Even after sustaining a hand injury that will keep him on the shelf until the February 5 trade deadline and beyond, Mavericks big man Anthony Davis is viewed as an in-season trade candidate. That’s just fine with his agent, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, who said in the latest episode of the Hoop Collective podcast (YouTube link) that Rich Paul is hoping Dallas sends his client elsewhere in the coming weeks.
“It is very clear that Rich Paul, who represents Anthony Davis, wants Anthony Davis traded before the deadline,” MacMahon said (hat tip to RealGM). “He believes it’s in his best business interest, because he has taken a ‘Well, we’ll see’ from the Mavericks regarding an extension as a ‘no.’ And there are teams where clearly Rich Paul considers it likely that AD would get the kind of extension that he’s looking for when he becomes eligible in August.”
Davis is earning $54.1MM this season and will make $58.5MM in 2026/27. He also holds a player option worth $62.8MM for ’27/28, so it’s not as if he needs to lock in his next deal immediately. Still, multiple reports in recent months have suggested that a contract extension is a priority for the 10-time All-Star, who will turn 33 years old in March. He’ll become eligible for a new deal as of August 6.
While the Mavericks apparently haven’t conveyed that they’re eager to pursue an extension and have been open to the idea of exploring trade scenarios involving Davis, they also don’t necessarily feel like they’ve reached an inflection point with the star forward/center, MacMahon explains.
“They are telling me and anybody who will listen that they’re not trading AD just to make a deal,” MacMahon said. “They don’t feel like they have to unload him. ‘Oh my gosh, the deadline’s here. Got to take what the best offer is.’ They are insistent that they will only make a deal that makes sense for them. And what exactly that threshold is, there’s not clarity on that. But it’s some combination of draft compensation, promising young talent, and financial relief in the form of expiring salaries.
“‘Rich Paul is not going to bully us.’ That is a direct quote from a member of the Mavericks organization. Another member of the Mavericks organization, referring to Patrick Dumont, the governor: ‘Patrick’s not going to sign off on a deal just to do a deal. Ownership doesn’t feel any pressure to do an AD deal.’ A third source: ‘Patrick has no problem going into next year with a healthy Kyrie (Irving) and a healthy AD alongside Cooper Flagg and seeing what it looks like.”
The Hawks and Raptors are the teams that have been linked most frequently to Davis, with the Bucks and Warriors also reportedly among the clubs with some interest. It’s unclear if they – or other clubs – would be any more enthusiastic than the Mavericks about locking up the former No. 1 overall pick to a new extension this offseason. He has battled a series of health issues since being traded to Dallas last February and has appeared in just 29 of 73 possible regular season games as a Mav.
Davis has remained highly effective when he’s available, averaging 20.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game since his arrival in Dallas. Still, his injury history and his maximum-salary price tag are among the factors limiting his value on the trade market — and on his next contract.
As MacMahon points out, the Mavericks will be motivated to be competitive beginning in 2026/27, since they don’t control their own first-round picks from 2027 to 2030, so a full-fledged teardown around Flagg probably doesn’t make sense. Noting that the team’s front office is also in a transitional period, MacMahon suggests the Mavs might be happy to wait until the offseason to make a decision on Davis’ future.
“Maybe there’s an AD deal to be made (at the trade deadline) that they’re comfortable making. Maybe there’s not,” MacMahon said. “And then it can be like Kevin Durant, where, OK, you restart things in the summer.
“But even then, I don’t believe they’re going to feel like there’s a ticking time bomb. There will be a new – whatever the title is -president of basketball operations, lead decision-maker who they’d like to have in place for Cooper Flagg’s career. And maybe it makes sense just to wait for that person to arrive in Dallas and to handle this business.”
Currently, Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi are serving as the Mavericks interim co-GMs, with Dumont, minority owner Mark Cuban, and head coach Jason Kidd also said to be involved in personnel decisions.
I don’t think any team will pull the trigger after his latest injury since an extension would have to be part of the deal.
But you never know, stranger things have happened (right, Nico)?
Rich Paul needs to shut tf up. I’ve not really been a detractor, but this podcast is a horrible idea for an agent. If I were his client, he’d have to make a choice, lose the podcast or I’m changing representation.
Yeah, terrible idea made worse by how Rich Paul handles it. He’s clearly using the platform as a tool to influence personnel decisions and to be a mouthpiece for LeBron and his clients…also, he’s super arrogant on top.
I’m sure the Mavs agree
I like Rich. I know him personally, and he’s a good guy. I’m also an agent, in a different field, and I know that we, as the tail, don’t wag the dog, meaning we move on the request of the client. But I do feel like they are robbing the Mavs and giving them very little return on their investment. The thing about the nba, as opposed to the mlb, is that you can’t just “salary dump” a contact of a star player. All trades in the nba require you to take back a bad contract unless the team your trading then to are way under the salary cap. But why would that team want to waste their salary cap money on AD? Well, in exchange for draft capital they would buy them that begs the question “do the Mavs want to erase their financial mistakes by spending valuable draft capital” and that answer should be a resounding “heck no micky ficky”.
Rich should still stfu, right? If he were my friend, I’d certainly tell him to. Karma must not exist in the bad juju world of agents, or does it?
@caju
I wouldn’t say it publicly because I would know the drama it would cause. Behind closed doors? happens all the time. Bad juju exists everywhere and as an agent you have to wear it like cheap cologne. Unfortunate part of the game. Both sides have to have short-term memories.
Your friend sound arrogant and a fool. He is not acting like a nice guy you claim he is. Of course you are bias. Rich Paul only cares about money.
As an agent that should be one of his main priorities.
lol ok bozo
I hate Dick Paul
Take the loss and just cut his sorry @$$
If the Mavs run it back with Kyrie and AD (and Flagg and co.) and they have success, then all this chatter goes away. If they don’t have success it is probably because AD is injured all the effing time. And if he is constantly injured what team is going to give him that last max deal? I think the Mavs still have a ton of leverage, but they need an actual GM who can make actual decisions, not a cabal of yes men, and they need to stop all the leaks about AD being on the market, etc.
I don’t know if Paul needs to shut up. Let’s be real, he’s just saying what his clients can’t. He’s just their mouthpiece and takes the heat for what everyone perceives to be his opinion.