The Los Angeles Lakers have spent years flirting with the idea of bringing Chris Paul to Hollywood, but the timing has never quite worked out. Now, with the San Antonio Spurs shifting gears after a devastating setback to Victor Wembanyama, the door might finally be open for CP3 to don the purple and gold.
San Antonio made a bold move by acquiring De’Aaron Fox before the trade deadline, signaling their intent to become a legitimate playoff team. But with Victor Wembanyama now shut down for the season due to blood clots in his shoulder, the Spurs suddenly find themselves in an awkward position—too talented to tank naturally but not competitive enough to make a real playoff push without their franchise star.
That makes Paul, who was brought in as part of the Fox deal, a prime buyout candidate. The 12-time All-Star no longer fits the Spurs’ timeline, and if he becomes available, the Lakers should waste no time making a move. Paul has been linked to the Lakers for over a decade, dating back to the infamous vetoed trade in 2011.
Now, at 39 years old, he may not be the superstar he once was, but he remains an elite floor general with invaluable playoff experience. Adding him alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic would give the Lakers another high-IQ playmaker, stabilizing their offense while setting the stage for one last superteam run.
With the Western Conference wide open beyond the dominant OKC Thunder and possibly the Denver Nuggets, this could be the move that finally makes the Lakers true contenders again. Let’s dive into why this works out for all parties involved.
Chris Paul Finally Becomes A Los Angeles Laker
It took over a decade, but Chris Paul might finally get his shot to wear the purple and gold. The future Hall of Famer was nearly a Laker in 2011 before David Stern infamously vetoed the deal, and since then, CP3 has remained one of the biggest “what ifs” in franchise history.
There were even countless “Banana Boat” mock ideas that would see LeBron James pair with close friend Chris Paul when The King first came to the Lakers. Now, after bouncing around the league in the twilight of his career, Paul might find himself in L.A. through the buyout market.
With the Spurs now shifting focus after Victor Wembanyama’s injury, they have little reason to keep a veteran like Paul on the books ($10,460,000 in 2024-25), making a buyout feel inevitable. If that happens, the Lakers should pounce. Even at 39, Paul remains an elite playmaker, averaging 8.0 assists per game this season while recently passing Jason Kidd for second all-time in assists and steals.
Paul (9.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 35.3 3PT%) won’t be the All-NBA version of himself, but he doesn’t have to be—his job would be to set the table, control the tempo, and take pressure off LeBron James and Luka Doncic, both of whom will shoulder much of the offensive load this season. With Jaxson Hayes and Alex Len as the team’s current lob threats, CP3’s arrival would instantly elevate the Lakers’ pick-and-roll attack.
The biggest question will be durability. Paul has battled injuries in almost every postseason run of his career, and asking him to play major minutes deep into the playoffs is a risk. But in a limited role with LeBron and AD taking the lead, he can maximize his impact while minimizing his workload. The Lakers don’t need Paul to be their savior—they just need him to be the missing piece that elevates them from good to great.
San Antonio Spurs Tank The Season Until Wemby Returns
The Spurs entered the season hoping to take a step forward with Victor Wembanyama leading the charge. They even doubled down on that idea at the trade deadline by acquiring De’Aaron Fox, a legitimate star point guard to help Wemby develop and win games.
But with the devastating news that Wembanyama is out for the season due to blood clots in his shoulder, San Antonio’s entire trajectory has changed overnight. Instead of making a playoff push, their best bet now is to lean into the tank and set themselves up for the future.
With Fox locked in as their long-term point guard, there’s no reason for the Spurs to keep Paul on the roster. CP3 was never a part of their plans beyond this season, and his presence only takes developmental minutes away from younger players. Cutting ties allows the Spurs to prioritize their future while doing right by a veteran who still has title aspirations.
More importantly, offloading Paul helps them rack up losses, which is now the smartest strategy with Wemby sidelined. A top draft pick in 2025 could add another foundational piece next to Fox and Wembanyama, making the Spurs even more dangerous when their generational big man returns.
It’s an unfortunate turn of events for San Antonio, but not a disastrous one. Wemby’s long-term health is the biggest priority, and while losing him hurts now, the Spurs are still in an enviable position moving forward.
Lakers Start Piling Big Names To Go For A Title
The Lakers have never been shy about chasing big names, and adding Chris Paul could be another step to forming a superteam after the biggest trade in NBA history that brought them 5-time All-Star Luka Doncic. The franchise knows that LeBron James’ career is closing fast, and if they’re going all-in on one last title push, they need some big names to accompany him and the brilliant Doncic.
Rob Pelinka has already shown a willingness to shake things up midseason—cutting Christian Wood to sign Alex Len was a clear sign that they’re retooling on the fly. If Paul joins the mix, don’t be surprised if the Lakers continue making moves to add even more firepower.
Time is running out for LeBron to be part of a championship side so the Lakers can maximize his presence before the full rebuild around Luka begins. They’re currently in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race with the 4th seed (34-21), but standing pat isn’t an option.
If the franchise wants to give James a legitimate shot at title No. 5 while also showing Luka that they can make big moves to keep him satisfied for the rest of his career, adding Paul is a step in the right direction and it could be a missing piece for them this season as the lineup becomes complete.
A starting lineup of Chris Paul, Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Rui Hachimua would be excellent in a small ball scenario, but JJ Redick could even opt to bring Paul off the bench to give James and Doncic a break with handling the ball. With Paul, the Lakers can gear up for a deep playoff run with plenty of experienced leaders.
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