Rumors

The early indications are that Atlanta has not joined the Giannis chase and does not intend to. The Hawks do have control of Milwaukee's picks in the next two drafts but have shown no interest to date in surrendering control of them. The Hawks are likewise said to be unwilling to surrender Jalen Johnson in a theoretical Antetokounmpo deal ... even though Johnson's agent Rich Paul said in one of his recent podcasts that the Milwaukee native is precisely whom the Bucks should target.

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Brian Windhorst: And so to me the big question is—and LeBron hasn’t answered this and I’ve talked with, with you know Rich Paul about concepts and stuff—I don’t think I have a clear answer.But if the answer is that he’s flexible on pay, sure, Cleveland is an option. Why wouldn’t they take a player of LeBron’s ability at something, you know, resembling a discount? That’s not in question.”

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Henry Abbott: The thing that I think got my attention was that all four—well, all four didn't agree on how likely it is that Rich Paul comes to represent Giannis. All four agreed that the mission is to get Giannis out of Milwaukee, and that that's coming whether it's right now, you know, at the trade deadline or this summer. But it will not be that they're together for the long haul anymore, is what everybody agrees on.”

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NBA Courtside: Rich Paul believes when Elon Musk let people pay for blue check marks, the NBA should’ve created its own platform for real NBA journalist and fans to avoid the fake aggregators or accounts who act like reporters (Via Game Over)

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Also, a client like Giannis is worth a ton of money to an agent, and so there are always sources suggesting a star and his agent are at odds with each other—the hubbub might create an opening for someone else to move in. And in this case, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports not only has a tendency to talk about Giannis, but also–multiple sources agree–has been talking to Giannis’s brother Thanasis as of late. Rich, it seems clear, would like to represent Giannis, and (despite what’s happening with Anthony Davis in Dallas) is said to have been making the case that he’s the guy who can get a star player where he wants to go.

TrueHoop

NBA Courtside: Rich Paul says it’s NOT TRUE that he has demanded the Mavericks to trade Anthony Davis. “I know what was said. That thing was aggregated. This is the power of the internet. If you’re wondering why Rich Paul has a podcast, this is part of the reason why… The reality of it is, that’s fake news. When you have a player that’s on a team, it’s not like you want guys to move for the sake of being moved. If a guy is happy where they are, great. You care about people’s family, you care about the guys well being, and you care if they’re happy. From a business perspective, you want guys to be paid. I really don’t care where the money comes from, the money can come from the 31st team in the NBA for all I care. Long as my guy is in position to get paid, that’s all I want to do… this idea I don’t want a player somewhere, that’s not true” (Via Game Over podcast)

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In his courtside report during the Los Angeles Lakers-Dallas Mavericks showdown on Sunday, ESPN's Tim MacMahon revealed that Anthony Davis is currently settled in his situation within the franchise despite his agent Rich Paul's trade demands. "There are trade discussions that his agent Rich Paul has made it clear he thinks it's in AD's best interest to be traded. AD does not necessarily agree, though," MacMahon said. "I have been told he has not been pushing to be moved and is comfortable here in Dallas."

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According to sources, the Raptors have held internal conversations about the pros and cons of trading for Davis, an elite rim protector and perennial all-star, who turns 33 in March, comes with an extensive injury history, and is currently out with ligament damage in his hand. Mostly, though, their reported interest appears to be driven by Davis’s representation, wish casting on the part of agent Rich Paul, who is said to be working tirelessly to force a trade and get his client to greener pastures. Davis is in line for a mega extension over the summer, one that could be worth up to $275 million, and one the Mavericks don’t seem willing to offer. Paul also represents Ingram, another often-injured star, whom the Raptors acquired and extended for $120 million – a figure that, even Paul has acknowledged, is richer than he likely would have garnered in free agency.

TSN

Isaiah Thomas: "I mean, first off, come on, Rich Paul. We can't be doing that. That's insane cuz that seems like a realistic trade, too." "Like, like, and then just to know who he is and what he is to LeBron, it's like — has that been conversation between y'all? You just never know. But I mean, I don't think he should be on any podcast talking about trades. Like if you're going to be on one, you could definitely talk the game. Talk about what's going on in your life in terms of the agent side of things and all of that. Like I'm cool with that." "But you did a trade that's really realistic and that has the world — anything you say obviously is going to be thought about as LeBron spoke about it as well. So like I think that was wrong to throw somebody out and especially on the Lakers. Like maybe do another team and then nobody's really having any problems."

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"When LeBron went back to Cleveland, they didn't have the cap space. This is one thing people don't remember. Not only did they not have the cap space, they had Gordon Hayward in their building, and they were about to give Gordon Hayward an offer sheet. "All of a sudden Rich Paul had to say 'Hello, LeBron is a free agent. Did you not notice that?' And they said 'Oh really?'"

RealGM

On his “Game Over With Max Kellerman and Rich Paul” podcast, James’ agent downplayed the ESPN report that Buss, the 64-year-old Lakers longtime owner, has soured on James and his “outsized ego.” “There’s an article written every day,” Paul said. “Who gives a s—t? “I don’t.”

New York Post

Paul, though, dismissed it all while chatting with Kellerman on the most recent episode of their hit show. “When these types of articles come out, people want to take the clickbait,” Paul said. “You’ll see stuff floating around and floating around and floating around. And it’s going back to this is why I created the whole thing about being unbothered.

New York Post

Sam Amick: "I can see it having a negative impact on the game. I can’t speak for the Lakers players, but the day after Rich Paul’s podcast came out, the Lakers rolled through Sacramento and got absolutely smacked by the Kings. People around the team who cover them daily were saying the vibe felt off. Guys weren’t happy with how their team was being talked about. Austin Reaves is a universally respected player in that locker room. He’s coming up on free agency, and the expectation is he’ll re-sign with the Lakers on a massive deal. So if you're him — or in his camp — and suddenly the guy who represents LeBron James is floating the idea that you should be traded, that’s not going to sit well. Actually, I need to go see that video. I didn’t realize there was footage of that interaction — I’d only read about it. But honestly, it’s not surprising."

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Draymond Green: If you think Rich (Paul) is gonna come out and say what LeBron James needs to say, you have it all wrong. If you've actually seen their relationship, Rich is more likely to say the complete opposite of what Bron thinks or says, just because they kind of have that brotherly, you know — not friction, but like that brotherly — ‘I'm my own guy, you your own guy.’ That’s how they kind of operate. Like: ‘I'ma speak for myself. I'ma stand on my own two.’ That is how — that is their relationship. Also, if you see the things that they go back and forth on, they go at each other all the time — calling each other out. Um, and so to think that — who Rich is — that he's just gonna come out and like secretly say what LeBron James is thinking? Like, that is stupid.

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