Lakers brass reportedly irked by Rich Paul’s trade suggestion
lakers-brass-reportedly-irked-by-rich-paul-trade-suggestion
Klutch Sports co-founder Rich Paul has drawn the ire of the Los Angeles Lakers after publicly proposing a swap of guard Austin Reaves for Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. during an episode of his new podcast, Game Over with Max Kellerman.
League sources told Lakers beat writer Jovan Buha that “multiple people inside the building” were unhappy with the episode, which circulated earlier this week. The organization’s frustration centers on Paul’s assertion that the Lakers are not championship contenders and his recommendation that Reaves be shipped to Memphis—a move he argued would benefit Jackson long-term alongside Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic.
Lakers uneasy with public criticism
Buha said some team employees may privately question the roster’s title chances, but they object to an outside agent airing such opinions. Paul’s comments carried extra weight because he represents LeBron James, the franchise’s cornerstone player.
Jackson, last season’s Defensive Player of the Year, has struggled to match his 2022-23 form and would not address Los Angeles’ perimeter defense concerns, according to Buha. He added that Reaves currently holds higher trade value and that a straight one-for-one deal “doesn’t make sense” for the Lakers without additional draft compensation.
Reaction from Reaves’ camp
The situation reached the locker room quickly. During the Lakers’ recent win over the Atlanta Hawks, Reaves’ agent reportedly spoke with Paul at halftime regarding the podcast remarks, signaling displeasure from the guard’s representation as well.
LeBron James has since clarified on social media that Paul’s trade proposal does not reflect his own feelings toward Reaves.
No formal response has been issued by the franchise, and there is no indication the Lakers are considering the suggested trade.
Source: Lakers Nation
