The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off an impressive Championship run in 2020. But even as they stand atop the basketball world, there is pressure to make a move.
LeBron James is going to be 36-years-old in December, and Anthony Davis’ long and extensive injury history continues to haunt Lakers Nation. As other teams in the West set out to improve their roster, it’d be foolish for Rob Pelinka not to do the same.
So what could be in the cards for the defending Champs this offseason? In an article, Josh Schrock of NBC Sports pointed to CP3, and how the acquisition could spell disaster for what will likely be the Lakers’ steepest competition next season: the Golden State Warriors.
Chris Paul showed he still had a lot left in the tank during his renaissance year with the Thunder. Now, OKC might be ready to cash in and get his salary off the books. The obvious landing spot for Paul is the one the Warriors don’t want to see. We know LeBron James and Paul are good friends and Paul would fill a clear need for the Lakers. He would give LA another ball-handler who the Lakers can run the offense through, create his own shot and take some of the load off James and Anthony Davis.
The trade for Paul would gut the Lakers of their depth but give them a Big Three that would be unmatched in today’s NBA.
Paul, while way past his prime, has proven he can remain effective at this stage of his career. Last season, with the Thunder, he averaged 17.6 points, 6.7 assists, and 5 rebounds per game on 48.9% shooting.
As a premier playmaker and elite floor general, Paul is great at making his teammates better. Alongside LeBron and AD, he’d set them up for easy shot opportunities both on the perimeter and around the basket.
The 35-year-old star is still under contract with the Thunder, and the Lakers will have to surrender most of their depth to get him.
But for a guy with so much upside, it might just be worth the price…
