Lakers Should Avoid Chris Paul Reunion Despite Trade Buzz

The idea of Chris Paul crossing the hall from the Clippers to join the Los Angeles Lakers sounds tempting on paper — a future Hall of Fame point guard, a legendary résumé, and a desire to finish his career close to family.

But in reality, this is a move the Lakers must avoid at all costs.

If Los Angeles truly wanted Paul, they had the perfect opportunity during the 2025 offseason. Instead, Paul landed with the Clippers hoping for a final, stable chapter to cap his career. That plan unraveled quickly.

📉 A Disastrous Clippers Stint

Paul’s time with the Clippers imploded publicly. According to reporting from Chris Haynes, the veteran guard requested a meeting with Tyronn Lue to address accusations that he was a negative presence within the team — a meeting Lue refused. Soon after, Clippers president Lawrence Frank informed Paul the organization was parting ways with him.

The Clippers, restricted by the first apron hard cap, can’t simply waive Paul. As insider Jake Fischer explained, their cleanest escape is to trade him for another veteran-minimum player, since cutting him would leave them with only 13 players — not enough to meet roster requirements.

With relocation seemingly inevitable, the Lakers naturally become a rumored landing spot. But the fit makes no sense.

🚫 Chris Paul No Longer Moves the Needle

Through 16 games this season, Paul is averaging:

• 2.9 points
• 3.3 assists
• 0.7 steals
• 32.1% FG
• 33.3% from three

These are not the numbers of a rotation-changing guard. The decline is clear, and the Lakers cannot afford to spend resources — even minimal ones — on a player who no longer provides meaningful on-court value.

The Lakers already have leadership in LeBron James. What they lack are high-impact role players who can defend, hit shots, and compete physically. Paul does none of that at this stage.

On defense, he's become a liability. His 120 defensive rating per 100 possessions highlights how easily opponents target him.

🔍 Gabe Vincent Is Already a Better Option

Even though Gabe Vincent has been inconsistent, his skill set is far more useful to the Lakers’ system than Paul’s current game. Vincent can defend at a respectable level, move without the ball, and fit into a modern spacing-oriented lineup.

Paul, meanwhile, would simply create another weak point — one opposing teams would relentlessly attack.

🧠 Off-Court Appeal Doesn’t Justify the On-Court Cost

There are emotional and personal reasons why Paul might want to join the Lakers:

• Close to family
• Final year farewell tour
• Relationship with LeBron James

But from the Lakers’ perspective, those are not basketball reasons — and the team is competing for a championship, not running a nostalgia program.

🏁 Bottom Line

The Lakers need players who can contribute right now, especially on defense and spacing. Chris Paul, as accomplished as he is, no longer fits that description.

The door may be open for Paul to change teams, but it should remain firmly shut in El Segundo.