James' marketing firm is trying to land good buddy Paul as a client. Paul, unhappy that he's stuck for now with the New Orleans Hornets, is "taken aback" by reports that he's signed up with LRMR. Meanwhile, maybe the Cavs could still work a sign-and-trade to put O'Neal on an NBA roster - the Celtics?
Will Chris Paul (right) work for LeBron James' (left) company, while not wanting to work for the Hornets, and wanting to work for another NBA team?Cleveland, Ohio -- Things can really get difficult for an NBA player in the middle of a four-year, $68 million deal.
Star point guard Chris Paul, unhappily connected (for now) by contract to the New Orleans Hornets for another two miserable years, has watched friends Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh mastermind their union with the Miami Heat.
Now Paul's letting the whole world know that he would like to play somewhere else with some other friends who might be better players than his current teammates. ESPN.com updates Paul's situation.
As bad as things might seem to be for Paul, matters might be even worse for James, who rejected the Cavaliers to take his "talents to South Beach" on July 8. Ever the businessman, James and his LRMR marketing firm are trying to lure Paul as a client. James and Paul are famously tight, but Howard Beck writes for the New York Times:
Multiple news outlets, including The New York Times, have reported that Paul is working with LRMR, the company founded by James and his friend Maverick Carter. Paul was taken aback by the reports, according to a league official who spoke with him on Friday.
Although he is considering LRMR, Paul said he had not yet made a decision, according to the official, who asked to remain anonymous to protect their relationship.
Paul cut ties with his longtime agency, Octagon, earlier this month. He has hired one significant member of James’s circle: Leon Rose, an agent with C.A.A. Rose is close to William Wesley, a confidant to several N.B.A. players, including James.
That Paul would be sensitive to comparisons is understandable. James has been universally criticized for the way he handled his free agency and for choosing to announce his decision on a one-hour television special called “The Decision.”
Where to, Diesel?
Free agent center Shaquille O'Neal, in the twilight of a great career, has not yet caught on with a team after playing last season with the Cavaliers.
If a team and O'Neal, 38, reach agreement on a contract that wouldn't fit inside the NBA's salary cap rules, that team and the Cavaliers could work a sign-and-trade to accomodate all parties.
Tim Povtak writes about O'Neal's situation for NBA FanHouse:
Although O'Neal was unavailable for comment Friday, two sources close to him confirmed his continued interest in the Celtics, even though they currently have no room, or exceptions, under the salary cap to pay him beyond the NBA veteran's minimum of $1.35 million.
The Celtics could pay him more, but only if his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, helped with a sign-and-trade deal.
"He only wants to go to a team with a chance to win it all,'' one source said. "That's a short list. Even for the money, he's not going to a non-contender.''
The Celtics recently signed veteran Jermaine O'Neal, using their mid-level exception of $5.6 million to do it, but they still have a need for another veteran front-court player. And O'Neal sees himself as that guy.The Celtics will be starting this season without veteran center Rasheed Wallace, who is expected to announce his retirement soon, and without starting center Kendrick Perkins, who is expected to miss at least the first two months recovering from knee surgery.