Agent Rich Paul pushes back on Zach LaVine slander

Agent Rich Paul pushes back on Zach LaVine slander originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

Presented by Nationwide Insurance Agent Jeff Vukovich

The entire NBA knows that the Chicago Bulls are shopping two-time All-Star guard Zach LaVine. It’s been a storyline for months, if not years.

And the longer it drags on, the potential for messiness increases. Fingers can get pointed. Accusations can get made. Leaks can target character.

It’s this dynamic that Rich Paul, LaVine’s agent and CEO Of Klutch Sports Group, wanted to emphatically address on Thursday.

“I want to make this clean and clear: This whole idea that Zach has been anything but professional in this situation is false. This guy has played hurt. He has represented the franchise with class. A lot has taken place during his time with the Bulls and he’s taken the high road every time,” Paul said by phone. “Does every player get frustrated at times? Yes. But Zach has been the ultimate professional and deserves better.

“The Bulls have business to do. And we’re letting them handle their business.”

That business has been on full display since July 2023. That’s when the Bulls held preliminary trade conversations centered on LaVine with the Portland Trail Blazers when they still employed Damian Lillard and the Phildelphia 76ers when they still employed James Harden. Other trade rumors involving LaVine surfaced then too.

Just two years ago, LaVine’s relationship with the Bulls was in full bloom. In July 2022, he signed a five-year, $215 million maximum contract, fresh off his second All-Star nod and first playoff appearance—and the Bulls’ first since 2017.

The future seemed limitless and, in LaVine’s mind, free of the distractions of trade rumors.

Instead, the Bulls endured two straight non-playoff seasons. And when LaVine and the Bulls endured a poor start to the 2023-24 season, The Athletic reported “there’s been increased openness” from both sides about exploring a trade.

While this did mark the first time that LaVine opened the door to a change of scenery, he never requested a trade. He was focused on overcoming his and the Bulls’…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/agent-rich-paul-pushes-back-173012715.html

Author : NBC Sports Chicago

Publish date : 2024-07-04 17:30:12

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