After LeBron James‘ longtime agent Rich Paul raised eyebrows earlier this week by advocating for a trade involving Austin Reaves, James made it clear on Tuesday that any Lakers-related opinions Paul shares on his podcast aren’t being run by LeBron — and aren’t necessarily opinions that the four-time MVP endorses.
“I think you all know by now, Rich is his own man and what Rich says is not a direct reflection of me and how I feel,” James told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “And I hope people know that. I hope people know that and if they’re not sensible to know that, then I don’t know what to tell them.”
As McMenamin details, during the most recent episode of the ‘Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul‘ podcast, the veteran player agent identified Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. as an ideal trade target for the Lakers, suggesting L.A. should be willing to give up Reaves and a future first-round pick to land the former Defensive Player of the Year.
“If you’re building around Luka (Doncic) going forward, which they are, you need that anchor,” Paul said on the podcast. “And Jaren doesn’t want to be a part of a rebuild.
“This comes with a very unemotional attachment because Austin is beloved, which he should be, he’s an underdog. There’s a world where you can do what’s best for your team, and do what’s best for Austin. Because Austin deserves to get paid. Now, I love him as a Laker, but if that was a situation where we’re getting balance — because if you put all the money into just the backcourt and then your flexibility is restricted going forward to fill out the rest of the team, then (building a full roster is challenging). Memphis would definitely pay Austin.”
Paul launched the Game Over podcast alongside Kellerman last month and has already made headlines multiple times based on his comments about the Lakers. In a December episode, the Klutch Sports CEO suggested that the Lakers – as currently comprised – aren’t legitimate title contenders. L.A. was off to a 17-6 start at that point.
“Rich, that’s what he’s doing,” James told McMenamin. “That’s his whole thing. That’s what he’s doing. That’s what he’s talking about, but I have zero conversations about what his topics are going to be or what they are going to talk about. He is his own man and that is his platform.”
Reaves will be eligible for unrestricted free agency during the 2026 offseason — he holds a $14.9MM player option for 2026/27 but is considered a virtual lock to opt out, since he has made a strong case for a long-term deal and a starting salary far exceeding $14.9MM. The 27-year-old, who is currently sidelined due to a grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain, averaged 26.6 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game in his first 23 outings this season, with a .507/.365/.873 shooting line.
As good as he has been, there have been some observers who are skeptical about the Lakers building their post-LeBron roster around two offense-first guards in Doncic and Reaves — it sounds like Paul is among them.
According to McMenamin, Reggie Berry of AMR Agency, one of Reaves’ representatives, approached Paul during Tuesday’s game vs. the Hawks and talked to him for about five minutes. While sources tell ESPN that the two men discussed Paul’s podcast comments about Reaves, James insists it’s a non-issue between him and his Lakers teammate.
“AR knows how I feel about him,” James said to McMenamin. “All you got to do is look at us on the bench. Me and AR talk every single day. So, AR knows how I feel about him and I hope AR – or his camp – don’t look at me and think this is words from me are coming through Rich. Rich has his perspective of what he sees, I have my perspective. I’m a grown man, he’s a grown man and I think people should realize that grown men can say whatever the f–k they want to say and it shouldn’t reflect somebody else is saying it.”
Jackson, meanwhile, admitted on Wednesday that he also heard Paul’s podcast remarks, but the Grizzlies big man laughed them off, per Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
“There’s just a lot of podcasts,” Jackson said. “At first I didn’t think it was real. You have to figure out if its real usually now, and I’m not as versed technology wise as these people younger than me. I was figuring out of it’s AI, deep-fake, all that stuff. That’s all I had, I didn’t really have much of a reaction.”
An agent with a podcast; you would be better off going to the airport and listening to the windbag for more useful information.
The only reason that I truly believe that LBJ was using Paul to put this info out is, if pushing the Lakers to trade AR was the objective then why do it publicly and create this public drama when Paul could easily walk into the office of Rob or meet with Buss and broach the idea behind closed doors.
I really don’t believe LBJ is making trade demands in his last 1/2 season.
Even if he didn’t it doesn’t bother me. He is allowed to demand things. Organization is allowed to do what they want. If i had prime Luka I would try to find upgrades asap. However that is. Seems finding any kind of 3 and d wings and maybe a upgrade at center would help a lot.
I think he would. He knows when rhe Lakers are fully healthy hes the 3rd option behind Luka and AR, and trading AR not only bumps him back up the offensive depth chart,it also gives the Lakers a chance at balancing out their roster and making g a legitimate playoff run. As theyre built now theyll likely be eliminated in the 1st round in 6 games or less because theyre all offense and no defense, which is fun in the regular season but very rarely does it equal playoff success.
What you can’t be serious right? First off Buss doesn’t own the Lakers. 2nd LeBron lost all leverage with the Lakers. The new owner want him gone. The probably don’t even pick up the phone for Rich Paul. The owner want him gone. They have manipulated controlled and damaged the NBA with their players empowerment.
It’s over for LeBron and instead of retiring after this year he is continuing to hold on. AR and Luka are a plus 16 on the court. LeBron and a combination of Luka or AR is a negative. I just don’t understand how people don’t see the Lakers can beat all non playoffs teams. Against the top 6 team they will lose Everytime
“They have manipulated controlled and damaged the NBA with their player empowerment”
What an absolute disgrace of a take from the guy who constantly claims he knows what he’s talking about ONLY on the grounds that he used to play.
Honestly when Lebron retires, you people are going to be empty. Soulless. He is quite literally the Joker to your Batman. Your fandom completely revolves around having a villain that’s trying to tear down your hero.
You’re also speaking about Lakers future in the exact same way that every other person on here speaks about them, then claim to not understand the consensus.
Your takes are usually pretty spot on until LeBrons name comes up (or KD or Giannis) and then you have to prove to other people that your personal vandetta against these players is not only justified, but the correct mentality to have. The showmanship is apparent.
LeBron didn’t make Rich Paul go on a podcast and bloviate about what the Lakers should do.
Rich Paul is just being overconfident about his actual pull and impact in the NBA. Making LeBron do damage control in his own locker room is doing the opposite of his job.
He has neither the cache nor the wealth to get a meeting with Buss or Rob “easily” and based on this snippet of his commentary on current Lakers players, no way is he walking into the Lakers offices and getting face to face time when he feels like he needs to be heard.
Wow you LeBron fans are something else. You will defend anything literally. If you think Rich Paul running around saying whatever he wants to say and doesn’t talk to LeBron, then you must not know how agents and players operate. And yes you did have the pool and everything to have any type of meeting with bus or Rob. You think LeBron James walks in the office. These conversations don’t happen with players and GMS. It’s kind of like buying a house you don’t negotiate and talk to the owner yourself. You go through your realtor. Man y’all really just be saying anything on this site.
Yeah the new owners have kicked him out of the inner circle and LeBron LeBron has zero pool with the Lakers anymore. They don’t want to talk to Rich Paul. They don’t want to talk to LeBron. They have let LeBron know after this year he will no longer be on the team. So LeBron’s doing what he normally does when he doesn’t get his way he creates drama. But it doesn’t matter what I say you’ll defend anything LeBron does I’ve been in this. I play pro ball. I’ve never talked to any owner or GM and nor is anybody on my team including the best player on the team. It’s all through your agent. Players talked to the coach and the trainers that you don’t really have conversations with the GM’s that’s through your agent
Easy partner(bruh). You’re clearly very sensitive and opinionated when it comes to LeBron. Me saying LeBron didn’t make Rich Paul go on a podcast and say those things, shouldn’t elicit that type of emotional response referring to LeBron always creating drama and referencing your professional sports career.
First, either people don’t believe you or don’t care, it’s the nature of anonymity online. Second you’re working something out with yourself referring to your profession. Using that as a reason why all your speculation about my fandom for LeBron, isn’t real nor justified given what I said.
Rich Paul is in the wrong here, in my opinion. He should know when to talk and when to not. Your inferiority complex to LeBron or people liking him is very transparent with a disproportionately passionate and accusatory response like that.
If you can’t see how what LeBron has done on the NBA court is at the minimum impressive, that’s probably more of a you problem than an “everyone else just doesn’t see it” problem.
Just because you don’t like the guy doesn’t mean everyone else is blind to his flaws, it literally just means Rich Paul wasn’t staying in his lane in this particular instance, and should probably just shut his mouth and know his role.
This dude is incapable of saying LeBrons name without making it his mission to make you understand why he and rich Paul are literally Hellspawn sent to end the holy and righteous NBA.
Way too many podcasts, life was better before podcasts.
The days of “if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all” are unfortunately long gone
Not to mention that most of the things these talking heads say are deliberately inflammatory or false because they know that’s what gets them to go viral. Strange times are here…
Well when people stop being sheep and just going to the internet to run there life then this mess would stop. I agree it’s ridiculous they just say anything on TV. Why would the grizzlies give up Jackson. AR not getting more than 150. He is a number 3 on a championship team. These are stupid takes and Rich is creating drama so they can make a move
*social media
Life was better when people could read something and have not impact every aspect of their life. News flash, if people didn’t talk about it, it wouldn’t be talked about.
Let’s go back to the time where there are 14 channels on TV and they’re all owned by the same 3 guys!! Information was so much more clear back then!
He could have said that he disagreed and that he wants Reaves to stay but instead he just said Rich Paul’s opinions are his own…ok
He could’ve also stayed silent, which would have been worse
Spot on but he didn’t because AR make LeBron expendable. You can’t play Luka, AR and LeBron at the same time. They’re like a -22 on the court. Luca and AR are a Plus on the court. So one of them has to go. We know it’s not Luka. So LeBron has to get rid of AR for him to have any standing and stay on the team next year which which. As I’ve said before the Lakers are done with LeBron and he will be off the team next year
LeBron will still be on the Lakers next season unless he chooses otherwise. At the end of the day it’s still a business. It’s not as big of disparity as it was 5 years ago but LeBron still brings in a lot more money than he makes.
Haha your funny
So what is it buckets? Lebron is trying to trade AR so he can play there next season while knowing they don’t want him back? Or is Lebron and co. completely unaware that their “control” has dissipated to the point where he thinks they’d love to have him back next year? If that’s the case, then why does Rich Paul saying anything on a podcast make you so upset? If LeBron has no more power in LA then nothing happens right?
Your fandom is so fascinating. It seems extremely forced.
You sound crazy and you’re arguing with yourself. The bottom line is they don’t have any more power in La ever since Luca came and they sold the team. Lebron uses Rich Paul as a narrative piece. They’re the ones running around because clutch sports represents Gilbert arenas and a lot of media personnel and the media personnel that they do represent always spill a narrative that it’s never LeBron’s fault. I just put stats and statistics and you did nothing to refute that. Again. AR and Luka are a plus 22 on the court. LeBron+AR + Luka are a negative 19. LeBron and Luka are a negative. So as far as this year is not going to work and it’s showing that LeBron is the negative playing with those individuals. So yes the narrative They are pushing in the media is AR because they know they’re not going to be able to get rid of LukA. Them having no power is the reason why they are using the media, but you’re not smart enough. Obviously to understand that or articulate a pointer backing up. You’re just a LeBron fan who’s trying to defend this clownery without any actual points
Im not smart enough? Really.
You just poured your heart into explaining why LeBron doesn’t fit this team. WHEN DID I REFUTE THAT?!
You’re trying to say that this entire thing is a ploy to try to get the Lakers to move AR WHILE ALSO SAYING that LeBron and Rich Paul don’t have the power to get that done.
Wtf are you smoking dude. Wtf does Gilbert Arenas have to do with this? Is there a single person whose iq is over 70 that has watched even a minute of Gil’s show? How in the world does Gilbert Arenas have the power to get an AR deal done? Manifesting?
Your brain is cooked. Probably why you can’t seem to nail down the spelling of a 4 letter name.
So reading comprehension is not your best suit. I said because they have no more power they’re going to the media to try and shift the narrative. What part of that do you not understand
“The media” = his own podcast…
This goes deeper than we could have ever imagined!
Trade Lebron. Luka and AR before Lebron returned was doing good.
Bottom line, no matter what Lebron says or do people will still believe what they want to believe, lol
Rich Paul knows his LeBron ATM is over. Lakers will pay Reeves not LeBron next year. Rich Paul get ready for LeBron pay day going way down as a FA.
Onces LeBron leaves clutch sports won’t be a thing. Teams won’t want to work with that agency anymore and it’s because of what they’ve done over the last 7 to 8 years controlling in narratives you see he’s out here saying I hope the Mavs trade AD. AD is not position to say anything. The owners will freeze out clutch sports just like the Lakers are frozen out LeBron now. He’s played his hand way too hard getting your son drafted doing a whole bunch of crazy crap. And now that they have Luka And the new owners. It’s time to move forward and instead of LeBron bowing out gracefully he’s trying to do whatever he can is still control the narrative
Paul has 42 active clients other than LeBron and Bronny in the NBA alone. That’s nearly 1/10th of all the players in the league. Best of luck freezing him out.
Okay LeBron fan. You will see none of those clients are stars your already seeing teams not sign or want anything to do with clutch sports. All their clients had bloated contracts and untradable Zack Levin untradable, Lebron pretty much untradable nobody wants him and he makes $51 million, AD for all the talk is untradable actually. He make 61 for a guy who can’t stay on the court. I say Maxey and fox are about the only players that any type of trade value that are clients of his?. All the rest are low cap guys or rookies. That just came into the NBA and they’re clearly going to see once teams really don’t want to negotiate. They’re going to freeze clutch sports out. It’s already happening. I told you I know some NBA players and there’s already talk around the circles. But I’ll let You keep speaking your narrative That’s why you didn’t reply to my post atop because you actually don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re just a LeBron fan and so you’re going to defend any and everything that happens around him.
LeBron fan? I respect his game and what he’s accomplished in the NBA, but you come across as being subjectively biased against him.
You’re speaking to a guy who speaks like an authority on the NBA and literally cannot spell the names of the players he loves to go after. This has been a rough comment section for the bench rider.
I’m not going to really respond to you because you two seem to be thumbs uping your comments I don’t speak as an authority. What I speak with is facts and if you don’t come back with facts or some type in an actual game analysis, it just means that you’re just talking out of your your mouth. What seems like most of your posts are
I love this response. I say something pretty obvious that others agree with and because that post has “likes” it’s time to bow out of the conversation. Im sorry that the general consensus is that you are a fool. That’s your own doing.
I have never liked my own comments. I really don’t care how many likes they get because I believe wtf I’m talking about. Idk how it works on desktop because I use my phone but please hoops rumors let people see who liked the comments.
Also, most people talk out of their mouth. You should try it. I’m sure your behind will thank you.
I’m not going to answer the guy below Because I talk text and I’m not going to go back and fix the grammatical eras or the names you know who exactly who we’re talking about. 2nd Lebron was a great player. The problem is the antics and the things he does. Nobody is bigger than the game and he doesn’t respect the game. So as a player when he played for Miami or Cleveland I do respect his game. It’s kind of like saying Ja Morant Is a pretty good player and has some good skill. That doesn’t mean that we’re going to excuses on court and off court behaviors. Is the same thing with LeBron? I can think that he was a great player. I don’t think he is as good as a player as he was, which is fine. He’s 41 years old. The problem is is he still controls narratives by trying to ruin other people’s legacies in the media? He has disrespected the game bringing wine teaming up with player after player while throwing coach in player under the bus completely every single year and to me nobody is bigger than the game. Had Jordan Tim Duncan Kobe any of them done the exact same thing and disrespected a game. I’d be calling them out the same way. So you can separate accolades and behavior. They’re two totally different things but they do intertwine and who you are as a person and how you react on the court
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Jordan the gambler and Kobe Bryant are your examples of people who respected the game off the court… Let’s through Karl Malone in there too!
Backwards logic to fit your narrative. Comparing LeBron conspiracy theories about player movement and Ja Morant waving around his grip in public multiple times is asinine and you know that. Admit you have a bias and move tf on.
Rent free
this is why no one watches the nba
People still watch it, you wannabe Tony Soprano.
why are you, and all these other people, in here then?
I watch NBA almost every day, the quality of play is quite enjoyable. Much better than the rugby-style, stuck in the mud, slow, boring crap that was popular from the 80s-00s. Basketball is a skill game, not a physical one. That physical-ness makes the game worse. When it was popular, all you were saying it was too slow and boring and everyone should play like MJ. Now it’s the opposite and you still complain. There’s never going to be a time in history when people like you will not be saying: “no one watches this anymore”. No matter what happens, you will always claim it was better in the past. Same thing happens with SNL every year.
The 80’s to early 2000’s are fun to watch. Today are just throwing 3’s.
Yea, you’re right man. Nobody watches the NBA, anymore…
Why do some of y’all even bother to say these asinine things?
My James didn’t no about the Luka trade either. My James is the King. He runs the league and calls all the shots.
The only realistic trade destination I can think of involving LeBron – with him being sent to a contender – is New York. LeBron and either Gabe Vincent or Jaxson Hayes for KAT. As part of the deal, LeBron would sign a one-year extension and would be ok with mostly a bench role the remainder of his career – barring injuries to starters. His final head coach would be a familiar one in Mike Brown; he wouldn’t have to worry as much about his defensive insufficiencies with guys like OG and Mikal covering for him; and for a year and a half he’d be a part of a team with the best odds to make it out of the East – either ‘26 and/or ‘27 he’d almost assuredly get at least one more Finals appearance. KAT may not be a long-term fit in LA, but the Lakers’ chances of a deep playoff run would increase exponentially this season – especially with a healthy Reaves. And the KAT-Ayton tandem would be intriguing to watch, at the very least. If Doncic was able to lead a center tandem of Gafford and a very raw Lively to the Finals, it can’t be all that far-fetched to imagine him being able to do the same with two much more offensively-inclined big men.
I can’t wait for AL to read this. I know what he is going to say so I’ll say it for him. New York s does not want LeBron at all. The only thing that makes sense for him is for him to go to Cleveland next year. La is pretty much stuck with him but hopefully he retires and goes out with some decency instead of getting pushed out. I agree with you in your post Luca. Once they build a team around him, the team will be able to compete as long as he stays healthy. I’m not really sure how AR fits. It depends how much money he makes but the 51 million will help them move pieces and get defensor guys around. Luka. But until LeBron moves on, I think the number show Luca, AR and LeBron are pretty much out in the first round. They’re negative 22 on the court together and they’ll score. But when the jump shot’s not falling they’re going to give up 150 points
Rich Paul with the most 2k trade lmao…Memphis would have nobody at the 5
He actually thought Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, DeAndre Ayton and 1 singular 2031 1st round pick for Jaren Jackson Jr and Jaylen Wells would happen
LeBron obviously is smarter than that
It is wild for Rich Paul to go on a public platform and talk about some of this stuff, knowing it could reflect like that, but thats what social media does to people
Man do yall watch LBJ nightly…or ever? I truly wonder sometimes ……
He’s been amazing on the court if you leave the bias at the door…hell leave the fact he’s 41 years old at the door and its still amazing
Its going to be an OBSTACLE navigating off LeBron not a luxury. He runs one of the worst/ least talented 2nd units to halfway normalcy every night by himself essentially
The problems with the Lakers are with the 3~10 players not 1~3 . No 2 way players, no defense, no size on the wing, lack of shooting, and zero point of attack defence
Nobody knows what’s happening next year with LeBron but for the love of god stop acting like he’s the reason this team isnt a tier 1 team today in the NBA
Two things can be true. For a 41 year old LeBron is amazing and we only seen Kareem and Jordan play well at this age. But another fact is true he is usually a negative on the floor. Out of position and gives up scores easily. So yes I agree as a individual he a asume for his age. For someone talking 51 million of your cap and a 3rd option not so great. Also since Luka plays defense like a parked car it doesn’t help. As I said when him and Luka are on the floor there a negative -22. So it’s not going to work in the playoffs. So either stagger them and it will hurt their numbers or they will be out in the first round. What’s your solution Cap & Crunch!!
No solution but I will say its going to take time to sort itself all out
No quick fix here but Laker fans want everything to be done in a deadline or summer…. it can be frustrating
My hope is Walter doesn’t follow this logic and fandom
My stance with LBJ is we love you and what you have done with this organization in your tenure but we need the cap to move forward as an organization hence we can only offer you the room exception next year which is about 9,5 Mill only
If he wants a better/different situation/team or more money somewhere else then thats cool I wish him the best whatever that new journey will be. But like I said its going to be an obstacle overcoming everything he does for us currently not a luxury that he’s gone
It will take time and keen inks moving forward to get this team into Tier 1 category . 18 months at least Imo and thats if we do well with said inks
Great post man well thought out and you make some pretty good analysis. I don’t know if you seen my four stages of a Laker fan but you basically said it. No quick fix. I truly believe LeBron’s time has come to an end and there’s not really space on the team for him and Luka personally and the way they play. People just don’t get that and most of the LeBron fans still argue that he can impact winning which he could if he played like a fourth or fifth option. But when he scoring 20, 25 points, you’re pretty much not going to win those games against a playoff team.
You are correct about no quick fix. Hopefully they don’t screw their future by trying to trade a whole bunch of pics for players this year. Luka, AR and LeBron can not be on the floor at the same time.
Lebron is the boy who cried wolf on this… Paul has been his “bagman” on nonsense like this since at least 2009 when he was angling his way to Miami… we’re supposed to suddenly believe after 15-20 years he started speaking out of turn? That Lebron didn’t tell him to put that out there? GTFO
Thank you!!! But these guys especially the guy going back and forth with me at the top seems to not get that point or it’s just trying to ignore it. He’s using the media now because he can’t run the Lakers like he did under Jennie Buss