Report: Lakers interested in CP3 if waived by Suns

The Los Angeles Lakers will be strongly interested in signing veteran guard Chris Paul if he's waived by the Phoenix Suns, sources told The Athletic's Jovan Buha.

The Lakers also discussed adding Paul and re-signing point guard D'Angelo Russell to bolster the position, sources added.

Paul averaged 13.9 points, 8.9 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game for the Suns last season. The 37-year-old appeared in 59 games, missing time due to a hand injury. He also missed the last four games of the Suns' second-round series against the eventual champion Denver Nuggets with a groin injury.

Paul said Thursday he "absolutely" wants to stay with the Suns amid reports the franchise plans to waive him ahead of his June 28 contract guarantee date.

The Lakers have only four guaranteed contracts on the roster for next season: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Max Christie. Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Dennis Schroder are key rotational players entering free agency, along with Russell.