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.
Is this guy good for the game bad for the game or just flies at a dairy
Rich Paul makes more money in a day than you will in your lifetime. But keep questioning his business decisions lol
I realize you may bend over at the idea of another man making more money than you, but that doesn’t control my opinions. But keep counting another man’s pockets, did he pay your rent this month?
My point is that he is doing his job, and success in his job can be measured in dollars since his job is to make money for himself and his clients.
It seems like you have personal feelings for Rich Paul. I don’t. Just the facts sweetie.
Yeahhh it got real quiet all of a sudden lol
Who cares is your life all about money not mine
Good thing you don’t need an agent right?
This weird posturing that the mass of these boards acts with when speaking about Paul is interesting to say the least. YOU aren’t a player and don’t need an agent. Clearly, if you DID need an agent and it was Rich Paul, YOU could make the decision to separate yourself from him.
Wtf does that have to do with the players who I promise you do not give a single sh** about any of this?
How are you people going to celebrate the wisdom of the new Mavs FO for floating the idea of trading AD, and then demonize a guy not in the FO for doing the same thing?
Did the Lakers “float the idea” of trading Austin Reeves? No, they did not…yet, there’s Rich Paul running his mouth on a podcast about that too. If you don’t see the conflict of interest in that, then you need your head examined.
HOW TF IS IT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IF RICH PAUL IS NOT EMPLOYED BY THE LAKERS
You’re defending a blatant liar and a manipulative two faced A-hole. Why do the LeBron fans have a hard time realising they’ve been duped?
We have had this discussion a lot Nrg. I’m not a LeBron fan. What reason do I have to publicly defend him? When there is a positive LeBron story, Im not in the comments cheering.
The only time I talk about LeBron is when everyone and their mother needs to lay out conspiracy theories about what he and his agent are doing in the background. It’s fantasy, at least to the level that is spouted and proudly accepted.
We get a day full of dudes who had their dreams crushed by LeBron moaning and groaning all for something… HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH. If your thought process is that Paul is just a puppet for LeBron, incapable of being his own man with his own thoughts, then the conversation ends before it begins. That is the most frustrating part of this. Talking to walls.
I dont believe that at all. Went scorched earth on anyone talking about Bron or the lakers. Reeves is about to get paid and Paul isn’t his agent, he needs to stfu. For every person Rich got paid, he’s cost even more bank through his goones in commentary, or talking heads on ESPN. Who up until LeBron sucked (now), had a ridiculous amount of sway around the league.
Like the cavs scrubs. Or if you can’t play with bron BS. This kinda passive aggressive crap he carries on with has cost some their careers and earning capacity. If it has nothing to do with him, ssshhhh. This cancer will be gone real soon. Nobody is putting up with him once bron goes.
Seems like your problem is more with how front offices react to media voices. To blame LeBron for that is lunacy.
Still deflecting I see. Because the super team and empowerment era has been awesome to watch. What about the all star game? Bron ruined that too. They all stopped trying after Kobe absolutely punked LeBron one all star weekend. The league went crazy soft on Brons watch. Worst ratings ever on Brons watch. The man won’t be missed and neither will his mouth piece Paul. Imagine another agent speaking on trading a guy who is probably about to be an all star in a contract year. You think Paul would appreciate that? Little wonder Reeves agent rolled up on Rich and he crapped his pants. Klutch is has been a protected species for years. They’ll be extinct soon enough. And LeBron has divorve to look forward to yet. HALF. let me guess….focus on that last sentence and deflect some more.
The all star game is terrible because Kobe Bryant punked LeBron and every other player that is or will be alive decided that was enough to never try in an all star game again.
That is an actual thought floating around your head.
“On LeBron’s watch” – this sh** is hilarious. You are elevating him to god like status just so he can be that much more of a villain. How does LeBron impact every other team in the league and if people are watching? Let me guess – Adam Silver is actually just a puppet too right? LeBron James controls the entire NBA?
Enjoy letting this guy warp every basketball thought you have. It’s pathetic.
Argh get on youtube and watch what kobe did to Bron. Get back to me what happened to the all star game afterwards. Not sure about puppet but Silver is definitely at least a muppet.
LeBron did control the entire nba 100%. Those days are gone, he sucks. Super team, player empowerment era all the while with viewership dwindling rapidly. Facts pal.
It’s a conflict of interest because he’s clearly manipulating the market under the guise of giving an honest basketball opinion/analysis. Not to mention artificially creating controversy that can/will undermine the goals he says LeBron is supposedly working towards.
The fact that LeBron had to come out and say that HIS OWN agent doesn’t speak for him on that podcast is proof of what I’m saying. AGAIN, wake TF up.
Your tin foil is wrapped so tight brother. Get well.
Sure, tin foil hat.. ok. Go back to sleep.
What personal feelings did you deduce from me saying I thought a podcast was a bad idea for an agent? You’re the one who ran to boast about how much money he has in comparison to you, so I’m guessing your personal feelings are that you’re inadequate in comparison
@ boner cats, no one here is in the NBA. I guess we should all stop commenting altogether? The only posturing is yours, as if to act like a non NBA player can’t comment on his opinion on an NBA agent doing a podcast.
While you simultaneously posture as if you know what every NBA players gives a crap about lol.
Have your opinion about an agent doing a podcast. Leave it at that. Do you see how almost all of the dialogue about this is extending beyond comments made on a podcast?
If you think a single NBA player aside from LeBron and AR give a damn about this story, you are living in fairy tale land. The only people who are making a big deal out of this are the people who need outrage and love when it comes from a certain someone. People who aren’t brainwashed by ESPN can see that. Shame there are so few of us left.
I had my opinion: I haven’t been a detractor in the past, but the agent should be quiet and not do that podcast. Distilled enough?
Please point out where my comment was dialogue about anything OTHER than the comments on the podcast. The outrage here hasn’t been mine lol
“Shut up and dribble”
Yeah, stick to nonsequiturs
You understood my point completely and chose to ignore it.
“Why should an agent be allowed to talk about anything he is not directly involved in”
Was that the shut up and dribble part? And don’t frame what I said, I said he needs to not do a podcast where he suggests trade targets, including his clients like Jalen Johnson.
I said it pretty clearly and now you want to argue something else you interpreted
Why does he need to refrain from doing that? Because it makes you uncomfortable?
It has no impact on anything at all. Thats my entire point. Acting like this guy cannot possibly separate himself from his job for even a moment to share a genuine thought he has (regardless if you agree with that thought or not) is disturbing.
People need a villain. Thank you ESPN.
You’ve moved the goalposts so many times, you just want to be indignant for no reason. Fake narrative in your head. If you’re too slow to see how this is in no way separate from his job as an agent, I’m realizing I’m probably speaking to a teenager in his mom’s basement with zero concept of the real world. If You don’t think saying “Milwaukee should trade for my client Jalen Johnson, even though I admit he would not want that” directly implicates his profession as Johnson’s agent, stick to 2K. You can argue with yourself from now on, I feel my IQ lowering through this exchange
@luvhoops…probably best to stop wasting brain cells on this Dude. He’s clearly being willfully blind/deaf/dumb. Likely a LeBron fan boy who views any valid critique of anything in the LeBron circle as “hate.”
There are so many unethical things to Rich Paul doing what he’s doing on those podcasts given his role as an agent and player rep that you’d either have to be unethical yourself or not too bright…or, again, a fan boy with no ability to think independently.
This is exactly why fans are turning against the sport. This type of nonsense should not be tolerated by the league. If this ain’t tampering, then they have to immediately payback all the tampering fines they’ve given team personnel the last 20 years.
It’s like there’s no critiquing Paul without “making him a villain.”
When you’re suggesting trades that involve your clients (I would bet Johnson does NOT want to leave an Atlanta team that paid him and is building around him for Milwaukee) or you floated a concrete trade proposal that require your clients addressing the media and prob Reaves, that’s just bad business.
Regardless of Paul’s prior performance in that role.
Saying it’s bad business is fine. Saying is A.) A 3D chess move by LeBron to get every single thing he wants or B.) Damaging to the league or the players, is flat out false.
Again, if it’s bad business, his clients can fire him? Seems to me that none feel the need to do that. Saying he needs to shut up because YOU think it’s bad business is just blabbering for no reason.
Sorry to disturb the hive mind.
Except you’re the one demonstrating a hive mind. My “blabbering” is aligned with NBA precedent on this going back 25+ years and the material results on the ground.
You’re either too brainwashed or too compromised to acknowledge the point I made before…if this is all on the level, then please explain to me why did LeBron have to come out and say that HIS OWN AGENT does not speak for him on that podcast?
The fact that he had to make that statement is proof of what I’m saying, no matter how you choose to interpret LeBron’s statement.
But, please, tell me again how tight my tinfoil hat is…
Bruh, where did I say A or B?
And the podcast is relatively new, we don’t know the repercussions on his business yet. Anyways, this is getting old LMAO. Have a good day sir and I apologize for any personal comments. I don’t come here for that.
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.
@Arc
Business vs real world. I’m not saying he and I are friends but I know he’s a good guy. Business isn’t personal and one day you’re arguing with an agent about player negotiations and then the next they hire you to be teams GM like Bob Myers transitioning from being an agent at Wasserman to bring the GM for the Golden State Warriors.
Rich Paul is an agent and will do and say anything for his clients. Of course he is 100% bias. The part about Reeves is he knows the Lakers will have no money to resign LeBron so throw Reeves under the bus. Rich Paul cares about money so he might be a nice guy when it has 0 to do with his job.
You are singing his praises and not realizing it because you don’t understand this conversation.
How many lawyers do you know that are smiling and laughing in the courtroom? Welcome to real life.
@Arc
I’m not even sure if YOU understand what the conversation is at this point. Agents vs team mngnt, defense lawyers vs prosecutors, democrats vs republicans. At each other’s throats all day then chucking down beers and golfing with each other the next. Only the public is under the delusion of “good” and “bad”. In the case of agents, they’re are some that I think are scum, not because of their negotiations but because that’s who they really are. Agents don’t dictate to the player. They agree they’re to be the face and take all the arrows. GMs like to deal with agents because they don’t want to really, really say what they want to say directly to the player because they want to stay in their grace. and the player may, or should never, really hear it all. It’s why most teams prefer to avoid arbitration. Who wants to sit there and tell your player all the things you dint like about them but still keep them in good spirits and relations with you.
The real question is LeBron behind the Reeves trade or is it just the agent opinion. Whoever is behind it has 0 effect on Lakers decision because the new owners already showing they make the decisions and nobody else.
So then why in the world does it matter who is behind it if it has 0 effect???
These people are going to make my head explode.
IS Rich Paul liked around the league, though? It’s always felt like he’s been a pain to deal with, but that could very well just be our perception of him as fans outside of the loop. Just curious if you have a temperature on that.
Has never once seemed to affect any of his guys getting paid.
You know… what agents do.
Arc… your wisdom never ceases to amaze me.
To be fair, most people only care about money. Nothing wrong with that. The podcast and inflated ego are a different story.
And basically trying to strong-arm the Mavs, while an understandable business decision, walks the fine line of going too far. But, hey, if it works AD probably won’t complain.
I can’t see anyone wanting that bad contract unless it’s for another bad contract deal.
I hate Dick Paul
I’m not sure who Paul is but there is really no need to lie. Lot’s of folks on here share your affinities.
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.
AD is an idiot for thinking he can get another extension. He still has 2 yrs left. After that, it will be minimum. This is playing out just like Ben Simmons.
Who would give anything remotely considered assets for this guy AND THEN sign him to an extension?!?!
Let us please remove any memories of Nico Harrison’s worst trade in sports history asap . Even Christie. The draft pick must be burned.
I think Detroit is the perfect destination for AD. Moving him out of the West will be a refreshing start for him. The Pistons have all the pieces to make the trade: cap salary, expiring contracts, and draft picks. Definitely a healthy AD, along with Cade Cunningham, Thompson, and Duren, can win the East over the Knicks.
“Healthy AD” is like saying a non-flopping SGA. It doesn’t exist.
Bron is 41 and done. You think they have some class. And got out a Laker with your head hekd high. Bron may not retire. He is done as a Laker. Rich Payl has no class.
When LeBron retires can he please take this clown with him and spare the rest of us?
Amen
I was so disappointed upon hearing The Ringer creating the Max kellernan / Rich pod
The ringers so good and has done a great job swaying away from ESPN hot take clowns
Feels like such a square peg round hole pairing on the ringer
Max kellerman has no business anywhere outside a boxing ring talking sports
I would say no place other than to the prostitutes he talks to at night.
The Lakers could use some defensive presence down low and pairing him with LeBron and Reaves might be a decent big 3. Luka for AD. Get it done.
Same defense, AD from the bench in street clothes is about the same as Luka on-court.
To quote Rick Dalton/Caleb from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: “Go on messenger boy, now deliver my message”…
Any team that trades for AD before the deadline should be prepared to play without him this season. Surgery was required on his hand, then he finds a Dr who says it’s not (yet), but with a reevaluation needed sometime right after the deadline, all while his agent let’s on that he wants to be traded before the deadline.
AD is untradeable if he wants an extension past 35. He certainly isn’t taking a $25-30m/yr deal even thought that’s all he’s worth. He will play 25 games a year, pick up his player option and then retire at age 35.
AD trade talk is dumb.
AD for Luka…