The news this week that Chris Paul may get waived by the Phoenix Suns by the end of the month has led to speculation and even hope from fans that he may end up joining the Los Angeles Lakers.
In some ways, it would seem to make sense. The Lakers may lose starting guard D’Angelo Russell in free agency, which would leave them needing another ball-handling guard alongside LeBron James and Austin Reaves. For years, Paul has been one of the NBA’s best such players, not to mention one of its best floor generals.
However, Paul joining the Lakers could also turn out very badly. That is the argument Colin Cowherd made when he said such a move “would be a mess in Los Angeles” (h/t The Cold Wire).
Chris Paul to the Lakers? @ColinCowherd pushes back…
"It would be a mess in Los Angeles." pic.twitter.com/BflnJNtJno
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) June 9, 2023
Cowherd pointed out how Paul is 38 years of age and injury-prone. The future Hall of Famer has played in 65 or fewer games in five of the last seven seasons, and he has suffered a number of ill-timed injuries over the years in the playoffs.
Los Angeles has already had enough issues with James and Anthony Davis missing significant time due to injury over the last three seasons.
In addition, Paul is in decline. Last season he shot 49.3 percent from the field, but that figure dropped to 44.0 percent this regular season and 41.8 percent in seven postseason games.
Then there is the issue of James’ apparent outsized influence on the Lakers’ personnel moves. Cowherd raised the question of who is really in charge of the organization’s decision-making, and he said that if Paul ends up with the Purple and Gold, it’s confirmation that James, at the very least, has lots of pull.
