If the Los Angeles Lakers truly wanted to add Chris Paul, they could have done so during the 2025 offseason. The future Hall of Fame point guard was looking for a final stop to his legendary career that was near his family, and Paul settled on the crosstown Los Angeles Clippers.
That decision did not work out for him. Paul was sent home from the team in a disastrous dispute that was well-publicized and made the Clippers look awful in their management of the situation. Instead of outright releasing their backup guard, the other Los Angeles team will look to trade him.
Sources: Weeks ago Chris Paul requested to have a meeting with Tyronn Lue to discuss allegations of being a negative presence on team. Lue refused to meet with him. Lawrence Frank traveled to Atlanta to deliver news of parting ways. Paul desired final season to be with Clippers.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) December 3, 2025
Jake Fischer recently wrote, "Their cleanest solution salary-cap-wise for extricating him ... would be to find a direct trade for another player on a veteran minimum salary. With the Clippers hard-capped at the first apron and unable to sign a replacement ... they can't simply waive Paul."
Fischer mentioned the Clippers would be stuck with 13 players, unable to sign the necessary 14th man within the allowable period to do so. As such, there is an expectation Paul will work with the franchise to find a new home. It would be easy to move to the other side of Los Angeles. It just does not make a ton of sense for the Lakers.
Chris Paul would not help the Lakers in any meaningful way
Paul has appeared in 16 games for the Clippers this season. The former superstar is averaging just 2.9 points, 3.3 assists, and 0.7 steals per game while shooting 32.1 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc.
It should come as a surprise to no one, but Paul's best days are absolutely behind him. Veteran leadership is not something the Lakers are lacking either. They have LeBron James.
For a team that needs all the reinforcements they can get for a title push, the veteran point guard does not add anything substantial to aid in that pursuit. There would be little, if any, reason to even play him over Gabe Vincent at this point.
Vincent has been far from perfect in Los Angeles. However, his skill set better represents a boost to the rotation the Lakers would actually benefit from.
Having Paul on the floor would just give opposing offenses a clear matchup to exploit. The veteran was once an elite defender, but his gifts have long diminished on that end. The Clippers guard is averaging a defensive rating of 120 per 100 possessions this season.
There should theoretically be plenty of off-court motivation for Paul to desire joining the Lakers. There is not a whole lot there for those feelings to be mutual from the other side.