Rich Paul, the agent of LeBron James, feels that the Los Angeles Lakers should crystallize their vision for the upcoming NBA trade deadline with their star players rather than keeping them in the dark about their plans.
“In my opinion, when you have this level of talent, you still have a puncher’s chance [of winning the NBA championship],” Paul said on The Ringer’s “Game Over” podcast.
“Now, as an organization, you have to decide: ‘What is this year going to be?’ That should be communicated to your star guys, in terms of, ‘Hey, we’re probably not going to be extremely active at the trade deadline for these reasons.’”
Warning Shots Fired to Lakers?
Paul proceeded to hit back at the criticism that his client’s $52.6M expiring contract, which has a no-trade clause, has impeded the Lakers’ ability to make roster upgrades.
“Most people think, ‘Oh, we’d be a lot better if LeBron wasn’t making 54 million,” Paul said. “Well, that’s not necessarily true. They probably would have had like 37 million of space if he wasn’t at the number… Some of these things, people don’t know the whole business [of how the salary cap works].”
One wonders if Paul’s comments were a direct warning to the Rob Pelinka-led Lakers front office to make roster upgrades ahead of the NBA trade deadline, or risk losing his client as a free agent this summer. James, an unrestricted free agent for the first time since 2018, is widely expected to play for another season, possibly with another team.
Lakers Trade Deadline Plans
As has been widely reported, the Lakers are scouring the league to add a 3&D wing ahead of the NBA trade deadline, with the likes of New Orleans Pelicans’ Herb Jones, Miami Heat’s Andrew Wiggins and Sacramento Kings’ Keon Ellis earmarked as potential targets. Some scouts have also floated names such as LA Clippers’ Derrick Jones Jr., Charlotte Hornets‘ Josh Green and Brooklyn Nets’ Terrance Mann as other targets if the Lakers are unable to land the more coveted Jones or Wiggins.
The Lakers have only one tradeable first-round pick (2031 or 2032) they can use in potential trades, besides the expiring deals of Rui Hachimura ($18.2M), Gabe Vincent ($11.5M) and Maxi Kleber ($11M). On paper, that kind of a haul could fetch them a decent piece to put around LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
However, the Lakers are reportedly wary about taking on long-term money due to their ambitious plans for 2027, when the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Karl-Anthony Towns and Donovan Mitchell could become free agents. Furthermore, the Lakers have the impending free agency of Austin Reaves to address, which is said to be their No. 1 offseason priority, even more so than midseason roster upgrades.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported on Sunday that any immediate Lakers trade plans could be put on hold until 2027 unless “a real needle-mover” is available.
“It’s believed that the Lakers are only going to sacrifice their projected financial flexibility in the summer — which is expected to furnish them with the ability to make significant roster changes — only if they can acquire a real needle-mover at the position,” Stein wrote in his latest Substack newsletter.
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