The Los Angeles Lakers are in for what could be a very interesting offseason. After winning the NBA Finals behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis, they will look to improve even more. In order to do that, the Lakers may look to make a big trade for a third star.
Chris Paul is a name that has come up quite often. Victor Oladipo is another player who has been rumored as a potential trade target for the Lakers. However, there is only one star that the Lakers should pursue this offseason.
One NBA scout, who asked to remain anonymous, spoke to NBA Analysis about what the Lakers should do this offseason. He believes that Los Angeles should go all-out to acquire Paul from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“The Lakers don’t need to do anything crazy. They need to be careful with who they bring in. Chris Paul is the only star that they should be considering. His ability to run a team, create plays, and willingness to take fewer shots to win would be the ideal fit for L.A.”
Last season with the Thunder, Paul led his team to the NBA Playoffs. OKC wasn’t given much of a chance to get there. Instead, they not only made the playoffs, but also pushed the Houston Rockets to a seven-game series and nearly pulled off the upset.
Paul ended up averaging 17.6 points per game to go along with 6.7 assists and 5.0 rebounds. He shot 48.9 percent from the floor and knocked down 36.5 percent from the three-point line. The Lakers would improve dramatically with him playing alongside James and Davis.
Not only is Paul a great player, he is also close friends with LeBron. There would be no real concerns about him fitting in. Paul would come in, take a bit of a backseat, but would be more than capable of stepping up when needed.
At 35 years old, Paul still has some good basketball left. But, he is in the latter stages of his career and wants to compete for a championship.
This kind of a deal would be ideal for both Chris Paul and the Lakers. They would be able to help each other reach their goals. L.A. may not end up getting CP3, but this deal would be the perfect offseason addition.
Expect to hear plenty of rumors surrounding the Lakers this offseason. Paul is also going to be mentioned in a lot in potential trades. Don’t be surprised to hear them mentioned together in rumors.
