Cavs' James drops Goodwin as agent. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> CLEVELAND (AP) - Cavaliers forward LeBron James has dropped agent Aaron Goodwin, who negotiated more than $135 million in endorsement deals for the 20-year-old in the past two years. James sent a standard letter to the NBA players' association on Monday saying he had ended his relationship with Goodwin, union spokesman Dan Wasserman said. James' surprising decision to drop his agent comes less than two years after Goodwin got him a $90 million landmark deal from Nike - the richest initial shoe contract offered to an athlete. Goodwin also helped James secure multimillion deals with Upper Deck, Coca-Cola, Bubbilicous and Juice Batteries. Goodwin did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment. James is expected to turn over some of his management duties to close friend Maverick Carter, a former teammate at Akron's St. Vincent-St. Mary High School who currently is employed by Nike. Randy Mihms, who serves as James' personal assistant and road manager, and Rich Paul, another James confidant, also are expected to take on more active roles in his representation.</div> Link: http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/3605198
That's pretty stupid if you ask me. This guy negotiated over 135 Million dollars in endorsment deals for LeBron, and what does LeBron do? He fires him.
I think LeBron likes money. I guess he's unhappy that he didn't make the playoffs so he's taking the anger out on his agent, who negotiated over 130 million for him (as Bobcats mentioned). Funny how his high school friend works for Nike...I wonder how he got that job
I can't figure out why people are making a big deal about this. LeBron doesn't have any obligation to his agent. His agent got his commision, so why are people still bringing up the deals he got done for LeBron? It's one thing to say it was a bad move from a business perspective, but people should quit whining about LeBron being "disloyal." The purpose of an agent is to make his client happy. If the client would be happier without him (for whatever reason), then he gets a new agent. Simple as that.
This is the first of many criticisms to come for LeBron (actually second if you count his "taking of gifts" in high school). The media brings you up so that they can take you down. Not even the NBA wonderchild can escape the media's rath. The emergence of Dwayne Wade is also a way for the media to take shots at LeBron. With LBJ watching from the stands during the postseason the media has ammo to attack his royalty status. LeBron can do whatever he wants with the people that he has hired. If the decision comes back to haunt him financially, that is his problem to deal with, no one elses. You know that the NBA is searching for storylines when this story makes front page news along with the story that his boys suggested that the Cavaliers should make a run at LBJ's primary choice for a coach, Nate McMillian. Too much time for beat writers, not enough significant information.
Aaron Goodwin is very well respected in North America as far as Athletics go, but many people in the buiessness hate him because he's sort of tricky when dealing with other agents and GM's. His fued with Bill Duffy is still going on. I think people should see how things work out with Carter before judging James' decision.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">This is the first of many criticisms to come for LeBron (actually second if you count his "taking of gifts" in high school).</div> Shiek, what do you mean by taking gifts in high school? I don't remember anything like that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MrJ:</div><div class="quote_post">Shiek, what do you mean by taking gifts in high school? I don't remember anything like that.</div> He accepted two throwback jerseys in exchange for signing a few items. He had to give the items back and was suspended for two games (one that was already played so it was forfeited, their only loss of the year). Accepting gifts because of your athletic abilities comprimises your amatuer statis.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Banks:</div><div class="quote_post">I think LeBron likes money. I guess he's unhappy that he didn't make the playoffs so he's taking the anger out on his agent, who negotiated over 130 million for him (as Bobcats mentioned). Funny how his high school friend works for Nike...I wonder how he got that job </div> That's a pretty good point, and a way I would never really look at it. Maybe it is not such a great decision and maybe not a well thought-out one either. However, maybe they never really had a great relationship behind the media. Sometimes that can be the reason the player fires their agent because they simply do not get along with him. Seems like Goodwin got him a hell a lot of money. I am not sure if I would fire him seeing those million-dollar deals.
Goodwin will continue to profit from the deals he organized with Lebron, and I don't feel for him one bit (feeling bad for an agent is crazy anyway) But this IS a stupid financial move on his part, and it stinks of a conspiracy on Nike's part that they groomed his new agent, and he will probably have to end up deferring to Nike on many decisions.
