Report: Chris Paul Joining Lakers This Offseason ‘Is A Real Possibility’

According to NBA insider Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, Chris Paul joining the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason “is a real possibility.”

Paul has a non-guaranteed contract with the Golden State Warriors for next season. 

Paul and Lakers superstar LeBron James are best friends.

“I would be remiss without mentioning Chris Paul is a real possibility,” Pincus said on Jovan Buha’s podcast. “There is a reasonable chance he gets traded or just cut by the Warriors. He and LeBron obviously have a close relationship. There is a universe where the Lakers sign Chris Paul.

“It makes a lot of sense to me. Is Chris coming for the minimum? I don’t know. I don’t want to say he comes cheap to the Lakers, but in the absence of a better offer, I could see that.”

Paul appeared in 58 games for the Warriors this season. He averaged 9.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.8 assists while shooting 44.1% from the field, 37.1% from beyond the arc and 82.7% from the free-throw line. 

Paul turned 39 this month. He told NBA reporters after the Warriors’ season ended that he doesn’t plan to retire. 

“I’ll talk to my wife and my kids, my family, my support system, see what it looks like,” Paul told Anthony Slater of The Athletic. “But this isn’t (the end of my career). I know it for sure.”

All $30 million of Paul’s contract for next season is non-guaranteed. 

“I haven’t thought about it,” Paul said. “I’m too in it. I was in the gym at 8 a.m. this morning, lifting and getting ready for this game. When it’s time for that, Mike (Dunleavy) and Steve (Kerr), we’ll have a conversation and see what it looks like. But I loved it. It’s honestly — this is my fifth year living without my family — I probably saw them more than any other year.”

Paul has career averages of 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 9.4 assists. He’s one of the best point guards in NBA history.