Will Rich Paul Control The Cavs’ Offseason?

Rich Paul - a friend of LeBron James - was in the right place at the right time when he met James at the Akron/Canton Airport (Ohio) in 2002.

James was on his way to the Final 4, while Paul was returning to Atlanta to restock on jerseys he sold out of his trunk. They exchanged contact information and later Paul hooked James up with some sweet throwback jerseys.

Thus was born an unusual friendship and eventually a business relationship that has grown more than either could imagine.

In 2003, Not long after the Cavaliers drafted James out of high school with their top pick in the 2003 NBA draft, he handed a paycheck over to Paul.

It was for Paul’s first two weeks of a $50,000 annual salary, to do what exactly, neither of them knew. “He told me that he really didn’t have a job for me, but that he wanted me close and we’d figure it out,” Paul said.

Maverick Carter and Randy Mims, two life-long friends of James’, were also put on the payroll, and the “Four Horsemen” were born.

James and Paul, along with their life-long friends Carter and Mims, formed the marketing agency LRMR in 2005. In 2011, the group ironed out a deal for James to be a minority owner of the English Premier League club Liverpool FC.

Rich Paul has always liked the extravagant and fashionable. He also was a hard worker and a well-known kid in the Glenville neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. His Father, Rich Paul Sr., was a business owner and instilled in his son a work ethic that was far-reaching.

Paul was hired on by James’ second agent Leon Rose of CAA (Creative Artists Agency) and worked as his understudy for many years. In 2012, he left the agency to form his own agency with the help of James - Klutch Sports Group.

It was Paul who was instrumental in LeBron James’ return to Cleveland in 2014.

He now represents upwards of 16 NBA players, including two other Cavaliers players - Tristan Thompson and J.R. Smith.

It may be remembered as to how Rich Paul and the Cavaliers GM David Griffin held a stare-down centered on the long-term contract extension of Tristan Thompson. That standoff lasted from July 1, 2015, till October 21, 2015 - just ten days before the start of the NBA season.

He ended up with a five-year, $82 million dollar (all guaranteed) contract, making him the sixth highest paid power forward in the NBA at that time. Some NBA executives at the time thought it was over-paying for the offensive rebounding genius.

It turned out to be a mutually successful agreement. As the salary cap has exploded, even average players are getting contracts in excess of the $16.4 million annually that Thompson agreed to just last year.

Now another of Pauls’ clients - J.R. Smith - is in the midst of negotiations that seemingly could last as long as last year’s negotiations.

However, Paul has acquired a reputation for not settling for team-friendly contracts. He truly expects to get a bit above fair-market value for any of his players.

With last year’s free agency in his mind, Smith decided to leave CAA for Klutch Sports Group and Rich Paul. He was looking ahead to this off-season and the prospect of a good pay-day.

It has been reported that J.R. Smith and his agent Rich Paul are looking for a 3-year, $45 million dollar deal. The details of that deal have not been reported, but based on Paul’s past, it most likely includes two years of guaranteed money.

The Cavaliers no doubt want to have Smith - a proven commodity on this team - to return to the team. The only sticking point is the amount of salary-cap tax it will generate. Many may remember the Cavaliers led the league in tax owed at the tune of $54 million dollars.

LeBron James - one of Smith’s advocates - has stated he will return to the team, most likely for the customary two-year max deal that allows him to opt out of his second year and become a free agent again.

It is James who is the key to J.R. Smith’s return. It is that simple.

James wants Smith on the team and somehow, someway GM David Griffin is responsible for the task of making it happen.

Look for a long, drawn-out negotiation that ends with Smith getting his 3-year deal, most likely at $45 million. The Cavaliers really have no options left to acquire a starting shooting guard being over the cap.

Remember the key.

LeBron James.

He will not re-sign until the Cavaliers have a working agreement with his close friend and fellow NBA champion J.R. Smith. The cards have been turned, the Cavaliers’ hands are tied.

J.R. Smith will be a Cavalier again, but it may take till fall for that agreement to be agreed upon.

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