This is like asking a black person "why is it always about race?". It smacks of just not getting it. You and MANY in this country don't.
I mean hey I wanted AD, but I didn't think we had a shot of getting him at least not a very good shot. I think RP is doing exactly what AD has asked him to do, or he wouldn't be his agent anymore. I am not saying skin color is out of the question here, don't take it that way I realize that part of the perception could be because of that. I wouldn't avoid a player because of his agent, however, if Bazely told them in an interview he didn't want to play here, we know that his agent has the wherewithal to go make that happen at some point in his career. I just think there is more to it then his color, all of the AD stuff has been very much in the public eye for months, and Lebron has been in the public eye since he was like 15. By extension Rich Paul the last few years has made it publicly known he's going to get his way, and he's public about it. When you do your business in public, people are going to "hate on it". Just like Drew Rosenhouse has his haters too, because he talks publicly more than most agents do. For the record, I think Rich Paul has done his job, and I'm mostly ok with that, sure some things have maybe rubbed me the wrong way, but he's doing what he gets paid to do by his clients.
He hasn't gotten NEARLY the hate that RP has gotten. TO absorbed most of that because people hate him (outspoken, black). Let's not act like being outspoken and black is a celebrated thing in this country. I'm not a fan of Jason Williams but he sums it up here:
I understand you point, Im not dismissing it, but my point is outspoken in general is frowned upon here. So yeah RP’s skin color probably plays a role in it, but the more public someone is the more hate they’ll get. Like I said I think he’s done his job, not hatin’ on him. I wouldnt avoid Bazely because of him.
Paul used hardball tactics by saying AD wouldn't re-sign anywhere else to effectively quash bids from other teams and force the trade to LA. I think it's the destination rather than agent's skin color that has some people's dander up.
Yeah.. why are people talking shit about not drafting Bazely then? He's not going to LA... Look, honestly, I don't really expect people to understand my reasoning.
For the record, I wouldn't have known Paul had I walked past him on the street. When this started, I honestly had no clue as to his age, his race, or anything else about him. As for Bazely - small market teams don't exist to be farm teams for the big market teams. Why should they spend his rookie deal developing him just so the Lakers (or whoever) can reap the benefits? I'm not happy with what LMA did, so why would I want Bazely?
I can't speak for anybody other than myself. I'd never seen a picture of Paul before and honestly had no idea he was black. I couldn't care less about that either way. What I don't like is the way the league is moving towards superstars forcing their way to superteams. I get why the players want to do it, but it sucks for the fans, especially those in small markets. The supermax is supposed to help, but you see that it had zero impact for AD. He knows that he'll make more in the long run in LA than he ever could in New Orleans, even with the supermax. Maybe the amount of the supermax should be made more. For certain, it shouldn't count against team salary. I don't know if Silver really gives a crap other than making noises about wanting parity. We all know that the TV ratings are way higher when it's one or more of the big major market teams playing for the title. I guess I'm just tired of feeling like we're always going to be the Washington Generals to the Lakers' Harlem Globe Trotters.
And that is pure bullshit and don't accuse me of being one of not "getting it". You don't even know me.
1. I didn't know Rich Paul was black until you, shockingly, brought race into the thread. 2. I have no idea who Chris Paul's agent is? 3. Agents work for their client. What they do behind the scenes for their client is fine. HOWEVER, basically bending a franchise over and fucking them without lube, by declaring your client wants out and only 1 or 2 teams can trade for him, fucks the league. For that I hate both the player and the agent. Color of skin means shit to me
Rob Pelinka going back to Griffin with his tail between his legs to try to delay this deal is the most glorious thing ever. We should have no fear of him actually building a championship roster. As I said earlier, amateur hour.
