Rich Paul Doubles Down On Controversial Austin Reaves Comments

Rich Paul made waves erstwhile he started fantasizing astir nan Los Angeles Lakers trading Austin Reaves to nan Memphis Grizzlies successful a woody that'd bring backmost Jaren Jackson Jr. to nan City of Angels.

Paul said, "There's a world wherever you tin do what's champion for your team, and do what's champion for Austin," and moreover made nan lawsuit that Reaves would beryllium nan Grizzlies' apical action arsenic their table-setter. Paul went arsenic acold arsenic to opportunity that Memphis would decidedly salary him, making immoderate wonderment if that intends nan Lakers won't.

Reaves' agent, Reggie Berry, confronted Paul astir it, and nan supplier revealed that he defended himself and moreover doubled down connected his erstwhile comments.

“I’m like, look, Reggie, you’re my man, and I want Austin to know, this is not about Austin Reaves because, one, emotion nan player, emotion nan person, and two, I really request him to thief maine pinch my play game,” Paul said connected his Game Over podcast. “So, I’m not trying to messiness up thing pinch AR.

“This was a hypothetical speech we were having. If I was moving nan team, not this is what’s going to happen. Second, I judge it’s very complimentary to AR because he’s connected a squad pinch 2 early Hall of Famers, and he happens to beryllium nan asset. So that’s not a antagonistic take.

“I don’t cognize what they expect from me, but what I do cognize is this show can’t beryllium called Game Over and springiness clone game. Just can’t do it. It’s sewage to beryllium nan real. You tin not for illustration nan messenger and respect nan message. And I cognize group are going to opportunity it’s awkward. I’m going to show you something, Max, I’m truthful tired of being told what I can’t do. And it’s weird to spot an supplier person a podcast, but it’s not weird to spot a subordinate person a podcast. It’s not weird to spot an executive successful Hollywood to person a podcast, aliases an actor, aliases an character person a podcast, but it’s weird for maine to person a podcast?”

Lakers Front Office Reaching Inflection Point

Between Paul's comments astir Reaves, nan delicate and awkward LeBron James-to-Luka Doncic transition, and nan imminent beforehand agency turnover, things are reaching an inflection constituent down nan scenes for nan Purple and Gold.

What that intends for JJ Redick is unclear. A large waste and acquisition deadline successful February doesn't look likely, but Doncic whitethorn person a radically different-looking roster adjacent season, coupled pinch a caller encephalon spot crossed nan board.

One imagines either Reaves aliases Paul and his clients will go. Stay tuned.