Lakers linked to legendary point guard searching for elusive championship ring

Rob Pelinka and the Los Angeles Lakers are going to spend the 2024 NBA offseason proving whether or not a championship roster can be crafted with limited resources. For as daunting a task as that may be, there may be more options for the Lakers to consider than one might expect.

One of those players just so happens to be an individual who has a legendary legacy that includes time in Los Angeles.

North of the Lakers are the Golden State Warriors, which have a massive decision to make about the financial future of the organization. 11-time All-NBA point guard Chris Paul is on the books for $30 million in 2024-25, with the figure becoming fully guaranteed on June 28.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Lakers are one of the teams that could be a potential suitor for Paul if the Warriors ultimately opt to waive him this offseason.

"The Spurs and the Lakers keep coming up as potential suitors for the Warriors' Chris Paul if Paul becomes a free agent this offseason. Paul's longstanding friendship with LeBron James and his well-known desire to stay as close to his L.A.-based family as possible certainly add credence to the notion of the Lakers' signing him."

For a Lakers team that's in need of depth at the point guard position, this is certainly an interesting development on the free agency front.

Chris Paul could actually be an ideal fit with the Lakers

Paul, 39, is no longer the superstar player that he spent the better part of 20 years being. He is, however, still one of the most gifted passers and respected strategists in the Association, as well as an intelligent defender who knows how to make the most of his remaining athletic gifts.

In the event that Paul is available for the veteran minimum, he could be a high-value signing for a Lakers team that would likely ask him to lead the second unit.

Paul finished the 2023-24 regular season with averages of 9.2 points, 6.8 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.3 three-point field goals made per game. He may not be playing upwards of 30 minutes per game any longer, but his statistics translate to 12.5 points, 9.2 assists, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.8 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes.

Paul also remains relatively efficient in his limited scoring attempts, including a respectable mark of 37.1 percent from beyond the arc.

In terms of the value he'd bring, the Lakers' bench finished the 2023-24 regular season at 28th in the NBA in scoring and 25th in assists. Adding Paul could go a long way towards improving in those areas, as his Hall of Fame facilitating abilities could help Los Angeles receive consistent offense when James and Anthony Davis are on the bench.

Additionally, the Lakers finished the 2023-24 regular season at 24th in three-point field goals made and 16th in midrange field goals made. Paul would help in both of those areas as one of the best midrange shooters of all time, as well as a more than capable three-point shooter.

If nothing else, a low-cost gamble on a player whose vast NBA experience and familiarity with the Los Angeles market is intriguing.

Paul spent six seasons effectively resurrecting the Los Angeles Clippers from the point of obscurity. The Clippers made six consecutive postseason appearances with Paul after making just seven trips to the playoffs in the organization's previous 40 seasons.

Seven years later, it seems that a return to Southern California is a legitimate option for a player who can help the Lakers begin to address the need for depth at the point guard position.