Rich Paul, the agent for Anthony Davis, admitted he was caught off guard by the trade, calling it a “shock.” In an exclusive interview, Paul shared his thoughts on the deal, acknowledging that while the timing and the players involved were unexpected, he wasn’t surprised by Davis’ destination, given the longstanding connection between Davis and Mavericks GM Nico Harrison.
“It’s been a pretty busy trade deadline for me,” Paul explained. “Had a lot of guys get moved, a lot of it strategically. This one was a shock. And again, the timing of it was a shock, who was involved was a shock, (but) the destination was not a shock, just based upon the relationship. AD has been someone that Nico [Harrison] has coveted since he got the job, so that’s not a shock to me.” He also emphasized the rarity of such trades involving All-NBA players, noting how this one stands out.
Paul acknowledged the trade’s unique nature, especially considering that it was the first instance of two All-NBA players being swapped directly, without younger players or picks involved. He added, “I think it was the first trade among All-NBA players. Normally you’re trading All-NBA guys and getting back (young) guys, or getting back a lot of picks and things like that. Very seldom do you see two mountains being moved like that.”
While Davis’ move to Dallas may have surprised some, Paul noted it was part of the business, encouraging players to accept the unpredictable nature of such decisions.
