HoopsHype.com Rumors

The Cavs realistically must be a playoff team for James to consider them. He will turn 30 during the 2014-15 season. It’s inconceivable he would return to Cleveland for a rebuilding project. That means the Cavs will at least have to make the playoffs next season for them to be viable contenders in a free-agent market that will surely include the Heat and Los Angeles Lakers. That puts the Cavs into a difficult position — again. They absolutely cannot, and will not, make panic decisions on this roster to placate James’ potential desires. They’ve been down that road, and we all know how that turned out. Yet stay on this path as one of the worst teams in the league, and they will most likely disqualify themselves from the bidding. Akron Beacon Journal

Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Rich Paul 

Ken Berger: Kabongo's relationship with Paul, who also represents LeBron James, is at the center of the NCAA probe over alleged improper benefits. Twitter @KBergCBS

NCAA, Agents, Myck Kabongo, Rich Paul 

Ken Berger: Paul was working for mega-agency CAA when he became involved with Kabongo. Paul recently split with CAA, and James left with him. Twitter @KBergCBS

NCAA, Agents, Myck Kabongo, Rich Paul 

Liz Mullen: Fred Nance, attorney for NBA player agent Rich Paul has issued a statement regarding NCAA investigation & Myck Kabungo. Will Tweet it. Twitter @SBJLizMullen

NCAA, Agents, Myck Kabongo, Rich Paul 

Liz Mullen: Fred Nance: "We believe that this ruling by the NCAA completely exonerates the notion of any wrongdoing by my client Rich Paul" (more) Twitter @SBJLizMullen

NCAA, Agents, Myck Kabongo, Rich Paul 

Klutch Sports Group, the new NBA player representation firm founded by LeBron James’ longtime friend and new NBA contract agent Rich Paul, will start making strategic hires, possibly including a marketing agent, early next year, Paul said last week. Paul shocked many in the basketball world in September when he left CAA Sports, where he had worked under James’ longtime contract agent, Leon Rose, taking James and three NBA players with him. James and the three — Los Angeles Clippers point guard Eric Bledsoe, San Antonio Spurs guard Cory Joseph and Cleveland Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson — are now clients of Paul, who was certified to represent NBA players in contract talks by the National Basketball Players Association a little more than a week after he left CAA. Sports Business Daily

LeBron James, Chris Paul, Agents, Rich Paul 

This whole thing involving LeBron James' agent is a mess. Cavs forward Tristan Thompson told reporters today he paid for Texas guard Myck Kabongo's flight to Cleveland for a workout -- but that Thompson was reimbursed by Kabongo's brother. The work was set up by Cleveland-based agent Rich Paul, who represents James and Thompson. Sulia

Cleveland Cavaliers, Tristan Thompson, Myck Kabongo, Rich Paul 

The NCAA is looking into the possibility that Rich Paul, the representative of Miami Heat star LeBron James, provided improper benefits to University of Texas sophomore guard Myck Kabongo, sources told Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo! Sports

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Agents, Myck Kabongo, Rich Paul 

James and two former Texas Longhorns – Cleveland Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson and San Antonio Spurs guard Cory Joseph – are represented by Paul's new management company, Klutch Sports. Paul also called NBA front offices on behalf of Kabongo before this year's NBA draft, sources said. "We're aware of the situation," Texas basketball media relations official Scott McConnell said. "But we have not heard any decisions from the NCAA." Yahoo! Sports

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Agents, Myck Kabongo, Rich Paul 

"At the end of the day, here's the main thing, it's no crime to have a relationship with the kid," Paul told Yahoo! Sports. "Of course, I know Myck through Tristan and Cory. I haven't been contacted by the NCAA and I wouldn't put a kid in harm's way. My time in Cleveland was getting [former University of Kentucky star] Michael Kidd-Gilchrist prepared for the draft. I live in Cleveland. "I would never disrespect anybody's program. I love the game of basketball. I understand the business of basketball, but I'm about doing it the right way." Yahoo! Sports

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Agents, Myck Kabongo, Rich Paul 

In addition, Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson, Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe and San Antonio Spurs guard Cory Joseph also filed paperwork to leave CAA, according to league sources. All three are believed to be headed to join the new agency of Rich Paul, who James partnered with during the offseason. Paul represented all three players while working for CAA before leaving to start his own company. ESPN.com

Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, Eric Bledsoe, Agents, Tristan Thompson, Cory Joseph, Rich Paul 

Sources in Cleveland say that Paul always was and has been the most respected member of James’ circle, and that his conduct that night further endeared him to Gilbert and the Cavs. While Gilbert’s late night e-mail rant was vindictive, he never cut off Paul — and that was evidenced when the Cavs selected Tristan Thompson, 4th overall, in the 2011 NBA Draft over Jonas Valanciunas. Interestingly, Valanciunas is repped by Leon Rose while Thompson was repped by Paul. SheridanHoops

Miami Heat, Free Agency, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Agents, Rich Paul 

Paul also is very tight with Chris Paul, a 2014 free agent. Ask most NBA executives and their circles about Paul, and it is nearly unanimous with words of praise for Paul as a savvy businessman and heady agent, who keeps positive relationships with everyone from owners to security personnel. SheridanHoops

Miami Heat, Free Agency, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Agents, Rich Paul 

Sources close to the reigning third-time MVP and first-time champion confirmed reports that James has, in fact, parted ways with CAA and agent Leon Rose to branch out with longtime friend Rich Paul, who also is leaving CAA to form his own representation firm. The irony will not be lost on anyone that Paul's firm will be called "Klutch Sports Group," and will be based in Cleveland. CBSSports.com

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Leon Rose, Agents, Rich Paul 

Liz Mullen: LeBron James is leaving CAA to be represented by his childhood friend Rich Paul, who is also leaving CAA, sources said. Twitter

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Agents, Rich Paul 

A source close to the Heat forward confirmed to the Sun Sentinel early Thursday morning that James will be leaving Creative Artists Agency, the agency that also represents Wade and Bosh, in order to be represented by longtime friend Rich Paul, who has emerged with a significant roster of clients of his own, including Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Tristan Thompson and Jonny Flynn. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Jonny Flynn, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Agents, Tristan Thompson, Rich Paul, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 

While James is under contract to the Heat through 2015-16, he has an early-termination option in his contract for the 2014 offseason and a player opt-out clause for the 2015 offseason. A new agency only would collect on a new contract. The source close to James said the 2014 opt-out clause was not a consideration in the move and the impending agency switch should not be taken as the precursor to an eventual opt-out by the 2012 NBA Most Valuable Player. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Agents, Rich Paul 

According to sources, Paul is expected to take some players with him to his new agency as is standard practice in the business. CAA also represents 2013 free agent-to-be Chris Paul, who is one of James' closest friends and is also close to Rich Paul. The two are not related. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Free Agency, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Agents, Rich Paul 

Marc J. Spears: .@RichPaul4 repped Kidd-Gilchrist, E Bledsoe, Tristan Thompson & Cory Joseph with CAA.RP has good relationship with all & might land clients Twitter

Charlotte Bobcats, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, LeBron James, Eric Bledsoe, Agents, Tristan Thompson, Cory Joseph, Rich Paul, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 

For Maverick Carter, Randy Mims and Rich Paul, James' longtime friends and business managers, that show of love and appreciation after their bumpy road together will never be forgotten. Yahoo! Sports

LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Agents, Randy Mims, Rich Paul