The Los Angeles Lakers have had quite a busy offseason thus far. They landed the biggest free agent of the summer in LeBron James, but they haven't gotten everyone on their wish list. The California-native Paul George was long expected to land in Los Angeles via free agency, but the All-Star opted to stay in Oklahoma City.
It appears that George's decision to stay in Oklahoma City could be due to his representation not seeing eye-to-eye with the Lakers. Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders reports that the Lakers' relationship with George's representation, Aaron Mintz of CAA was rocky. Julius Randle, who the Lakers recently renounced, is also represented by CAA.
It's easy to overlook the aspect that relationships play in free agency. By all accounts, George's fit in Los Angeles was perfect. He could play alongside the best player in the world, present a serious challenge to the Warriors, and return to where he grew up.
Despite all the pieces fitting in the right place, George still opted to re-sign with the Thunder. He chose Russell Westbrook over LeBron James, but there's no doubt things are more complex than that.
There is clearly a disconnect between the Lakers and CAA. On the other hand, the Lakers appear to have a great working relationship with James and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's representation in Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group as Pincus reports.
This is part of the lesser known side of free agency. While fans tend to focus on lineups and dollar signs, the behind-the-scenes relationships are crucial elements of every player's decision.
Follow Us
Subscribe