Rich Paul says Lakers’ Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade wouldn’t have happened if he’d known about it.
Could Rich Paul have stopped the most significant trade in NBA history?
On February 1, no one anticipated how drastically the NBA landscape would shift. That day, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the Los Angeles Lakers had acquired Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks, who had shockingly given up on the 25-year-old star, despite him leading the team to the NBA Finals the previous year. In return, the Mavericks received Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick—a package that seemed underwhelming for a player of Doncic’s caliber.
The trade talks were kept so confidential that no one outside of the involved parties knew the deal was in progress before Charania revealed the news. Now, Rich Paul, founder of Klutch Sports, which represents Davis (and LeBron James), claimed that had he been informed, the trade likely wouldn’t have happened.
“99.9% of the time, I know what’s going on. The one time I didn’t was the one time we all didn’t… I’m glad I didn’t know because it probably wouldn’t have happened if I did,” Paul said during an appearance on Gil’s Arena.
Paul is a highly respected agent who always advocates for his clients’ best interests. If he had been aware of the trade talks, there likely would have been discussions with Davis about whether he would accept a trade to the Mavericks. LeBron James would likely have been involved as well, given his prominent influence both within the Lakers and Klutch Sports.
It appears that fate simply aligned for this monumental trade to take place. Doncic is now a member of the Lakers, solidifying their star for the foreseeable future.
Why did the Mavericks trade Luka Doncic to the Lakers?
After the trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers, it became apparent how much the Mavericks’ leadership disliked Doncic, particularly his perceived lack of work ethic and disinterest in defense.
For the Mavericks to trade away Doncic without sparking a bidding war suggests they were eager to part ways with him, even at the risk of alienating their passionate fanbase.
Jedd Pagaduan, a lifelong Clippers and Gunners fan, channels his sports trauma into writing about the game.