Los Angeles Lakers Won’t Pursue Chris Paul, Houston Rockets ‘Aren’t Really Weighing Changes’
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Los Angeles Lakers won’t pursue Chris Paul and the Houston Rockets “aren’t really weighing changes.”
Paul has been linked to the Lakers and Rockets ever since the Los Angeles Clippers sent him home, but it doesn’t look like CP3 will be joining either team.
“I’ve also been strongly advised not to expect the Lakers to emerge as a potential landing spot for Paul,” Fischer wrote. “Despite the 40-year-old’s frequently cited desire to play as close to his Los Angeles-based family as possible, sources say that the Lakers are not considering Paul as a potential in-season addition despite the many years of Paul-to-the-Lakers speculation that have swirled leaguewide. Remember that our publisher reported on Dec. 14 that the Lakers have generally been very intentional in targeting players under 30 since the offseason when addressing various roster needs … and word Friday night that Austin Reaves will be lost for at least four weeks has created larger problems for the purple and gold anyway.
“Houston is another team in the West’s top six that could use a backcourt boost in the wake of Fred VanVleet‘s season-ending knee injury sustained in September and also obviously ranks as one of Paul’s former employers. Yet sources say that the Rockets aren’t really weighing changes to their team at the moment and don’t anticipate doing so until closer to the end of January thanks to the very limited breathing space they have (roughly $1.2 million) beneath the first apron.”
To move on from Paul, the Clippers will have to waive him and pay out his $3.6 million salary, agree to a buyout or trade him.
One of the best point guards in NBA history, Paul played in 16 games this season for the Clippers. He averaged 2.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.
A top 75 player of all time, Paul has played for the New Orleans Hornets, Clippers (twice), Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs. He holds career averages of 16.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 9.2 assists per game.
Paul has made 12 All-Star teams, nine All-Defensive teams and 11 All-NBA teams. He’s a top 75 player of all time and will make the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame one day.
It will be fascinating to see if Paul plays again this season. He’s expected to retire from the NBA after this season.
“I don’t regret anything,” Chris Paul told Jordan Greene of PEOPLE. “I was in Atlanta with a whole bunch of family. It was my last time gonna be playing there. That’s life. The whole thing took on a life of its own, you know? But I’m excited to be back here with my family.
“I’m actually at peace with everything. More than anything, I’m excited about being around and getting a chance to play a small role in whatever anything looks like next.”
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