Latest @BleacherReport 2024 NBA Free Agency: Educated Guesses On Potential Early Signings (not going to lie, this was fun to write; curious how they hold up):https://t.co/ZPcvcHI4y7
— Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) June 14, 2024
Chris Paul to Lakers, Finally
Spoiler: LeBron James will headline the final slide of these re-signings (with the Lakers).
With that in mind, along with the Warriors ducking as much luxury tax as possible, Chris Paul isn’t going to get his non-guaranteed $30 million from Golden State.
Once he clears waivers, put Paul, finally, on the Lakers at a $3.3 million minimum contract.
The 39-year-old can come off the bench or even start, though the Lakers will need to limit his minutes, given he’s just a few months younger than the oldest player in the league (James, 40 in December).
While L.A. needs to infuse the roster with youth, the team also needs smart, veteran players. Paul was almost a Laker in 2011, but the deal was scuttled by David Stern, the late NBA commissioner who was operating as the owner of the New Orleans Hornets (now Pelicans) before it was sold to the Benson family.
Paul never got to play with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, but now he gets the chance to don the purple and gold alongside James.
No predictions favoring Lakers except for CP3 at minimum.