The addition of Chris Paul “might not be unanimous despite the relationship with LeBron”

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Los Angeles Lakers’ interest in signing Chris Paul “may not be unanimous” should he become a free agent.

Paul has a non-guaranteed salary of $30 million for the 2024-25 season, so there is still a chance he could be released by the Golden State Warriors or another team – should he be traded – before the June 28 deadline.

In this scenario, the Lakers would likely be a popular choice to sign the 12-time All-Star given his long-standing friendship with LeBron James.

For James, emotions are not enough when it comes to basketball-related decisions.

His friendship with Dwyane Wade did not stop the four-time MVP from leaving the Miami Heat, nor did he stand in the way of the Cleveland Cavaliers trading Wade in the middle of the 2017–18 season.

James also left the past behind with Cavs team governor Dan Gilbert and returned to Cleveland in 2014. Many other stars in his position would never have given the franchise a second chance after the way it had handled his departure four years earlier.

D’Angelo Russell has a player option for next season, while Spencer Dinwiddie is hitting the open market. Regardless of what happens with Russell, LA could focus on the backcourt position after Gabe Vincent returned so little in the first year of his $33 million contract.

Paul, who turned 39 in May, has lost some of his skills in recent years, but he still averaged 16.8 points and 12.4 assists per 100 possessions as a reserve player with the Golden State Warriors, according to NBA.com.

The surefire Hall of Famer would theoretically work as a traditional point guard, clearing the court while passing the ball to James and Anthony Davis, but the current version of CP3 likely wouldn’t elevate the Lakers’ court significantly.

Because of that, it wouldn’t be worth it for general manager Rob Pelinka to get involved in a bidding war for Paul. If he’s willing to return to Southern California for the vet minimum or a little more, then that’s an option worth pursuing.