NBA Writer Suggests 2 Lakers Trade Packages For Chris Paul

Chris Paul, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, NBA Trade Rumors
NBA Analysis Network

According to the latest odds from Sportsbetting.ag, the Los Angeles Lakers have the best odds (+300) to acquire Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul. The 12-time NBA All-Star, who signed a four-year, $120 million contract with the Suns in August 2021, has a partially guaranteed contract for next season.

In the wake of these odds coming out, Jason Reed of Lake Show Life came up with two trades for the Lakers to get Paul from the Suns this summer. The first involved a straight-up deal for D’Angelo Russell using a sign-and-trade. The other involved Malik Beasley, Mo Bamba and future draft pick

Russell becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason, so Reed’s first trade idea would have to be completed via a sign-and-trade deal.

“D’Angelo Russell is an unrestricted free agent this summer and the Lakers could look to utilize his Bird Rights and execute a sign-and-trade to flip him for Paul. The Suns would be getting a younger point guard with more floor-spacing that wouldn’t need to dominate the basketball like Paul,” Reed wrote. “The big hurdle in this scenario would be the fact that it would hard cap the Suns at the luxury tax next season as they would be acquiring a player via sign-and-trade. They could get under the luxury tax if Russell is making less than Paul and the team moves Ayton for less money in return.”

NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns & Los Angeles Lakers Updates

Meanwhile, Reed’s second trade idea would be a standard deal since all the players involved are under contract.

“The second trade could be if the Suns are looking to add depth to the roster around Durant and Booker,” Reed wrote. “Here, the Suns would be getting a center that could help replace Ayton while spacing the floor. They would also acquire Beasley, who in theory can be a great off-ball shooter for Phoenix (although he struggled in LA). The 17th overall pick is thrown in as Beasley and Bamba don’t have a ton of trade value. Paul doesn’t at this point in his career, either, but the Lakers have traded first-round picks for less. They traded one for Dennis Schroder, after all.”

Paul is close friends with Lakers superstar LeBron James. The purple and gold acquired Paul from the New Orleans Hornets in December 2011 before former commissioner David Stern vetoed the trade. The Hornets wound up sending CP3 to the Los Angeles Clippers.

NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns & Los Angeles Lakers Updates

Although Reed’s trade ideas aren’t bad, the Lakers likely don’t want to give up players to acquire Paul, who is 38. The future Hall of Famer averaged a career-low 13.9 points this season.

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