Rich Paul shut down the narrative that Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is making front office decisions, using the Russell Westbrook trade as an example. Even though he is 40, there is no indication that the all-time great is retiring this offseason. James is coming off another terrific season, making the All-NBA Second Team and leading the Lakers to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. Los Angeles had one of the more significant seasons in recent memory, mainly because the franchise pulled off an incredible trade for Luka Doncic. Still, this roster needs some upgrades to become a title contender next year.

During James' 22 seasons in the NBA, there has been a ton of turnover on the dozens of rosters he's been on. And countless times, rumors have spread about the 21-time All-Star calling for trades of certain players and pressuring the front office to extend certain players. Rich Paul, LeBron's longtime agent and good friend, dispelled those rumors in a recent interview on The Rich Eisen Show and referenced the Russell Westbrook trade from a few years ago as an example.

“I know that it’s not to be true. Clearly he don’t run the team because there’s things that transpired that he didn’t even know about, so how is he running the team? The [Russell] Westbrook trade. He didn’t make that trade, contrary to what people try to put out there. He did not make that trade, and I know that for a fact. So I think those things are…there’s one thing to have power and influence, and there are guys who earned the right for some decisions to be ran past you or for some teams to say, ‘Hey, what do you think about this?’

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We can’t confuse someone asking a player for an opinion and that being the decision that’s being made. Those are two separate things, and I deal with all of them, players and offices. Those are two separate things. I don’t think players are in the position to make a specific decision all the time due to the fact that they’re not doing the diligence that the front offices are doing to even make that decision. Because it’s one thing to date somebody, it’s another thing to live with them.”

Star players have always had a working relationship with their front offices, and LeBron has been no different throughout his career. Overall, the Lakers have some significant decisions to make this offseason, and they look to build around their two superstars for the 2025-26 season. The talent is there; now, it's all about building a cohesive team that can especially hold up defensively.