Chris Paul made almost $10 million in extra guaranteed salary after getting traded by the Phoenix Suns to the Washington Wizards, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
If Paul gets waived by the Wizards, he’s expected to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers to play with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The Los Angeles Clippers are trying to trade for Paul. The Lakers hope that the Wizards waive Paul and make the NBA icon an unrestricted free agent so they can sign him without giving up anything.
CP3’s wife and kids live in Los Angeles. He’s been away from them ever since his days with the Clippers ended. While the Clippers, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and Boston Celtics will be interested in Paul should he become a free agent, the Wake Forest product has the Lakers atop his wishlist, league sources said.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns & Washington Wizards Updates
An NBA general manager told Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports that it’s Paul’s “dream” to play for the Lakers and with James. Paul almost became a Laker in 2011 to play with Kobe Bryant before former commissioner David Stern vetoed the trade between the Lakers and New Orleans Hornets.
“Lakers first,” one Eastern Conference GM texted Deveney. “It’s not definite, a lot can happen. But you’d have to start there. He always had (the) dream of being a Laker (and) playing with LBJ (James).”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns & Washington Wizards Updates
Paul averaged 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 8.9 assists for the Suns this past season while shooting 44.0% from the field, 37.5% from beyond the arc and 83.1% from the free-throw line. The 12-time All-Star has surprisingly never won a championship despite playing on several talented teams. The Suns were picked by many pundits to win the title this season after the club acquired two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets.
However, Phoenix lost to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals in six games. Paul got hurt in Game 2 and missed the rest of the series.
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