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Los Angeles Lakers: Can the Lakers land Chris Paul?

By Jonathan Kiernan

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 05: Chris Paul #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder is fouled by Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 05, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 05: Chris Paul #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder is fouled by Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 05, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Trade Scenario

The Oklahoma City Thunder receive: SG/SF Danny Green, C JaVale McGee, SG/SF Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, PG Rajon Rondo and the partially guaranteed contract of PG Quinn Cook

The Los Angeles Lakers receive: PG Chris Paul

A 5 for 1 Trade? Not ideal in the slightest for either side but let’s find a way for this to work for both sides.

Right off the bat, the Oklahoma City Thunder can be rid of Quinn Cook very quickly as his contract is only guaranteed for $1m next season, removing an additional $2m dollars from the already $6.3m they save by trading Chris Paul.

Every player coming to the Thunder will be on the last year of their deal-making it easy to either:

  • Trade their expiring contract for assets
  • Buy the player out.
  • When it comes to Rajon Rondo, you can expect that he will be bought out rather quickly by the Thunder as they already have SGA and Dennis Schroder ready to take over point guard duties from CP3.

That leaves JaVale McGee, KCP, and Danny Green.

With Andre Roberson and Nerlens Noel’s contracts coming to an end, you have better players on reasonable contracts coming in to replace them. McGee offers what Noel does with similar numbers in terms of points, rebounds, and blocked shots. KCP and Danny Green offer great perimeter defense as well as a far superior ability to knock down the 3-point shot than Roberson.

The big question. Why would the Oklahoma City Thunder move on from Chris Paul who was an All-Star this season?

If the Thunder were a cash-rich franchise who did not show a history of not being willing to pay the luxury tax, then they would not make the trade.

With no title window in sight and paying a 35-year-old All-Star $40m a year for the next two years doesn’t sound like something OKC does.

Most importantly, they realize that SGA is their future and the hope that the flood of draft picks they received for Westbrook and Paul George land them a future star.

Paying the luxury tax to be a middle of the road team is not something that the Thunder do.

Moving on from Chris Paul gets the Thunder out of the luxury tax and allows them to focus on the future.

If CP3’s contract was more palatable, they would fetch a nice ransom for him but being 35 years old making $40m+ and potentially 1 year away from his body failing him and his skill set waning, it is time for them to move on from Paul after a great year and prepare for the future.

While the Thunder do not get a player of Paul’s caliber back, they will have complimentary pieces to put around SGA.

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