The Los Angeles Lakers will only sign Chris Paul if he accepts a veteran minimum contract, according to NBA insider Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times.
The Lakers hope the Washington Wizards waive Paul so that they can sign him as an unrestricted free agent.
The purple and gold are expected to re-sign restricted free agents Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura this offseason. They also have to make a decision with D’Angelo Russell, who becomes an unrestricted free agent on June 30.
Paul, 38, is best friends with Lakers superstar LeBron James.
“The Lakers for sure would have interest in acquiring Chris Paul, but only for the veteran minimum,” Turner wrote. “If he were to take that from the Lakers, it would be a good deal for the Lakers and allow them to retain Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura possibly without hurting their salary cap too much. At 38, the question becomes how much does CP have left in his body? And would he be willing to be a backup if the Lakers re-signed D’Angelo Russell? CP has dealt with injury issues also in the past few years, and the Lakers have enough of that to deal with involving Anthony Davis and LeBron James.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Chris Paul & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
League sources told NBA Analysis Network that Paul will sign with the Lakers if he becomes a free agent. However, the Wizards could trade CP3 to the Los Angeles Clippers, who are interested in acquiring the future Hall of Famer.
Paul averaged 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 8.9 assists this past season while shooting 44.0% from the field, 37.5% from beyond the arc and 83.1% from the free-throw line. His wife and kids live in Los Angeles.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Chris Paul & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
The Lakers got swept by the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 Western Conference Finals, while the Clippers lost to the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs. The Suns traded Paul and Landry Shamet to the Wizards for Bradley Beal, who waived his no-trade clause to play with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
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