Report: LeBron James' Agent Rich Paul Bashed Luke Walton to Adam Silver in 2018

Less than one month into LeBron James' first regular season with the Los Angeles Lakers, his agent, Rich Paul, was reportedly calling for head coach Luke Walton's job.

According to ESPN.com's Baxter Holmes, Paul told NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in November that he believed former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue should replace Walton in L.A.:

"In November, NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Maverick Carter, LeBron's longtime business partner, met for lunch. James' agent, Rich Paul, was seated at a nearby table, and at one point, approached Silver to complain about Walton, multiple sources familiar with the interaction told ESPN. Paul said he didn't believe Walton was the right coach for the Lakers. Silver shrugged off the remark and asked whom Paul thought would be the right coach. Paul suggested Tyronn Lue."

It was also during the first week of November that ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Dave McMenamin reported then-team president Magic Johnson had "admonished" Walton following a 3-5 start.

Walton finished the season, which saw the Lakers' franchise-record playoff drought extended to six years following a 37-45 mark. After the conclusion of the regular season, though, Walton and Los Angeles went their separate ways, leading the 39-year-old to accept the Sacramento Kings' head-coaching job.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles hired former Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic coach Frank Vogel. Lue was a top candidate for the job, but he withdrew his name from consideration after the sides could not agree on a contract, per McMenamin.

Lue and James spent four years together in Cleveland, with the latter two-and-a-half seasons coming with Lue as the head coach. Together, they helped the Cavs reach four consecutive NBA Finals and delivered the franchise's first championship in 2016.

James never publicly called out Walton during their season together. However, at least one NBA source made it clear Paul has gained a reputation within the industry.

"Coaches know Rich is trying to get them fired, and players know Rich is trying to get them traded," an agent said of Paul to Holmes.

Of course, Paul's agency, Klutch Sports, was at the center of attention this past season after New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis signed with it in September. Davis went on to tell the Pelicans in January that he would not sign a long-term contract with them and would prefer to be traded. 

That led to a trade-deadline fiasco between the Pelicans and Lakers, one that saw Los Angeles offer the majority of its roster for the six-time All-Star.

An ex-Laker called Paul's presence on the team, which included at least one trip on the team plane, a "culture killer."