Liz Mullen: ESPN broadcaster Stephen A. Smith switches agencies; signs with Creative Artists Agency in all areas. SBJ: bit.ly/2cWMJpt
More on Agent Changes
Tim Reynolds: Unsure how this will ultimately affect anything, but AP is told that Chris Bosh has fired CAA as his representatives.
CAA Sports has signed Orlando Magic guard/forward Mario Hezonja, the No. 5 overall pick of the 2015 draft. He was formerly represented by Wasserman.
Liz Mullen: NBA free agent PG Norris Cole has signed with NBA agent Joel Bell. He had been repped by Klutch Sports. SBD: bit.ly/2bY411M
Liz Mullen: New Orleans Pelicans PG Jrue Holiday has signed with Jason Glushon of Glushon Sports. Former rep: Wasserman. SBD: bit.ly/2bYBegK
Jorge Sierra: Nuggets' Emmanuel Mudiay and Raptors' Bruno Caboclo will now be represented by BJ Armstrong of Wasserman, we're told.
David 'Dubi' Pick: Hearing NBA free-agent Kevin Seraphin, though rebuffed China and Euroleague offers, hired agent Bouna Ndiaye over Klutch Sports.
Jorge Sierra: FYI: Clippers guard Alan Anderson is now represented by agent Chris Luchey. https://shar.es/1wpech
Interperformances is proud to announce that the NBA star Kwame Brown decided to sign with our agency. The #1 overall pick of the 2001 draft is ready for a new life. His comeback can be the road to glory for a team that believes in him. Kwame is back, physically healthy and ready to be the outstanding player he was on several NBA teams. A great intimidator that can block shots , rebound consistently and explode in devastating dunks. No longer the young man that entered the NBA, Kwame is now an experienced and mature player and man. And he’s back, for the love of the game.
Liz Mullen: Tandem Sports + Entertainment has signed NBA free agent F Adonis Thomas for representation. NBA agent Jim Tanner is repping him.
Agent Jason Glushon has opened his own agency and negotiated forward Al Horford’s $113 million, four-year maximum free agent deal with the Boston Celtics. Glushon opened Glushon Sports Management after leaving Wasserman in May. Horford followed Glushon to his new agency, which is based in Los Angeles.
Forward/guard Evan Turner, who signed a four-year, $70 million contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, signed with BDA Sports, and Kevin Bradbury negotiated his deal. He was formerly represented by FAME.
Independent Sports and Entertainment signed free agent power forward Terrence Jones. Jones will be represented by Dan Fegan and James Dunleavy. He was formerly represented by Wasserman.
Adrian Wojnarowski: As free agency gets started, Portland RFA guard Allen Crabbe has changed representation. He hired Aaron Mintz and Ty Sullivan of CAA Sports.
Shams Charania: Beno Udrih, who'll garner interest on market as vet backup, has moved to Octagon as rep. He took buyout with Miami in February.
Liz Mullen: CAA Sports has signed three NBA players, including Chicago Bulls players Bobby Portis and Tony Snell. SBJ: bit.ly/2914zXV
Billionaire Ron Burkle is starting an athlete management and sports-related investment company that’ll be led by former Madison Square Garden Co. Chief Executive Officer Hank Ratner. The company, Independent Sports and Entertainment, essentially replaces Relativity Sports, in which Burkle was an investor. The new firm has retained several top agents and their clients from the L.A.-based sports agency, which is closing. ISE begins with more than 300 Major League Baseball, National Football League and National Basketball Association players under management, including baseball’s two-time MVP Miguel Cabrera, basketball’s DeMarcus Cousins and football’s Larry Fitzgerald.
Jorge Sierra: Serbian big men Miroslav Raduljica and Ognjen Kuzmic have signed with agent Chris Patrick of Relativity Sports.
Adam Himmelsbach: Evan Turner says he has indeed moved on from agent David Falk and is now represented by Kevin Bradbury, who also reps Amir Johnson.
Sean Deveney: Have learned that @celtics unrestricted free agent Evan Turner has fired agent David Falk. He'll be repped by Kevin Bradbury of BDA Sports.
Michael Scotto: Former No. 1 pick Andrea Bargnani signs with agent Guillermo Bermejo (You First Sports). He's in training camp for the Italian National Team
Octagon has signed Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol for representation on and off the court. Gasol will be represented by agent Alex Saratsis. He was formerly represented by Wasserman.
Emiliano Carchia: Ognjen Kuzmic leaves BDA and signs with agency Relativity Sports (Chris Patrick/Dragan Delic). Same agency as Miroslav Raduljca
Liz Mullen: Magic G Victor Oladipo signed with CAA Sports agents Leon Rose & Mitch Nathan. Former Rep: Raymond Brothers. SBD: bit.ly/1svnZtU
Jeff Goodman: Miroslav Raduljica has signed with Chris Patrick of Relativity Sports for negotiations with NBA teams. Miroslav is under contract for another year with Euroleague Panathinaikos. He has a buyout in place, will gauge NBA interest.
Priority Sports & Entertainment has signed Washington Wizards guards Ramon Sessions and Garrett Temple. Founder and CEO Mark Bartelstein will represent them. Temple was formerly represented by Performance Sports Management and Sessions by Allegiant Athletic Agency. “Ramon is doing well in Washington and I expect great things for him in the future,” his former agent, A3’s Jared Karnes, said in an email.
Houston Rockets forward Michael Beasley has also left Allegiant Athletic Agency. Beasley returned to the NBA to play for the Rockets in early March after playing in the Chinese Basketball Association and being named MVP of that league’s All-Star Game in January. Beasley had been with Karnes since 2013, but was without an agent last week.
Zach Lowe: From what I hear, Kawhi is still w/ Elfus's agency, and this is basically an internal shift in who does what for him twitter.com/JakeLFischer/s…
Jake Fischer: According to Brian Elfus, the only change in Kawhi Leonard's representation is that he has "stepped back from off the court negotiations."
Chris Reichert: Robert Upshaw has switched agencies and signed with Hazan Sports Management, per a source
Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith is not only making plays on the court, he's doing so off of it as well. Smith is in the process of parting ways with Creative Artists Agency and plans to sign with Rich Paul of Cleveland-based Klutch Sports, league sources informed cleveland.com.
When Dwight Howard made the decision to follow in Shaquille O’Neal’s footsteps yet again by choosing recently to sign with his agent, Perry Rogers, the Houston Rockets center paid little mind to the possibility that criticism might follow. If nothing else, his most vocal detractor — that being the TNT analyst in O’Neal who has spent years ridiculing Howard — wasn’t about to criticize him for the move. After all, O'Neal encouraged the idea. "(O’Neal) reached out to me (weeks ago) and felt like this could be something that could really help me in my future," Howard, who — like O’Neal — played for the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers, told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday. "We talked, more so about basketball. And then we started talking about agents and all that stuff.
"He said, 'Hey, I've got somebody who really helped change my life and really sculptured the Shaq that you see today.' He introduced me to Perry. Perry came down to Houston. We had a really good conversation. It was a decision I made on my own. That’s why I liked it, because I decided to make it. There wasn't anybody who was around, anybody who could say, 'Yo, what do you think?' I went with what I felt was right (for) me."
After years of feuding, Houston Rockets star Dwight Howard and future Hall of Fame center Shaquille O’Neal are partnering. Howard plans to hire O’Neal’s agent, Perry Rogers, for his new representation, multiple sources told The Vertical. Rogers could file official paperwork with the National Basketball Players Association as soon as Friday, sources said.
O’Neal, a longtime public nemesis of Howard’s, had extensive conversations with the Houston center and sold him on the marketing of “Superman” and the representation of Rogers, sources said. The potential of marketing Howard and O’Neal in advertisements together played a role, too, sources said. Howard and O’Neal progressed in the NBA with the same moniker of “Superman” – for which Shaq has publicly mocked Howard – and they both left the Orlando Magic for the Los Angeles Lakers in the middle of their careers.
"Just really been since I went to All Star break in Sedona (Ariz.) I've been spending time thinking and just trying to figure out what I can do to better myself and better my situation," Howard said. "It was nothing against my agent. It wasn't anything bad that he did to me. Sometimes, change is good. I just made a decision based on what I feel I needed to change. I always respect him and love him. We still talk now. But as far as him being my representation, I decided to go other ways."
Howard said he has not targeted another agent and is not weighing his free agent options. "Right now my focus is on us winning and trying to get to the playoffs and win a championship," Howard said. "All the other stuff, it's not a factor now."
Sam Amick: Rockets big man Dwight Howard has parted ways w/ agent Dan Fegan. He issued this statement to @USATODAYsports: "As I continue to embark on my NBA journey, I have decided to sever my relationship with Dan Fegan and Relativity Sports. I have the utmost respect for Dan, but this is the right decision for me. My sole focus remains working with my teammates to position the Rockets for a pursuit of a championship. I wish Dan and the team at Relativity all the best in the future."
Calvin Watkins: Dwight Howard says he's fired agent Dan Fegan. Dwight Howard said he presented the paperwork to Fegan recently and doesn't anticipate any issues.
Calvin Watkins: Dwight Howard had been interviewing agents of late and didn't give a specific reason why he let Fegan go. He seemed at peace with it.
The fact that Howard was known to be seriously considering a change in representation at the time, meanwhile, only complicated an already-tricky situation. Yet if Howard truly wanted out of Houston, he could have told those teams that he would pick up the player option for next season and push his free agency back to the summer of 2018. Instead, he stayed and the possibility of this partnership surviving thus remained.
David 'Dubi' Pick: Source: Magic rising star Mario Hezonja has left Wasserman Media Group.
Liz Mullen: Golden State Warriors F Draymond Green has signed with Serena Williams’ agent, Jill Smoller of WME, for off-court work. More in Closing Bell
Shams Charania: Golden State's Luke Walton has signed coaching representation with Wasserman Media Group, league sources tell The Vertical.
J. Michael: Marcin Gortat has "parted ways" w/his longtime agent Guy Zucker, a person w/knowledge of the situation told me, after 9yrs #WizardsTalk #NBA
J. Michael: Gortat has to wait 2 weeks before signing w/another agent which is standard. #WizardsTalk #NBA
Chris Haynes: Earl Watson, new interim coach of Phoenix Suns, will hire agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, league sources inform @clevelanddotcom.
When the Bulls go to negotiate with Pau Gasol in free agency this summer, they will face a new representative. Gasol confirmed to the Tribune that he has filed the paperwork for Steven Heumann to represent him.
Heumann, who also represents Chris Paul and Tony Parker , works for Creative Artists Agency, which is headed by Leon Rose. That's an agent the Bulls know well from their pursuit of Carmelo Anthony and Rose's work for former coach Tom Thibodeau.
When the Bulls go to negotiate with Pau Gasol in free agency this summer, they will face a new representative. Gasol confirmed to the Tribune that he has filed the paperwork for Steven Heumann to represent him. Heumann, who also represents Chris Paul and Tony Parker, works for Creative Artists Agency, which is headed by Leon Rose. That's an agent the Bulls know well from their pursuit of Carmelo Anthony and Rose's work for former coach Tom Thibodeau.
Michael Scotto: John Wall's marketing & off court matters will be managed by his long-time friend & business manager Ty Williams (BYB Sports Marketing firm)
Marc J. Spears: With grace period over, Wizards G John Wall has officially signed with agent Rich Paul & his Klutch Sports Group, a Paul spokesperson said.
Avery Bradley has changed agents from Mitchell Butler of the Rival Sports Group to Rob Pelinka, who also represents Kobe Bryant. Butler was able to procure the oft-injured Bradley a four-year, $32 million contract extension last summer, considered an above-market deal. Now Bradley is apparently unhappy with his contract, especially after seeing players such as Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton (five years, $70 million), Utah’s Gordon Hayward (four years, $61 million), and Cleveland’s Tristan Thompson (five years, $82 million) cash in with lucrative extensions, making Bradley’s deal appear to be a bargain with the new television money increasing the salary cap this summer.
CAA Basketball: Welcome to the CAA family! @paugasol #CAAsports #NBA
Adrian Wojnarowski: Yet another player making move to leverage next steps in his career: Boston’s Avery Bradley has hired agent Rob Pelinka of Landmark Sports.
"Just a decision that I made, just thinking about it with my team," Wall said earlier in the week. "The people I was with have been a great partnership the five years I was with them. They did a lot of positive things for me. It was just a situation where I felt me and my team wanted to go in different ways with how I wanted to build my team." Wall wants what LeBron James -- and, a generation before both of them, Gary Payton -- achieved: representation that will empower those closest to him in meaningful positions.
Wall wants that for his closest friends, that grew up with him in Raleigh and have been there with him at every stop along the way, through his troubled childhood, his explosion as a basketball talent in high school, his year at Kentucky and his six seasons in Washington. And he believes Rich Paul -- among this season's worst-kept secrets is that Wall will hire Paul after the 15-day grace period to which players must adhere before hiring a new agent expires -- can do that. "That's the way," Wall said Saturday night, without naming any names. "That's what I want to do."
Wall will soon make his best friend, Ty Williams -- "my brother," Wall says -- his manager. Another friend, Reggie Jackson, is working at a bank in the D.C. area. Eric "E.J." Grissett is a disc jockey at local clubs; Alban (Bane) Okafor is a fledgling entrepreneur just as Rich Paul was all those years ago. And Wall wants his guys to follow that path.
League scuttlebutt has hinted that Wall wants a big, big shoe deal. The discussions Relativity was having with adidas, Wall's former shoe company, were not proceeding to his liking -- especially in the wake of Harden's 13-year, $200 million deal with adidas reached last year. Wall says that's not true. "That wasn't part of the decision why I wanted to make that" (agent) change, Wall said. "It was just something that I've been thinking about for a while. I'm still open to every shoe company. I'm going to talk to all of those guys through the process and figure out what I can do. I still have interest in adidas and all the other companies that want to talk to me and have a meeting. I'm open. I've just been wearing what's comfortable for my feet and protecting my feet for right now."
Jeff Zillgitt: In other NBA/agents news (for those are interested in such things), Thunder C Enes Kanter has left Max Ergul, I've been told.
Liz Mullen: Milwaukee Bucks G Greivis Vásquez has signed with @Octagon NBA agent Alex Saratsis for representation. He was formerly repped by WMG.
He fired his long-time agent Dan Fegan of Relativity Sports and explained his decision to reshape his career Wednesday. "The people I was with, it was a great partnership for the five years I was with it. Did a lot of great and positive things for me but it's just a situation where I felt me and my team wanted to go different ways in how we wanted to build out team," Wall said after morning shootaround before playing the Milwaukee Bucks. "It was a decision I made to part ways with them. ... I think just getting it off my chest was kind of a relief."
Wall has met with various agents, including several times with Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, but hasn't signed with anyone. Paul, a lifelong friend of LeBron James, represents the superstar.
Nick DePaula: In his first game since switching to agent Rich Paul, John Wall is wearing LeBron 13s. (Pic via @Chris Miller) https://t.co/aiqnx8oTQN
Keith Pompey: According to sources, Joel Embiid is expected to sign with Leon Rose
David Aldridge: Just heard briefly from John Wall re: firing Dan Fegan. “Long story,” said Wall, who added he hasn’t signed with anyone else yet. Attorney @DarrenHeitner has reported Wall will sign with Klutch Sports’ Rich Paul, who represents LeBron James, Eric Bledsoe & others.
C.Ford: Ben McLemore only one not wearing Nike. Nick DePaula: Correct -- and Ben McLemore's rookie adidas shoe deal was done before he hired Rich Paul.
Nick DePaula: When John Wall turned pro in 2010, Nike had interest & made him this Hyperfuse PE, but Reebok offer was too strong. https://t.co/OTNtsv7oOo
Nick DePaula: Wow. Hearing that John Wall will leave agent Dan Fegan and is leaning towards hiring Rich Paul of Klutch Sports. (LeBron's agent.)
Darren Heitner: Sources: John Wall has fired agent Dan Fegan. Big losses for Relativity Basketball: Ed Davis, Austin Rivers, DeAndre Jordan, John Wall
Jorge Castillo: Can confirm that John Wall has fired agent Dan Fegan as @DarrenHeitner tweeted 1st.
However, he has since decided to return to Wasserman after his brief stint with BDA Sports Management. “It’s just a personal decision,” said Horford. “I just felt more comfortable being with Wasserman.” The change in his personnel was confirmed by Wasserman’s Twitter yesterday and was first announced by Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
David Pick: Hawks All-Star Al Horford, I've been told, has fired BDA and agent Bill Duffy.
Tandem Sports & Entertainment has signed Portland Trail Blazers guard Gerald Henderson and Dallas Mavericks guard Raymond Felton for representation on and off the court.
David 'Dubi' Pick: Source: Crvena Zvezda point-guard Gal Mekel has signed with Euro power-agent Misko Raznatovic.
The person who conducted Glenn Robinson’s negotiations was Dr. Charles Tucker. Now, 21 years later, Tucker will again be representing another high-profile Bucks player: Jabari Parker. Parker was the second overall selection in the 2014 draft and is regarded as one of the game’s up-and-coming stars. “I feel good about my decision,’’ said Parker, who had been represented by the Wasserman Media Group. “When it comes to Dr. Tucker. I have someone who fully supports me and will always be there for me.
But as happens when a powerful agent leaves an agency, there have been talent defections. Since Tellem departed, seven NBA players — LaMarcus Aldridge, Jamal Crawford, Danilo Gallinari, Gerald Henderson, Al Horford, Joe Johnson and Jabari Parker — have left. Two others, Mike Miller and Mike Dunleavy, left while Tellem was still at Wasserman. And two others, brothers Marc and Pau Gasol, remain Wasserman clients but are evaluating options.
“With B.J. Armstrong, Thad Foucher and Darren Matsubara heading our basketball business we are highly confident about our ability to maintain our leadership position,” WMG founder and Chairman Casey Wasserman said. The defections come after Wasserman agents negotiated more than $700 million in NBA contracts over the summer, including Aldridge’s $80 million contract with the Spurs and Gallinari’s two-year, $34 million extension with the Nuggets, before they left. Wasserman agents also negotiated big deals for clients who have stayed, including Davis’ five-year, $145 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, Brook Lopez’s three-year, $60 million deal with the Brooklyn Nets and Robin Lopez’s four-year, $54 million deal with the New York Knicks.
Erik Gundersen: Blazers guard Gerald Henderson has signed with agent Jim Tanner after leaving Wasserman, according to a league source.
You told us that there are some mistakes in our piece of article about Wasserman. What are they ? Makhtar N'Diaye (Wasserman agent): James Dunleavey left a long time ago before Arn Tellem. Michael Tellem has left because he didn't like his new job. Indeed, Danilo Gallinari followed him but five or six players have decided to fire him and stay with us.
How much has the loss of Arn Tellem impacted the agency life? Makhtar N'Diaye: Yes, the loss of Arn is huge. It's like a team that loses his franchise player. It's normal that there are some collateral damages. Every player had his own reason to leave us. When Arn left us, some players felt like orphans. Arn did take care himself of Joe Johnson. It's the same thing for Gasol brothers, but we signed the last contract of Marc and we will still be paid for that. If you look deeper, the two losses which hurt us a lot are Jabari Parker because he's young and has a tremendous potential, and Al Horford because his contract is expiring and he is a max contract player.
Chris Haynes: Mavericks G Raymond Felton has signed on with agent Jim Tanner of Tandem Sports and Entertainment. He recently parted ways with Wasserman.
Jabari Parker is leaving the Wasserman Media Group and agent B.J. Armstrong, the 20-year-old Bucks forward confirmed after the team shootaround Friday morning. Parker said he has not yet chosen a new agent but is doing his research. Several other big-name players have left or are reported to be considering leaving the Wasserman group after the departure of super agent Arn Tellem. During the off-season Tellem left the agency to become vice chairman of Palace Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Detroit Pistons.
