The Lakers are dealing with internal frustration after Rich Paul questioned the team’s contender status and floated an Austin Reaves–for–Jaren Jackson Jr. trade.
That commentary that did not land well behind closed doors, according to Lakers reporter Jovan Buha.
“I can confirm that people have not been happy,” Buha said. “I’m not gonna go more specific than that, but I would just say people have not been happy with that pod and some of the comments… There was the ’they’re not contenders’ and that one thing, and even some people inside that building might believe that at the core if you gave them truth serum. It’s one thing to think that privately, one thing to put that out publicly. But then some of the stuff that has come out since, most notably I think recently this whole trade Austin Reaves for Jaren Jackson Jr., who basically averages the same amount of rebounds and that would’ve been an interesting trade a year ago, but Austin Reaves is just a straight up better player than Jaren Jackson Jr. and has more trade value than Jaren Jackson Jr. So if Memphis wants to throw in multiple picks and GG Jackson, then maybe that’s a conversation. But the general framework of JJJ for Austin Reaves straight up does not make any sense, in my opinion, from the Lakers side… But it’s been some interesting comments coming out of that because that is uncommon, for an agent to commenting on his player’s team to this degree and saying basically I would trade this guy, especially a guy who is sort of in contract competition for his client.”
Paul later addressed the backlash.
“My guy Reggie who is Austin’s agent, we talked,” Paul said. “I want Austin to know this is not about Austin Reaves because I love the player, love the person. I’m not trying to mess up anything with AR. This was a hypothetical take. Not something that was going to happen.”
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