When your agent openly names and discusses trading one of your teammates, it's never going to be a good look. That is what LeBron James has been forced to navigate amid his representative's recent comments on the podcast Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul.
Paul openly floated the idea of trading Austin Reaves for Jaren Jackson Jr. Those comments, among many others, have not sat well with people around the Los Angeles Lakers. Reaves' reps, in particular, took issue with what the Klutch Sports CEO had to say about their star player.
Dave McMenamin reported: "Reggie Berry of AMR Agency, approached Paul on the sideline near half court at halftime of the Lakers-Hawks game Tuesday. The two spoke for more than five minutes and the topic of conversation was Paul's public trade scenario regarding Reaves, sources told ESPN."
No one can really blame anyone from Reaves' camp for being frustrated with the situation. Paul has stated in the past that his role on the show is not to be a mouthpiece for LeBron. Even with that sentiment being out there, James was forced to reassert that message.
"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 McMenamin.
Rich Paul drama is complicating an already fragile Lakers situation
The part of the Reaves trade talk that looks bad, from an outsider's point of view, would be the fact that him and James are both expiring contracts who will be competing head-to-head for the Lakers' checkbooks this summer. The optics look rough.
Did Paul make his comments with that intent? That is impossible to say, and any accusatory statements of the matter is ultimately without full validity.
A few things are crystal clear here, by contrast. Reaves is on his way to a payday in Los Angeles. James is awkwardly having to defend himself because of his agent.
"AR knows how I feel about him," James told ESPN.
That much should (hopefully for those two) be true. James and Reaves have always appeared to have a strong relationship from their interactions and how they about each other. The distraction is unnecessary all the same. For whatever it is worth too, swapping out the Lakers guard for JJJ would be a massive mistake.
The Lakers are still figuring out how to navigate a transition into the Luka Doncic era. Things are already complicated enough with an imperfect roster and set-up. Paul's commentary about the team is not doing anyone any favors.