Nine-time All-Star Chris Paul is certain that LeBron James will be donning a Los Angeles Lakers jersey in the upcoming season.
Paul, who plays for the Houston Rockets, has been doing everything to persuade James of joining him in the Space City. In his first season with the Rockets, Paul averaged an eye-popping 18.6 points, 7.9 assists, and 5.4 rebounds in 58 games played.
ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith revealed to the public that Paul has been talking to people, saying that James wants to be in Los Angeles next season. The 33-year-old James has defied the odds of the time averaging an impressive 27.5 points, 9.1 assists, 8.6 rebounds per game while playing all 82 regular season games of the 2017-18 NBA season.
"Chris Paul is telling folks LeBron ain't trying to come to Houston, he wants to be in L.A.," Smith reiterated.
In addition, James also the led the league in the 2017-2018 wins over replacement ratio. He averaged a stellar 34.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, 9.0 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.0 block per game during the playoffs.
James Wants To Be Near His Family
Akron Beacon Journal reporter Marla Ridenour added that James does not like the city of Houston, citing family reasons. James returned to Cleveland in 2014 despite his family's request to stay in Miami. In his return to Cleveland, James spearheaded the Cavaliers into four straight finals while winning the 2016 NBA title.
Nonetheless, Paul is expected to return to the Rockets next season with the hopes of bouncing back from their recent meltdown in the playoffs. The Rockets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games in the first round before surviving a gritty Utah Jazz squad in the next stage. However, the Rockets failed to beat the Golden State Warriors in the next phase, losing to the latter in seven games.
The LA Lakers has been the favorites to land the four-time Most Valuable Player. Numerous rumors say that the Lakers are expected to part ways with star court general Lonzo Ball to get James. The 14-time NBA All-Star will be making a decision about his future with the Cleveland Cavaliers before June 30.
With the inconsistency of Ball, experts close to the situation are certain that the Cavaliers would need more talent from the Lakers in exchange for James. While Ball has put up an incredible stat line of 10.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, the Anaheim, California native has been shooting terribly from the field making just 36 percent of his shots.
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