Of all the potential spots on a bingo card for how drama was going to come about this season for the Lakers, “the agent of the most prominent player starting a podcast and suggesting to trade players away”
was not one of them.
But, alas, here we are.
While LeBron James’ agent and Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul’s podcast, “Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul,” has only been around for a short time, it has immediately caused all sorts of controversy, never more so than in the last week. Paul offered up a trade idea in which the Lakers would move on from Austin Reaves for Jaren Jackson Jr.
It turns out, though, that the agent of one of the team’s superstars suggesting fake trades doesn’t just blow over.
In a livestream on Monday, Lakers beat writer Jovan Buha revealed that those within the Lakers aren’t thrilled about the notion of Paul hopping on a podcast and firing away takes.
“I can confirm that people have not been happy. I’m not going to go more specific than that. I would just say people have not been happy with that pod and some of the comments.”
Shocker!
Paul has created a magnificent life for himself. He’s become one of the most powerful agents in basketball and created an agency with clients in sports and leagues worldwide. He is engaged to one of the most famous musical artists in the world. All that is to say…
WHY DOES HE NEED A PODCAST?!?!?
Go travel the world. Go be courtside at any sporting event. Go listen to your fiancé make a new album. Go do whatever rich people do. But put the microphone away. Close down the entirely too enormous studio.
Paul owes nothing to the Lakers. The fact that there’s drama based on his words is not his problem necessarily. But now LeBron is having to answer questions about it. Austin Reave’s agents are talking to him. Fans are, mostly in jest, pointing to his podcast as the reason for the Lakers’ recent struggles.
Is this really worth it for a damn podcast?
What are we even doing here? Paul is a very powerful man with lots of friends, I’m sure. Call up some of them and chat about trades. Do what every other average Joe sports fan does and put together a deal in the trade machine and send it in a group text.
But please stop podcasting. This is all just so very dumb.
Truly, this is one of the most bizarre storylines the Lakers have had. And that’s a really high bar!
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
