Chris Paul has elevated teams beyond measure in only his first year with them. Phoenix is the latest example, but Magic Johnson believes the Lakers could be next.
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‘The Point God’ has gained a reputation of making team after team much better than they would be without him. First it was with the Houston Rockets, who pushed the almighty Warriors to 7 games (something no other team could do back then) in Paul’s first year and had them on the brink of elimination.
In fact, if CP3 hadn’t been injured, the Rockets had an incredible chance to close that series out. Next, he took an Oklahoma City Thunder team that was projected to be a lottery team to the playoffs, pushing the Rockets to 7 games.
This year, his play has the Suns in the Conference Finals a year after not even making the playoffs at all. His skill as a floor general is unmatched today as despite not being a 30ppg scorer, he finds ways to dominate the game in ways only a few others can. He distributes the ball extremely efficient, rarely turning it over.
That style of play is perfect for the Lakers according to Magic Johnson. LeBron James and Anthony Davis would be the beneficiaries of one of the best point guards to play the game ever in his opinion.
.@RealJayWilliams: If CP3 doesn’t win w/ the Suns & declines his $44M option, can he be a piece for the Lakers?@MagicJohnson: “No question about it. I’d tell Jeanie I’d ask some money for CP3. It’d be perfect for LeBron, for AD, & for the role players.” https://t.co/Wda75IMccI
— ESPN Los Angeles (@ESPNLosAngeles) June 21, 2021
Chris Paul, LeBron James, & Anthony Davis Would Form The Perfect Big 3
Imagine you’re a coach on a team that’s set to face the Lakers next year. You watch as Anthony Davis wreaks havoc in the paint, blocking a shot from your best player. That sets up a fast break which starts with a Chris Paul outlet pass down the court to a sprinting LeBron James.
By the time your players catch up to LeBron, he’s throwing it off the board to a cutting Anthony Davis. Next possession, Chris Paul steals the ball away, but at least this time your defense recovers to stop another fast break. You watch in agony as Paul calls for an AD screen.
Paul bounces around the screen and as the defense doubles down on him and AD. Meanwhile, LeBron quietly slips open on a backdoor cut to the rim. CP3 drops a calm bounce pass (maybe between someone’s legs just for the extra flair) which LeBron finishes with a thunderous dunk.
You watch helplessly as a strong pick & roll game absolutely decimates your team. When you are able to stop the pick and roll play, your team gives up points on an AD post up, a LeBron drive, or a CP3 mid ranger. How do you stop this team?
Chris Paul has played with some great teams, but he’s never had quite the kind of post presence like Anthony Davis for strong pick and rolls or pops or an all-round offensive creator like LeBron James, especially not simultaneously.
LeBron and AD also haven’t played with a floor general like Paul either. All in all, this situation is mutually beneficial for everyone involved. The Lakers should listen to Magic Johnson and try to make this happen if CP3 does end up in the free agent market.
That Lakers team would be heavy title favorites and LeBron and CP3 would accomplish their goal of playing together too. Can you imagine the reactions if this deal went down?
“I really hope that, before our career is over, we can all play together,” James said. “At least one, maybe one or two seasons—me, Melo, D-Wade, CP—we can get a year in. I would actually take a pay cut to do that.” @KingJames @DwyaneWade @CP3 @carmeloanthony 2018 is #heatnation pic.twitter.com/lvPx9xbULJ
— lovely1_31 (@lovely1_31) June 13, 2018
