Lakers Interested In Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Los Angeles Lakers are interested in acquiring a veteran point guard, sources tell Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated.

Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook are on the Lakers' list.

For the Lakers to acquire Paul, it would likely require the Phoenix Suns to participate in a sign-and-trade. The Lakers can only offer Paul a starting salary of $9.5 million with their taxpayer midlevel of exception. Paul orchestrated an opt-in and trade in leaving the Los Angeles Clippers for the Houston Rockets in 2017. 

If the Lakers were to acquire Westbrook, it would be via trade with the Washington Wizards likely involving Dennis Schroder, Kyle Kuzma and Talen Horton-Tucker.

Paul and Westbrook were traded for each other in 2019.

Via Marc J. Spears/The Undefeated

[Scalabrine]

Serious question; can the Lakers sign and trade THT and Shroeder in the same deal?

[Dino353]

If Paul goes to the Lakers only Brooklyn will have a chance at beating them or Milwaukee only if Giannis becomes a 35-40 percent 3 point-shooter and ups his free-throw percentage to 80-85 percent.

[saintEscaton]

Nice try Fakers but CP3 is gunna resign with us and take whatever young PG prospect we draft under his tutelage before retiring in the desert

[MitchB3]

Let's bring in an old cp who is injury-prone; if not him let's go with the ball-dominant Westbrook who just cares about triple doubles.

[Halalmeat71]

It is time for people to stop giving Chris Paul and doc rivers a pass!chris Paul is a bad teammate and up until this year I referred to him as second round Chris, has never won anything and first player innba history to lose 4 series while being up 2-0 in the series.....Stte farm commercials looking real slow right now stiff Paul lollll

[hyberx]

LeBron also wants Giannis, Curry, KD, and Michale Jordan in his prime.

[GunnerWRX]

>>> Paul orchestrated an opt-in and trade in leaving the Los Angeles Clippers for the Houston Rockets in 2017.

Chris Paul opted out of the Clippers, *then* cancelled the opt-out, and opted back in on 6/27, so he could be traded to the Rockets on 6/28. Free agency did not begin until July. Paul and his agent did not talk to the Rockets before free agency, all while being President of the NBPA who represents the players and set the rules with the NBA. #hypocrite

[Liam_Gallagher]

Paul would be crazy to turn down the MLE from the Lakers. He’ll never get another chance at a ring plus Bron is his best bud.

G - Paul/Caruso
G - KCP/McLemore
F - James/Dudley
F - AD/Kuz
C - Gasol/Whiteside

[moocow007]

Serious question; can the Lakers sign and trade THT and Shroeder in the same deal?

Everything is possible if you just use your



But no, I don't believe you can sign-and-trade 2 different free agents of yours and include them in the same trade for 1 player (what is being proposed here).

[sc00bysnaqz]

Serious question; can the Lakers sign and trade THT and Shroeder in the same deal?

No they will not. They can sign and trade anybody out and not be hard capped. Example, if they traded for Westbrook, not hard capped. if they receive a signed and traded player in (ie lonzo, lowry or even cp3) then they would be hard capped.


as long as they trade out, NO hard capped

receiving a player via sign and trade YES


Hence why all the Westbrook talk

[BSmoov1]

Paul would be crazy to turn down the MLE from the Lakers. He’ll never get another chance at a ring plus Bron is his best bud.

G - Paul/Caruso
G - KCP/McLemore
F - James/Dudley
F - AD/Kuz
C - Gasol/Whiteside

LOL best bud, who drug him in the mud regarding all star game and the condensed schedule...Paul is the NBAPA President, so that shade was towards him...Godfather sure, best bud...well???

[jk31]

Paul would be crazy to turn down the MLE from the Lakers. He’ll never get another chance at a ring plus Bron is his best bud.

G - Paul/Caruso
G - KCP/McLemore
F - James/Dudley
F - AD/Kuz
C - Gasol/Whiteside

He Most certainly wont do that. as a nbpa leader He fought for the right of old players to sign Big contracts. He will never take the MLE

[jk31]

Serious question; can the Lakers sign and trade THT and Shroeder in the same deal?

Everything is possible if you just use your



But no, I don't believe you can sign-and-trade 2 different free agents of yours and include them in the same trade for 1 player (what is being proposed here).

why should this not be possible?

[docholliday99]

Paul would be crazy to turn down the MLE from the Lakers. He’ll never get another chance at a ring plus Bron is his best bud.

G - Paul/Caruso
G - KCP/McLemore
F - James/Dudley
F - AD/Kuz
C - Gasol/Whiteside

LOL best bud, who drug him in the mud regarding all star game and the condensed schedule...Paul is the NBAPA President, so that shade was towards him...Godfather sure, best bud...well???

Oh yeah, it was Paul that made that decision....certainly wasn't Silver coming to the NBAPA stating you have to do this or you're going to lose most of your money this coming season. Certainly wasn't put to a vote by the Union cause we all know the players have no say... C'mon man, think it through before you type. The Players VOTED in the majority for this season and the ASG. The union is all about the players and the players vote on everything, including this condensed schedule, since most players would have been hurt financially with no season. Lebron knew the players would vote for the season, he was upset it was even offered by the league in the first place. As for LeBron and CP, well Bron calls him one of his best friends and Bron was courtside supporting CP and the Suns for game 5.

PRO BASKETBALL TALK | NBC SPORTS Select TeamSubscribe:
Chris Paul says all players had voice in much criticized condensed schedule
By Kurt HelinJul 5, 2021, 11:00 PM EDT

Chris Paul heard LeBron, but when asked about the condensed 72-game schedule this year, he said a lot of players had their voices heard.

“Man, one thing about our league and its players is everything is always a conversation,” Paul said during his media session the day before Game 1 of the NBA Finals. “There’s a ton of guys on the executive committee who are working hard on things right now as we speak — day in and day out, traveling. I wish you guys knew all the things that are going on. So decisions that are made as far as playing or not playing, players are always involved in it.

“Injuries are always unfortunate. You hate to have them. But just like when we went to the bubble, everything was discussed as far as the players and the full body of players. Everything that’s good for this guy and that guy might not be the same for that guy, but everything has always been a conversation and it’s going to continue to be that way. So if people don’t like it, then you know everybody has the same opportunity to be a part of all these conversations.”

https://nba.nbcsports.com/2021/07/05/chris-paul-says-all-players-had-voice-in-much-criticized-condensed-schedule/

[JN61]

Nice try Fakers but CP3 is gunna resign with us and take whatever young PG prospect we draft under his tutelage before retiring in the desert

Extremely doubtful but on other hand I just don't see Paul opting out of his current contract.

[docholliday99]

Serious question; can the Lakers sign and trade THT and Shroeder in the same deal?

Everything is possible if you just use your



But no, I don't believe you can sign-and-trade 2 different free agents of yours and include them in the same trade for 1 player (what is being proposed here).

why should this not be possible?

The rules are pretty clear for S&T' and the rules are meant to protect the team and players' rights. When a player is S&T many other factors come into play - BYC, contract length must be 3 or 4 years, level of bird rights, etc. Each player has there own variables making it impossible to bring them together.

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2019/06/why-nba-sign-and-trades-are-rare-2.html

[Calimaaade]

Plot twist Lakers acquire both CP3 and Westbrook

[Scalabrine]

Paul would be crazy to turn down the MLE from the Lakers. He’ll never get another chance at a ring plus Bron is his best bud.

G - Paul/Caruso
G - KCP/McLemore
F - James/Dudley
F - AD/Kuz
C - Gasol/Whiteside

You really think Chris Paul would be crazy to opt out of his 44.5 million dollar contract to take a 9.5 million dollar contract? Thats a 35MILLION dollar pay cut your asking him to take... and he's the crazy one??

[Scalabrine]

Nice try Fakers but CP3 is gunna resign with us and take whatever young PG prospect we draft under his tutelage before retiring in the desert

Extremely doubtful but on other hand I just don't see Paul opting out of his current contract.

Only if it's for a longer contract for close to the same annual average. He's the President of the NBAPA. Taking a major discount to stack the deck would be a really bad look for everything he's fought for.