Lakers’ Austin Reaves didn’t pay much attention to Rich Paul comments

The Lakers had a little outside noise this week, and Austin Reaves mostly ignored it.

According to Joe Vardon of The Athletic, Reaves did not pay much attention to comments made by Rich Paul, who suggested on his podcast with Max Kellerman that the Lakers should trade Reaves to the Memphis Grizzlies for Jaren Jackson Jr.

That did not stop the conversation from reaching the floor. Vardon reported that one of Reaves’ agents approached Paul at halftime of Tuesday’s game against Atlanta to discuss the remarks. The exchange lasted several minutes and centered on the public trade scenario.

LeBron James made it clear he was not part of it. Speaking to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, James said he loves playing with Reaves and stressed that Paul’s comments were not a reflection of his own feelings.

“Rich is his own man,” James said. “What Rich says is not a direct reflection of me.”

James added that there has been no fallout with Reaves, calling him his longest-tenured teammate and noting they communicate daily. In short, James said grown men can say what they want on their own platforms, and it should not be assigned to anyone else.

The Lakers, for what it is worth, are 24-15 and sitting fifth in the West. They appear more focused on winning games than on podcast hypotheticals.