1. It will take too much to trade for Chris Paul
Even if Paul would give the Los Angeles Lakers two more strong seasons like the one he just had in OKC, will fit in perfectly with their style of play and avoid injury, the team will simply have to give up too much to land him.
Danny Green is a nice trading chip with the $15 million that’s owed to him next season, and Kyle Kuzma is also a nice piece, as he may break out on a different team.
But the Lakers will also have to give up some combination of Alex Caruso, Avery Bradley, Javale McGee, or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
In addition, the Thunder are rebuilding and are stockpiling draft picks. I’m guessing, at a minimum, they’ll demand L.A.’s first-round pick in this year’s upcoming NBA draft.
All that is a bridge too far. First, as we previously discussed, it would greatly deplete the team’s supporting cast and reduce their tools under salary cap rules to replenish that depth.
Second, considering the team will be over the cap with or without Paul, they need to keep their draft picks unless they’re trading for a third star who’s in his 20s and presents no real risks.
If Paul comes on board and nothing bad happens in terms of the risks I mentioned, he still won’t be a long-term choice. That means they’ll be left to reload in a year or two.
Even with Paul’s contract off the books, replacing those role players, especially Bradley and Caruso, won’t be as easy as it seems, as those two possess unique skills and qualities.