LeBron James is familiar with the success of a Big 3 lineup in winning an NBA Championship, but the Los Angeles Lakers might need a different approach next season.
If the Cleveland Cavaliers don’t offer Donovan Mitchell for trade and Trae Young isn’t a good fit strategically, the Lakers’ opportunities to secure a third star player in his prime to join James and Anthony Davis may become limited.
If Los Angeles needs instead to add around the edges of the roster, at least until the regular season begins to unfold and trade deadline possibilities open up, one realistic option could be Golden State Warriors point guard Chris Paul.
“There is a scenario where the Lakers sign Chris Paul,” Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report told Jovan Buha of The Athletic on May 20. “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 happening.”
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report also weighed in on the possibility of Paul joining L.A. on Friday.
“This version of Paul isn’t worth a budget-busting contract, but he won’t necessarily need one. His $30 million salary for next season is non-guaranteed, according to Spotrac, and if the Golden State Warriors opt out of that deal, perhaps Paul would be open to a team-friendly agreement,” Buckley wrote. “The Lakers are a good team with potential to be really good. They may not be top-tier contenders right now, but they aren’t far from it.”
Although reports indicate that James isn’t directing the team’s coaching search or roster decisions, his influence over the franchise is undeniable.
James is entering the final season of his two-year, $99 million contract, which includes a player option allowing him to become a free agent this summer. Adding to the intrigue, his son, Bronny James, is considered a legitimate NBA draft prospect with mid- to late-second round value after a strong performance at the combine.
If he chooses to, James can wield his considerable influence to get the Lakers to draft his eldest child, or perhaps put out into the NBA universe that he will be open to joining any team that does.
One thing is certain, though — if the Lakers can’t land a third star and James wants to play with his old pal Paul for the first time in their legendary careers, Los Angeles will make that happen.
Chris Paul Proved He’s Still Valuable Asset During Season With Warriors
Paul, a 12-time All-Star, is renowned as an expert offensive facilitator and is arguably one of the top five point guards in NBA history.
Over his 19-year career, Paul has averaged 17.5 points, 9.4 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game, according to Basketball Reference. Last season, he played in 58 games for the Warriors, making 18 starts as Steph Curry’s backup.
