Rumor: Lakers Want Russell Westbrook or Chris Paul

The Los Angeles Lakers have made it no secret that they're on the hunt for a new point guard, and reports are suggesting that Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul are on their radar.

Lakers Interested In Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook https://t.co/oomR5LxTwg
— RealGM (@RealGM) July 21, 2021

Marc Spears is reporting that to bring Westbrook back home to L.A., the Lakers would need to orchestrate a sign-and-trade deal with the Washington Wizards, "that could include free agent point guard Dennis Schroder, forward Kyle Kuzma and guard Talen Horton-Tucker."

Schroder is a free agent, and Kuzma has been on the trade block—those are easy to see. But Horton-Tucker was on the Lakers "no trade" list at the trade deadline this season, as they refused to send him to Toronto in a trade for Kyle Lowry.

Kyle Lowry on the Lakers >>>>> Chris Paul or Westbrook on the Lakers
— Colb (@___Colb___) July 21, 2021

As for CP3, he's coming off the disappointment of losing the Finals to the Milwaukee Bucks, and can become a free agent if he declines his $44 million player option. Spears says a deal to get him to the Lakers would also likely take a sign-and-trade, as LA can offer him no more than the "taxpayer midlevel exception" of $9.5 million.

Paul does have a lot of close ties with the Suns, and good reason to stay with them, but if he wants to chase a championship with his good buddy LeBron.....