Anthony Davis’s agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, is one of the most powerful figures in the NBA. Not only do his actions carry weight but his words. That being said, Davis’s name is among the most prominent in trade whispers, and earlier this month a deal seemed all but inevitable.
Due to unforeseen but predictable circumstances, Davis may be more likely to remain in Dallas than to be moved. In fact, the big man “does not necessarily agree” that the Mavericks trading him would be in his best interests, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon (h/t BasketNews). Though Paul “has made it clear” that’s what he believes, Davis “has not been pushing to be moved and is comfortable here in Dallas.”
Klutch Sports Agent Rich Paul Takes Aim At Mavs-Anthony Davis Trade Rumors
This weekend, Paul made an appearance on the Game Over podcast with co-host Max Kellerman to address the notion that he’s been pushing for the Mavericks to trade Davis:
“That thing was aggregated. This is the power of the internet… If you’re wondering why Rich Paul has a podcast, this is part of the reason why… The reality of it is, that’s fake news. When you have a player that is on a team, it’s not like you want guys to move for the sake of being moved. If a guy is happy where they are, great.”
Rich Paul says it’s NOT TRUE that he has demanded the Mavericks to trade Anthony Davis 😳
“I know what was said. That thing was aggregated. This is the power of the internet. If you’re wondering why Rich Paul has a podcast, this is part of the reason why… The reality of it is,… pic.twitter.com/ctWNnlpR0x
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) January 25, 2026
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
“You care about people’s family, you care about the guys well being, and you care if they’re happy,” Paul continues. “From a business perspective, you want guys to be in position and you want guys to be paid. I really don’t care where the money comes from; the money can come from the 31st team in the NBA for all I care. As long as my guy is in position to get paid, that’s all I want to do.”
Rich Paul’s Feelings Only Mattered So Much, Anyways
Davis’s chances of being traded largely hinged on his health, no matter how he or his agent felt.
Bearing that in mind, his hand wasn’t all that fractured on Jan. 8; the negotiations that the Mavs were having with teams interested in him broke down too. Notably, after the Atlanta Hawks traded Trae Young for greater financial flexibility, they appeared to have the inside track on Davis. However, with his already questionable health put in a more dubious position, the Hawks’ started focusing on other options. The Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons and Golden State Warriors have been tied to Davis in rumors as well.
When the 32-year-old corrected ESPN insider Shams Charania’s erroneous report about his return timeline, it enabled teams to continue contemplating a rational trade for him. A six-week absence sounds a lot better than “several months.” Nevertheless, his unsightly injury history is the five-ton elephant in the room. The fact that he’d soon be looking for what was likely a lucrative contract extension only complicated matters.
Mavs Should Be OK With AD
Davis has always sounded comfortable with playing in Dallas. During the post-trade introductory press conference, he would say (h/t Schuyler Dixon of The Associated Press): “It’s my job to come in and play basketball and do what I’m supposed to do and give the fans hope and reassurance on why Nico (Harrison) brought me here.”‘
Some fans may not ever understand why former Mavs general manager Nico Harrison traded Luka Doncic for the Davis-headlined package. That’s even if the Lakers have had the same concerns and complaints about his conditioning and defense. That’s even if Doncic still has teammates saying that they don’t get the ball enough. Part of this is due to sentimentality, as Doncic was beloved by the fan base. However, part of it is the logistics, many believing that Harrison could have simply gotten a better deal.
Still, the Mavericks are 15-5 with Davis in 2025-26. This is with Kyrie Irving still sidelined after his ACL injury and rookie Cooper Flagg not yet completely coming into his own. With that Big Three and the development of players like Max Christie and Naji Marshall, they’re a legitimate playoff team.
In the end, if Dallas doesn’t find a trade partner for Davis, it isn’t the end of the world. When he’s healthy, he’ll put on a Mavs jersey with pride and play to the best of his ability. It shouldn’t have to be said but he isn’t a 10-time All-Star, or on the NBA’s 75th anniversary team, for no reason.
© Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images