Rich Paul ends a conflict with Austin Reeves’ agent

Memphis Grizzlies All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr.’s agent, Rich Paulconfirmed that he had indeed faced Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves‘ agent for his recent comments. Paul suggested the Lakers trade Reaves for Jackson Jr.which did not sit well with Reggie Berry – Reaves’ agent.

Paul broke how Barry confronted himby Game Over.

“I’m like, look, Reggie, you’re my man, and I want Austin to know that it’s not about Austin Reeves, because one, I love the player, I love the person, and two, I actually need him to help my golf game,” Paul said. “So I’m not trying to mess anything up with the AR.”

Paul added that his recent comments were not an indication of what might happen before the NBA trade deadline, but an idea he would consider as the Lakers’ GM.

“This was a hypothetical conversation we had. If I was running the team, this would not have happened,” Paul added. “Secondly, I think it’s very complimentary of AR because he’s on a team with two future Hall of Famers, and he happens to be an asset. So it’s not a negative.”

One of those Lakers’ Hall of Fame talents is Paul’s longest-standing client — LeBron James — who many believe is the root of Rich’s trade idea, which would have reunited Jackson Jr. and James in Los Angeles.

“I don’t know what they expect from me, but what I do know is that this show can’t be called Game Over and give a fake game. I just can’t do that. It has to be real,” Paul said of his own podcast. “You can’t love the messenger and respect the message. And I know people will say it’s awkward. I’ll tell you something, Max, I’m so tired of being told what I can’t do. You can’t love the messenger and respect the message.”

“And it’s weird to see an agent have a podcast, but it’s not weird to see an actor have a podcast. It’s not weird to see a Hollywood executive have a podcast, or an actor, or an actress to have a podcast, but it’s weird for me to have a podcast?”

Stephen A Smith calls out Rich Paul over Lakers trade remarks

ESPN’s Steven A Smith called Rich Paul’s agent because he suggested the Lakers trade Austin Reaves for his client, Grizzlies All-Star Jarren Jackson Jr., before the trade deadline. For Smith, Paul’s 20+ years of experience as an NBA agent means he should know better than to make public comments regarding potential trade involving his clientwhether he’s hosting a podcast or not, he said, according to ESPN’s First Take.

“Now you have a podcast as an agent. You’re not some rookie that just arrived. You’ve been in this game for a while, I’m talking about Rich Paul. You’ve made deals, you’ve influenced deals, you’ve been accused of influencing deals that have been made. And we all know you’re tied at the hip with LeBron James

So when you say something about something that directly affects LeBron James, it’s going to be an assumption, whether fair or unfair. And rich Paul is too smart not to know that.”

The NBA trade deadline is February 5.