso

That could be true, but look at it in another way - Caruso is an unrestricted free agent after next season, someone is going to want to overpay him like Delly and he's going to take that money. You could lose him that way and get nothing in return OR you could trade him.

The Lakers could also try extend him but Caruso is going to want to test the market and get the fattest, most ludicrous salary.

[Metallikid]

That would be so weird. I can't see that being the best trade the Lakers can make. You need more than just G leaguers for the regular season without wearing two old players like that down.

If the Sixers can trade Ben Simmons and filler for Chris Paul, now that would be a sick trade.

[Freighttrain]

No way we're trading Caruso

That could be true, but look at it in another way - Caruso is an unrestricted free agent after next season, someone is going to want to overpay him like Delly and he's going to take that money. You could lose him that way and get nothing in return OR you could trade him.

The Lakers could also try extend him but Caruso is going to want to test the market and get the fattest, most ludicrous salary.

True, but if we hold off till after next season, we'll have another max slot available in 2021-2022 (and there are a lot of superstar FA's in that year). If Caruso leaves but we can add a superstar guy, so be it. If we lose him this year we won't get the same value overall (meaning with every other player we have to trade). I like CP3 but we wouldn't have any cap space left to build.

[Pennebaker]

pg role is already taken

wouldn't the lakers be happier with a 3d guy or some rifleman

LeBron likes playing point guard as much as Anthony Davis likes playing center.

That's not to say he doesn't like it - but he definitely doesn't like to be called a point guard, for whatever reason - I think he's sensitive about being seen as too much like Magic and not enough like Jordan. If you haven't noticed, he really likes to shoot and score too.

Bron only played PG because the Lakers really didn't have much of a choice with their complete lack of PG depth. He ended up leading the league in assists so I'm feeling like he got the whole PG experience out of his system and he's ready to go back to being a forward.

[Pennebaker]

No way we're trading Caruso

That could be true, but look at it in another way - Caruso is an unrestricted free agent after next season, someone is going to want to overpay him like Delly and he's going to take that money. You could lose him that way and get nothing in return OR you could trade him.

The Lakers could also try extend him but Caruso is going to want to test the market and get the fattest, most ludicrous salary.

True, but if we hold off till after next season, we'll have another max slot available in 2021-2022 (and there are a lot of superstar FA's in that year). If Caruso leaves but we can add a superstar guy, so be it. If we lose him this year we won't get the same value overall (meaning with every other player we have to trade). I like CP3 but we wouldn't have any cap space left to build.

Great point.

But they might need that 3rd star now for a title defense. They may not feel like they can afford to wait.

"we wouldn't have any cap space left to build"

We always hear this in the offseason about LeBron's 3-star teams - but it's never true. GMs can get real creative.

[Slava]

No way we're trading Caruso

That could be true, but look at it in another way - Caruso is an unrestricted free agent after next season, someone is going to want to overpay him like Delly and he's going to take that money. You could lose him that way and get nothing in return OR you could trade him.

The Lakers could also try extend him but Caruso is going to want to test the market and get the fattest, most ludicrous salary.

KCP is already going to get a nice offer sheet this offseason from someone like Atlanta and the only other guard defenders are Green and Bradley who are getting on in their careers. Lakers can't afford to lose both KCP and Caruso at once.

[Dupp]

Not happening but Paul will go there after his contract

[stormi]

If the Sixers can trade Ben Simmons and filler for Chris Paul, now that would be a sick trade.

Watch on YouTube

[WHITE_HOT_HEAT]

Horrible proposal and will destroy the chemistry of the present group. The team will be weaker. They need to reup everyone and find some cheap 3n,D guys instead of JR and Dion. That will do it.
Nothing big.