Lakers Sleeper Contracts to Pursue in NBA Free Agency | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Chris Paul isn't technically a part of this free-agent class yet, but that could be a matter of semantics.

The Warriors have between now and June 28 to decide whether they want to guarantee his $30 million salary for next season. With a pricey payroll and other needs to address, it's tough to see Golden State committing that kind of coin to an aging backup.

Should Paul reach the open market, the Lakers would likely be prominently placed on his preferred list of landing spots. His family resides in L.A., he shares a close bond with LeBron James and maybe he even feels a sense of unfinished business from the time he was traded to the Lakers only for the league to veto the deal.

Paul, who set a slew of career-lows this season (his first as a reserve), might value his situation and a chance to win more than money at this stage, meaning he could be priced right. If L.A. could add him, he'd be an easy fit as a secondary creator (or primary playmaker with the second unit), a brilliant ball-mover and a savvy-as-they-come veteran.