The Lakers are dealing with internal frustration after Rich Paul questioned the team's contender status and proposed a trade that would trade Austin Reeves for Jaren Jackson Jr.
Lakers reporter Jovan Buha said that comment didn’t go down well behind closed doors.
“I can confirm that people are not happy,” Buha said. “I won't get more specific, but suffice it to say, people weren't happy with that pod and some of the comments… There were things like 'They're not a contender,' and even some people in the building might believe that if you gave them a truth serum, that's what they were at their core. It's one thing to think about it privately, it's one thing to say it publicly. But then some of the stuff that came out, The most notable thing is I think the whole Austin Reeves-for-Jalen Jackson Jr. trade has basically the same rebounds per game, which would have been an interesting trade a year ago, but Austin Reeves is just a better player than Jaren Jackson Jr. and has more trade value than Jaren Jackson Jr. So, if Memphis wants to invest multiple picks and GG. Jackson, then maybe it's a conversation, but from a Lakers perspective, the general framework of Austin Reeves' JJJ doesn't make any sense…but there are some interesting comments that come out of that because it's not common for an agent to comment to that extent on the team that his player is on and say basically I'm going to trade this guy, especially a guy who is competing for a contract for his client.”
Paul later spoke of this backlash.
“My friend Reggie is Austin's agent and we talked,” Paul said. “I want Austin to know that this has nothing to do with Austin Reeves, because I love this player, love this guy. I don't want to screw anything up with AR. This is a hypothetical outcome. Not something that's going to happen.”
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