Lakers Rumors: Insider Proposes Massive 4-Team Trade That Lands Chris Paul in LA at Last
The very quiet NBA trade deadline got much, much louder this weekend when the Brooklyn Nets sent Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and picks.
The Lakers were very in on Irving, and will now have to shift their focus to other win-now talents to help push this struggling team into playoff contender status. And Eric Pincus at Bleacher Report had just the right idea. He proposed a massive four-team trade, that, among other things, would (finally) land Chris Paul in Los Angeles.
"Though later in his career, Paul would be an upgrade. He has a strong relationship with James and gives the Lakers financial flexibility with two additional seasons (the last one at $30 million is non-guaranteed). ...
"Perhaps the Lakers can get Jae Crowder out of Phoenix in the deal and/or Mason Plumlee/Kelly Oubre Jr. from the Hornets," Pincus wrote. "The Lakers would need to send draft compensation (starting with a first) to the Hornets for taking on Westbrook's contract. Charlotte may be interested in some of Los Angeles' developing prospects like Austin Reaves, Max Christie and Wenyen Gabriel."
While he didn't provide an exact framework of the deal, the Lakers would mainly be sending out Russell Westbrook and a first-round pick, and would be acquiring Paul. They could also add more to it, potentially adding someone like Mason Plumlee or Kelly Oubre Jr. from the Charlotte Hornets in the deal.
Paul is definitely not the same player the Lakers traded for 12 years ago (before that deal was vetoed), but he would provide quite the veteran presence and leadership on this team. He also would be a much better fit next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, as a pass-first point guard who has a much better shot than Westbrook.
This season, CP3 is averaging 13.8 points, 8.6 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, shooting 43.5 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from deep.
The 'Point God' is under contract for the next two seasons, which would perfectly align with LeBron's two-year extension. The Lakers would definitely be going all-in on these aging superstars, but Paul could be the perfect point guard to relieve some pressure on LeBron, and take this team to the championship level.
