NBA Rumors: A perfect Lakers trade package to land Chris Paul

The Los Angeles Lakers made it farther than anyone expected in the 2023 NBA Playoffs but there is still room for improvement. LeBron James is not getting any younger and the 2023 offseason is the team’s last chance to make a big move to potentially bring him another title to LA.

It looked like a big name was going to be available to sign for cheap, as reports last week indicated that Chris Paul was being waived by the Phoenix Suns. While that has since been rebuked, it is clear that the Suns are looking at the options for Paul and how the team can free up his $30 million salary.

Lakers fans may prefer if the team waits out this situation and tries to sign him on a cheaper deal in free agency. However, if Rob Pelinka wants to take things into his own hands (and is getting pressured by LeBron James), we could end up seeing LA trading for the future Hall of Famer to finally bring him to the purple and gold.

If Los Angeles is indeed interested in such an idea, there is a perfect trade package that the Phoenix Suns would be foolish to turn down.

The initial response to this trade, specifically by Suns fans who still support Paul, likely is not very good. However, when breaking down what both teams are trying to accomplish with a deal like this, it becomes clear that this actually is something that could benefit both parties.

Why the Phoenix Suns could say yes to this Chris Paul trade:

If the Suns are actually considering waiving Paul and taking a salary-cap figure on the head for nothing then they certainly would be willing to turn his salary-cap space into more depth to build around Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.

The key person in this trade is actually Mo Bamba. If the Suns pull off a Deandre Ayton trade in which they save money then Mamba could be a nice depth piece for the team to utilize next season. If not, the Suns can also get out of his deal (non-guaranteed for the 2023-24 season), saving $10.3 million in the process.

If that happens, the Suns would be getting someone to space the floor in Beasley, a young player with promise in Christie, two second-round picks and would be saving $14.2 million against the cap in total next season.

Two years ago this would have been a ludicrous trade return for CP3. His value has never been less and this is the kind of deal the Suns would be looking at if they do decide to trade him.

Why the Los Angeles Lakers could say yes to this Chris Paul trade:

Look, I get why any Lakers fans would be slightly weary about this trade. Paul is not necessarily a spring chicken and the team already has to deal with LeBron’s advanced age and Anthony Davis’ tendency to get hurt.

There are also questions about how Paul and LeBron would play together with both players being ball-dominant. However, as we saw last season, it would benefit LeBron and the Lakers to get someone who can help take away a lot of those responsibilities to keep LeBron fresh when it matters most.

While there are concerns, at the end of the day the Lakers would be getting Paul for an incredible value. If the team wants to take a swing at the fence this is the swing to take. There is no long-term risk like there would be if the team brought in Kyrie Irving and if this ends up working out, it could be enough to get over the hump next season.

Even with the addition of Paul’s contract (as they are only taking on $2.2 million more) the team would still be able to re-sign Austin Reaves and make other depth signings without going over the tax apron.

If Pelinka really pinched pennies with his moves, he could stay under the luxury tax altogether.  That may mean letting Rui Hachimura walk in free agency but there is no guarantee anyway that the team is willing to go into a bidding war for the former Wizard.

Regardless, signing Paul at a cheaper price would be the much better alternative but trading for the future Hall of Famer certainly is not out of the picture.