TRADE ALERT: The Lakers sign historic golden warrior Chris Paul to a three-year, $120 million contract.

TRADE ALERT: The Lakers sign historic golden warrior Chris Paul to a three-year, $120 million contract.

The Los Angeles Lakers have long been in the star business, but during their frequently brief lives

in L.A., stars at value may shine even brighter.

Chris Paul, the point guard for the Golden State Warriors, will be eligible for free agency this

summer if the organization decides to cut him before a June 28 deadline. It looks like that’s what’s

happening right now. Most sources believe the cut is unavoidable since, should the Dubs keep Paul

on the team, he would make $30 million in the last year of his $120 million contract.

On Saturday, June 15, Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes identified the Lakers as Paul’s “best landing

spot,” basing his statement on the rather reliable hypothesis that Paul will go unsigned in the

upcoming weeks.There could be twenty teams who would be happy to have him on their roster and

profit from his presence in the rotation if he’s prepared to play a backup role, like he did for the

Warriors last season. However, in reality, Paul mig

There is now a smaller field, headed by the Los Angeles Lakers, who most likely will be constructed

around a LeBron James who turns 40 this season. Paul, at the very least, would match the period

well.The Lakers will be left with a clear hole at number one if D’Angelo Russell rejects his player

option and becomes available in free agency. It will also be beneficial to have a head coach with

Paul’s background to support James if they also bring on a relatively inexperienced coach. CP3 may

offer insurance even if Russell exercises his option, or he might even boost the Lakers’ confidence enough to trade Russell away to bolster other parts of the team.

Chris Paul is expected to sign a large discount with the Lakers.

Beyond his 19 years of NBA experience and his selection to 12 All-Star games, Paul may be important to the Lakers because of the possible savings they would receive by having the point guard return to the city where his family resides.

In the end, Paul, 39, will sign a $3.3 million veteran’s minimum contract to join the Lakers, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report’s prediction on Friday. This is nearly a 90% reduction from the amount the Warriors will have to pay Paul to retain him in the Bay Area.

Pincus stated, “While L.A. needs to add young players to the roster, the team also needs smart, experienced players.” When the New Orleans Hornets (now the Pelicans) were owned by the late NBA commissioner David Stern before they were purchased by the Benson family, Stern managed to torpedo the agreement that would have made Paul a Laker in 2011. Paul now has the opportunity to wear purple and gold with James even if he was never able to play with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.