Chris Paul: 5 potential landing spots in free agency

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Apr 5, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) defends against Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Los Angeles Lakers

I’m sure this inclusion will induce as many eye rolls as seeing “#FutureLaker” plastered all over Twitter, but hear me out. While it would make more sense to re-sign with the other NBA franchise in L.A., the more prestigious one isn’t entirely impossible in terms of Chris Paul landing spots.

Though the Los Angeles Lakers are much further away from contention than the Clippers right now, they have plenty of cap space. Their focus should be on the draft and developing their young nucleus, but for a franchise with 16 championship banners, this front office will never turn its back on making a splash that involves legitimate star power.

Neither Jordan Clarkson nor D’Angelo Russell looks like a franchise point guard to this point, and CP3’s domineering brand of tutelage might help them in the long run. Don’t forget, Paul was on his way to the Lakers in 2011 before David Stern’s infamous “basketball reasons” nixed the deal, and the possibility of luring Paul George in free agency in 2018 looms large as well.

However, a max contract for Paul would limit the Lakers’ cap space to bring PG-13 back home next summer, and even if this kind of deal keeps CP3 in L.A., what would be the point of jumping franchises when the Clippers are so much better? The luster of the Lakers has lost some of its sheen, so if Paul wants to stay in L.A., he’d be better off taking the pay raise to stay with Lob City.

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