Rich Paul downplayed trade rumors surrounding LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, emphasizing that they're ignoring the noise, focusing on work, and prioritizing LeBron's joy in the game.
Credit: AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
While LeBron James declined to comment on the viral rumors surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers and his future during his appearance at the Las Vegas Summer League, his agent, Rich Paul, stepped in to address the chatter.
LeBron James
LeBron James
LeBron James
MIN: 35.31
PTS: 24.49 (56.91%)
REB: 7.88
As: 8.04
ST: 1.07
BL: 0.64
TO: 3.64
GM: 75
"There's so many voices in today's game and around today's game and media and things like that. And everyone has a job to do," Paul said on SiriusXM NBA Radio. "For us, 'Hey, let those people do their job.' It's not for us to rebut or to try to give clarity on what's said, what's not said."
"That's not the focus. Focus is, 'Hey man, enjoy your summer,'" the agent clarified. "Obviously, I wear a lot of different hats, so I have a lot of things on my plate that I'm doing. I'm in the office every day, and I'm working hard every day. That's my focus."
Reports suggest the Lakers have shifted their focus toward Luka Doncic, while LeBron opted into his $52.6 million player option for the 2025–26 season.
His long-term future in Los Angeles remains uncertain, especially after reportedly being left out of the loop on two major team decisions earlier in the year.
Credit AFP - Scanpix
Still, Paul emphasized the importance of LeBron's happiness.
"You can't dispel everything someone has to say, and you've been around this thing a long time," he noted. "There's never been an expectation on anyone like it's been on him, but my thing is just continue to find your joy."
According to reports, four teams — the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Clippers — have contacted Rich Paul about the possibility of trading for LeBron.
However, James has a no-trade clause in his contract and hasn't expressed any desire to be moved.
While Paul hasn't ruled anything out, he made one thing clear: LeBron isn't paying attention to the outside noise.
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