The upcoming summer for the Los Angeles Lakers looks to be significant. LeBron James is probably going to be available for free. The Lakers’ current roster is lacking, even though he is expected to return.

Los Angeles’ NBA Playoffs opening round defeat to the Denver Nuggets demonstrated exactly how distant this squad is from contending for a championship.

The summer must be dedicated to improving that roster for King James and company. It will undoubtedly come up during James’ contract negotiations with the Lakers.

Rob Pelinka, the general manager, has a lot of work ahead of him. Finding a successor for recently sacked head coach Darvin Ham is the first step in that process. However, it doesn’t stop there.

Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Lakers is a respectable option.

LeBron and Chris Paul are regarded as great friends, but they have never shared an NBA court together. They competed for their country as a member of the Olympic squad. However, two members of the “Banana Boat” cast have never worn the same uniform in the Association. Is that going to change soon?

Chris Paul is most likely going to be a free agent. There’s a good probability the Warriors cut him loose or trade him. It’s clear that he and LeBron [James] are tight. In a another universe, Chris Paul gets signed by the Lakers. It isn’t outrageous in my opinion.

I would be negligent if I did not bring up Chris Paul as a plausible candidate. It seems very logical to me. Is Chris here only to get by? I’m not sure. Although I wouldn’t want to suggest that he is inexpensive for the Lakers, I could understand it if a better offer wasn’t made.

Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus on Chris This past season, Paul Paul, 39, was a player for the Warriors. For the 2024–2025 season, the team has a $30 million contract option. They will surely reject that option and trade Paul’s contract or allow him to become a free agent in the NBA.

The Lakers, on the other hand, will probably need a point guard. D’Angelo Russell will not accept his own player option for the upcoming campaign. It would be surprising if Russell went back to Southern California, considering the relationship he has with the Lakers.

Paul is not the same player he once was. For the Warriors in the previous season, the 12-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer averaged 9.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 6.8 assists a game. Still, he would be a veteran presence and a source of calm in Los Angeles. Everything will depend on the market he gets.v