The Los Angeles Lakers are headed to the offseason with significant holes they need to fill. The most notable of them is their massive need at center. While the Lakers will desperately try to get a starting-caliber center on the trade market, they will also attempt to build out a better depth than last season.
That means strengthening the bench that left them astray down the stretch last season. Their lack of solid bench options forced head coach JJ Redick to play a tight rotation in the playoffs, resulting in the Lakers running out of gas against the Timberwolves.
Since the Lakers are financially constrained, they will have to rely on team-friendly deals and minimum contracts. Fortunately, Los Angeles is a premium destination, and the Lakers are a desirable organization, allowing the team to have the upper hand in free agent negotiations.
The latest example was Chris Paul's declaration that he wants to play in Los Angeles to end his career. CP3's family lives in LA, making the Lakers a very attractive landing spot for the 40-year-old hitting free agency.
Lakers Should Stay Away from Signing Chris Paul in Free Agency
Paul and LeBron James' friendship makes this a likely scenario, but the Lakers would be wise to stay away from the future Hall of Famer. Yes, the Point God is still a valuable player, and he is coming off a season where he played all 82 games for the Spurs. In limited minutes, he is still a difference maker.
However, his fit in Los Angeles is highly questionable. Paul is a small guard who is a defensive liability at this stage of his career. He lacks the size, length, and athleticism to hold his own on the defensive end of the floor. The Lakers are already small and underathletic, and can't add any more perimeter players of the same mold.
Offensively, Los Angeles doesn't need what CP3 brings to the table. The Lakers have Austin Reaves, LeBron James, and Luka Doncic running the show, allowing them to have at least two high-level shot creators and playmakers on the floor at all times. Paul would be redundant among that group.
The Lakers are better off looking elsewhere in free agency, prioritizing size, defense, and athleticism.