As LeBron James weighs his future, Rich Paul is already putting pressure on the Lakers to get serious about building a contender.
In a candid appearance on Chris Haynes’ Haynes Briefs podcast, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul — longtime agent and friend to LeBron James — didn’t mince words about the state of the Lakers’ roster following their first-round elimination by the Timberwolves.
“I just really didn’t think that the roster for the Lakers was anywhere close to a championship-type roster… And that’s not making excuses. It’s just a fact.”
Why Paul Says the Lakers Fell Short
Paul emphasized that constructing a win-now team while preparing for the future is no small feat, especially for a franchise with limited resources.
“It’s very hard to build a team for today and tomorrow. You’ve got to have assets. You’ve got to have cap flexibility. You’ve got to have draft capital.”
And right now, the Lakers are running low on all three.
With LeBron’s $52.6 million player option looming — and no indication he’ll take a discount — L.A. will be pressed to improve the roster while navigating serious salary cap constraints. That’s before even addressing the lack of depth at key positions, especially at center, which proved fatal against Rudy Gobert and the Timberwolves in Game 5.
LeBron’s Clock is Ticking — and So Is the Front Office’s
Paul’s comments echo LeBron’s own cryptic postgame remarks following the season-ending loss:
“S—, I got a lot to think about myself… I don’t know where I stand right now.”
It’s clear that James wants to compete, not just participate — and he’ll expect Rob Pelinka and the front office to act accordingly.
Pelinka acknowledged as much:
“I think LeBron’s gonna have high expectations for the roster, and we’re gonna do everything we can to meet those.”
But as Rich Paul made clear, expectations aren’t enough. Championship windows don’t last forever, and the Lakers can’t afford to waste what’s left of LeBron’s.
Bottom Line
When Rich Paul speaks, it’s often a reflection of what LeBron is thinking — and right now, the message is loud and clear:
- This roster wasn’t good enough.
- It’s time to get serious about asset management.
- And if nothing changes? Don’t assume LeBron finishes his career in L.A.
