Rich Paul Associate Could Become Lakers GM

BYAlexander Cole3.5K Views
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Rich Paul
Klutch Sports continues to make moves.

Rich Paul is one of the most powerful men in the sports world. His Klutch Sports agency has a ton of influential NBA clients, including the likes of LeBron James, Ben Simmons, and many more. For years, there have been rumors that Klutch Sports are in control of the Los Angeles Lakers. This is especially interesting when you realize how many Klutch clients have signed or been associated with the franchise over the years.

Now, it is being rumored that the Lakers are thinking long and hard about general manager Rob Pelinka, who has been less than stellar at his job over the last season or so. In fact, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, Klutch Sports could be involved in a full Lakers takeover, as Omar Wilkes is being considered to replace Pelinka. For those who are unaware, Wilkes is currently the head of basketball operations for Klutch Sports.

Rich Paul Associate Could Become Lakers GM
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Per Bleacher Report:

"There has been growing speculation about one name to replace Pelinka as Lakers general manager: Omar Wilkes, the current head of basketball operations for Paul’s agency, Klutch Sports. Wilkes has been described as somewhat of a compromise between that ironclad Lakers family and Klutch’s operation. His father, Jamaal Wilkes, played eight seasons with the franchise and won three championships alongside Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Jordan Wilkes, Omar’s younger brother, spent six years in the Lakers’ front office before joining the Hornets as a scout in 2019.

Omar Wilkes, head of basketball at Klutch Sports, was rumored to be a potential candidate for a lead Lakers executive role, but those rumors appear to be unfounded. However, multiple sources with knowledge of the situation strongly denied Wilkes’ candidacy to replace Pelinka, citing his hands-on role within Klutch’s collegiate recruiting efforts. To be clear, the Lakers have not contacted him for any position."

A lot would have to happen before this could even be considered as a realistic option. Regardless, NBA fans love to speculate and with the Klutch Sports brand becoming so strong, it only makes sense that these kinds of rumors would be so prominent.

Rich Paul Associate Could Become Lakers GM
Dominique Oliveto/Getty Images for Klutch Sports Group 2019 All Star Weekend

[Via]


About The Author
Alexander Cole
Alexander Cole is the current editor-in-chief of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. It was here where he began to hone his craft, putting his journalism degree from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, to good use. Since that time, he has documented some of the biggest stories in the hip-hop world. From the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef to the disturbing allegations against Diddy, Alex has helped HotNewHipHop navigate large-scale stories as they happen. In 2021, he went to the Bahamas for the Big 3's Championship Game. It was here where he got to interview legendary figures like Ice Cube, Clyde Drexler, and Stephen Jackson. He has also interviewed other superstar athletes such as Antonio Brown, Damian Lillard, and Paul Pierce. This is in addition to conversations with social media provocateurs like Jake Paul, and younger respected artists like Kaycyy, Lil Tecca, and Jeleel!
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