The trade that rocked the NBA is coming up on three weeks old. Not surprisingly, it’s still being discussed as if it happened this past weekend. When the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers swapped Luka Dončić and Anthony Davis, it happened without so much as a whisper in the air. No one knew about it until the final minutes. Of course, neither did the players and coaches. Nor did it reach the ears of LeBron James. Additionally, for a man who admits to knowing everything 99.9% of the time, Klutch Sport’s Rich Paul—AD’s agent—was also left in the dark. Paul recently spoke with Gilbert Arenas, and he admitted feeling relieved from being left out of the trade talks.
Klutch Sport’s Rich Paul Reflects On the Secret, Shocking Trade
NBA Agent to the Stars Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Admits ‘I’m Glad I Didn’t Know’ About the Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis Trade
Paul’s presence is everywhere in the NBA. His status as the league’s biggest and most powerful super agent is apparent to every owner and GM. So it’s fair to pause and question when he says he didn’t know that one of his most prominent clients would get traded until the last minute. However, Paul appeared genuine and spoke honestly with former NBA player Arenas and others on his podcast Gil’s Arena. Paul learned about the trade right before it was made public via ESPN’s Shams Charania. Subsequently, Paul was shocked by the news.
“99.9 per cent of the time I know what’s going on. The one time I didn’t, we all didn’t. It was a shock to everybody. Who was in it was a shock. I always knew the affinity in it from Nico’s perspective, so the destination wasn’t really a shock. The timing of it was a shock, and who was involved was a shock, but you don’t move mountains without everybody knowing. You can’t. I’m glad I didn’t know. And I’m glad whoever else didn’t know, because it probably wouldn’t have happened.”
Paul’s comment regarding “whoever else” could easily be speculated that LeBron is that “someone else.” Can you imagine if Rob Pelinka had gone to LeBron beforehand and tossed him the idea of trading away his champion running mate of six seasons in the middle of a season where the Lakers are playing good basketball and on an upward trajectory? That conversation would likely have gone awry. Paul didn’t outright say it, but come on, he has to be talking about LeBron. LeBron is the only player powerful enough to nix a trade.
Don’t Forget About AD!
Much of the noise surrounding the trade has primarily targeted Luka with LeBron in Los Angeles. However, Paul asks that we remember who else was involved. Davis is no scrub, and he’s got something Luka doesn’t have: a ring. The Lakers may cause most of the commotion, but Davis to Dallas is massive in its own right. Granted, AD is injured and out for some time. His injury history and uncertain longevity due to his injuries cause many to hold the Mavericks return lesser than the Lakers. However, Paul disagrees with that and wishes that more respect would be put on Davis’s name, commenting: “People get it twisted in terms of the Luka trade. Dallas got AD!”
He’s right. When healthy, AD is a monster. And the Mavericks will have a formidable team when he gets back on the floor, hopefully in time for the playoffs. Of course, the Mavericks will have to make the playoffs. With several injuries hitting them in such a short window of late, Kyrie Irving will have to do everything in his power to keep them afloat in the West. Awaiting AD’s return will be part of the fight.
© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The post Klutch Sport’s Rich Paul Reflects On the Secret, Shocking Trade appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.