Lakers Reportedly Target Chris Paul, Consider D'Angelo Russell for Signings

Report: Lakers want to sign Chris Paul, potentially alongside D’Angelo Russell

The Los Angeles Lakers don’t necessarily want to choose between D’Angelo Russell and CP3 in free agency.

On Friday morning, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN hinted that CP3 would likely be choosing between the Lakers and Clippers if the Phoenix Suns ultimately pot to cut or trade him before his contract for next season fully guarantee on June 28, as they are widely expected to.

As the start of free agency approaches, The Los Angeles Lakers have a lot of tough decisions to make to put together a championship-Caliber roster in 2023-2024

A number of players from the last season are free agents, including D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Lonnie Walkers IV, and others.

According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Lakers do indeed “have a strong interest in signing CP3 if the guard is waived or stretched by the Suns,” potentially even alongside keeping fellow free agent D’angelo Russell.

One option could be veteran point guard CP3 as it was recently reported that he may be waived by the Phoenix Suns, if this happens the Lakers unsurprisingly would have interest in signing Paul, per Jovan Buha of the Athletic.

Here’s what Buha wrote in his story:

Signing Paul to a veteran’s minimum contract would allow the Lakers to use one of their exceptions on another player to bolster their depth.

Another option the Lakers have discussed is signing Paul and retaining D’Angelo Russell to truly solidify their point guard position, according to the sources.

Paul makes a lot of sense for the Lakers as it's not often you can get a player of his Caliber at the minimum, even if he is 38 years of age. 

However, the fact that the Lakers would likely start Paul in that scenario sort of tip their hands on who they value more, and it seems logically unlikely that Russell would both take a pay cut to return and come off the bench.

It’s no secret that Paul makes his home in Los Angeles and also is very close with Lebron James, so that will be something to watch up to the start of the free agency if the Suns do indeed waive him.

The 12-time All-Star finally putting on the purple and gold uniform he had vetoed by David Stern more than a decade ago might be a real possibility than it’s ever been since.