On February 22, Beijing time, ESPN celebrity Stephen A-Smith said in the latest episode that the CEO of Klutch Sports Agency, James' agent Rich Paul, denied a previous report about his request to the Lakers to use Westbrook + first-round Walsh.
Yesterday, Bleacher Report reporter Eric Pincus reported that Klutch was unhappy with Lakers general manager Pelinka, and this sentiment has a long history. The sentiment has reached a boiling point recently, as Pelinka refuses to trade back for a future first-round pick from Westbrook+ for Wall, who happens to be one of Klutch's customers. Eric Pincus also said james' "marriage" relationship with the Lakers is already in jeopardy.
Stephen A-Smith said on the show: "Rich Paul called me yesterday and asked me to paraphrase him on the show. The report that they wanted the Lakers to trade Wall with Westbrook + first round is not true, and he wants me to emphasize that it is absolutely nothing that happened, that he never did that, and that the person who wrote this story never contacted him or got any news from him. ”
"It was definitely a lie, and Richie Paul said to me ' can you do me a favor and paraphrase me and tell the world that I said it was a damn lie, not the truth, it never happened'"
When the US media forwarded Smith's words, they also raised some questions. For example, Rich Paul did not deny that the differences between himself and the Lakers were getting bigger, but only denied the content of the part of Westbrook for Wall alone. James's remarks during the All-Star period, saying that he did not close the door to join the Cavaliers, praising the Thunder general manager and saying that he played with Brownie in the last year, these remarks are also seen as his relationship with the Lakers has not been as good as before.
Previously, Pelinka had said that the Lakers did not move on the trade deadline, which was recognized by James and Thick Brow, but then it was revealed that he and Zhan Mei did not have relevant communication. All indications are that there is indeed a problem between the Lakers camp and the James camp, and this problem cannot be covered up by a simple debunking or two sentences.