Toward the end of his conversation with the California Post on Wednesday, soon-to-be Lakers co-owner Bob Iger had a clear message after he and business partner Josh Kushner agreed to purchase the franchise from Mark Walter for a historic valuation of $12.5 billion.
“It’s just premature to speculate at all about what we plan to do,” Iger told the Post. “Because frankly, we haven’t made any plans yet.”
More than understandable considering the opportunity to buy the Lakers didn’t make itself available to Iger and Kushner until very recently. The agreement came together within three days, according to Iger.
But that hasn’t stopped speculation from happening anyway.
Immediate questions swirled about Jeanie Buss and whether she would remain the franchise’s governor after having an agreement with Walter to remain in the role for at least five years.
Iger told the Post he and Kushner intend to honor that agreement.
But an ESPN story fueled more speculation, with the outlet reporting Thursday multiple people around the league suggested that the recently retired NBA legend Chris Paul could have a role in the Lakers’ front office if there are changes.
Iger, who was a longtime season-ticket holder for the Clippers, and Paul built a strong relationship while CP3 played for the Clippers from 2011-17, and have remained close since.
It’s too early to tell whether Paul would be interested in a front office role with the Lakers. It also isn’t certain whether the Lakers would be interested in adding Paul to their front office.
But if Paul did join the Lakers in any capacity, it would be an ironic next chapter for his NBA life.
Chris Paul ––– a Laker?
It’s almost been 15 years since Paul was nearly traded to the Lakers in December 2011.
At the time, the hope was that a then- 26-year-old Paul would help the Lakers contend for championships during the backend of Kobe Bryant’s prime, while also being the player they could build around in the 2010s.
But the trade was infamously nixed.
And Paul spent the next six years revitalizing the Clippers, the Lakers’ cross-town rival, while the Lakers slowly started to struggle until LeBron James joined the franchise in 2018.
But if Paul is able to join the Lakers in any capacity, it could provide him with the opportunity to contribute to a franchise he could’ve been with – albeit in a significantly different way.
Only Paul can answer whether that’s a step he wants to take after retiring from a 21-year playing career this past February.
But people around the league see the potential fit for Paul in a front office role.
A front office member on an Eastern Conference team told the Post they could see Paul, at least initially, best fitting in as a consultant as someone who people around the organization can pick the brain of the 12-time All-Star.
“Just comes down to commitment and how much he listens,” the front office member told the Post of Paul’s fit as an executive. “Understanding [the] game at such a higher level goes such a long way.”
Another front office member for another team speculated going into coaching could be a better option for Paul, citing his playing career accolades.
“Such a student of the game, he’s used to leading on [the] floor and in a locker room,” they told the Post. “Could just see it translating well, in my opinion.”
They added: “But I could see either front office or coaching in his future.”
The next step for Paul – and the Lakers – aren’t known.
But Paul joining the Lakers could be a fascinating twist in a journey for the legendary point guard and franchise that have witnessed several of them.