The Los Angeles Lakers have come back down to earth after a superb start to the 2025-26 NBA season. A lot of the roster’s deficiencies have become apparent in recent games, leading to losses. This poor run has coincided with the absence of Austin Reaves, who is out for almost four weeks.
The conversation around the Lakers has been that they need to make trades to get defense. And LeBron James’ agent and Klutch Sports CEO, Rich Paul, floated his idea for one. It involved moving on from Reaves. This take has caused massive uproar, and even Reaves’ agents seem to have taken issue with it.
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“One of Reaves’ agents, Reggie Berry of AMR Agency, approached Paul on the sideline near half court at halftime of the Lakers-Hawks game Tuesday,” said an ESPN report. “The two spoke for more than five minutes, and the topic of conversation was Paul’s public trade scenario regarding Reaves, sources told ESPN.”
Sports agent Rich Paul watches the game between the Sacramento Kings and the LA Clippers. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Paul’s takes on his podcast have caused headlines, but this one is threatening to destabilize the Lakers’ season. LeBron made it clear that his agent’s views do not mirror his own, although the situation is already a bit intense. Reaves is a fan favorite, too, and the Klutch CEO’s take hasn’t been received well.
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Reaves was playing at an All-Star level this season before his injuries. Furthermore, he seems to share a great relationship with Luka Doncic, too. It’s hard to imagine Austin being traded, and Paul may just have overplayed his hand on this one.
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