Knicks' Marcus Morris, Thunder's Nerlens Noel Reportedly Fire Agent Rich Paul
High-profile agent Rich Paul has been fired by Marcus Morris and Nerlens Noel, the New York Daily News' Stefan Bondy reported Saturday afternoon.
Bondy added later Saturday that Morris' separation with Paul was "mutual in the wake of his free agency," and Noel will remain with Klutch Sports—Paul's agency.
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Thursday that Morris has agreed to a one-year, $15 million contract with the New York Knicks. Prior to that, the 29-year-old forward had an offer pulled by the San Antonio Spurs after he reopened their previous agreement.
"I had to make this decision based on the best situation for me and my family," Morris told Charania. "This is no knock on the Spurs. I have respect for them."
According to the New York Post's Marc Berman, Morris' choice to renege on an agreement for a reported two-year, $20 million deal with the Spurs for the Knicks has some agents around the league "furious" because it "could put next year's July free agency into a precarious spot."
Berman also wrote of Paul's role in Morris' ordeal:
"Rich Paul, the agent for LeBron James and Anthony Davis, has always wanted a client on the Knicks because New York is the nation's biggest market.
"According to a source, Paul tried to get New Orleans to trade [Anthony] Davis to the Knicks last month as hard as he tried to get him dealt to the Lakers.
"Paul, according to the source, values the New York market and that's why Davis could be in play in 2020 as a free agent if things don't work out in Los Angeles."
Noel, meanwhile, officially re-signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder on July 6 after asking the team on June 30 "for time to re-evaluate" a commitment made by the two sides on a deal when free agency opened, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported.
Paul's other clients include his long-time friend LeBron James, Davis, Ben Simmons, John Wall, Draymond Green and rookie fifth overall pick Darius Garland, among others.
According to HoopsHype's Bryan Kalbrosky in March, Paul ranks third among agents in total client wages while ranking seventh in number of clients.
