According to ESPN, Rich Paul has formally escalated the situation in Dallas, informing the Dallas Mavericks that he wants Anthony Davis traded by next week, well ahead of the NBA's February 5 trade deadline.
The accelerated timeline adds urgency to an already complicated situation. Dallas has fallen to 18–26 and sits 12th in the Western Conference while playing most of the season without Davis, who hasn't appeared since Jan. 8 due to ligament damage in his left hand. With the Mavericks drifting toward the edge of the Play-In race, the organization must now decide whether Davis fits its immediate future or whether maximizing his trade value is the smarter path forward.
Extension Tension and Trade Leverage
The standoff has been brewing for weeks. ESPN's Tim MacMahon previously reported that Davis' "preference would be to stay in Dallas and to get that extension this summer," while noting that the Mavericks were simultaneously "trying to generate a good trade market."
That balancing act has now tilted decisively.
"In a situation like this, Rich Paul is going to be involved," MacMahon said. "They are going to want AD traded somewhere that is willing to give him a long, lucrative extension."
Davis is playing under a $54 million cap hit this season, meaning any acquiring team would need to aggregate multiple contracts to complete a deal. His contract status further complicates matters: Davis holds a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28 and would be either 34 or 35 the next time he hits free agency-an age that invites caution given his extensive injury history.
Raptors Interest and the Timing Problem
One potential suitor that has surfaced is the Toronto Raptors. TSN's Josh Lewenberg reported that Toronto has at least explored the framework of a deal.
"TSN can confirm that Toronto appears willing to part with some combination of Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl and RJ Barrett," Lewenberg said, "or at least that's the impression that rival teams have gleaned from exploratory discussions."
Still, league skepticism remains. Michael Grange of SportsNet summed up the risk succinctly.
"Acquiring Davis is the definition of a win-now move," Grange wrote. "A three-year extension he is said to be looking for… would keep him on the books until his age-37 season in 2029-30… Even if Davis was available for a steep discount, the timing doesn't seem right for the current Raptors club."
For Dallas, the decision window is shrinking fast. With rookie forward Cooper Flagg positioned as the franchise's long-term cornerstone and Paul pushing for clarity, the Mavericks must decide, within days, whether Anthony Davis is part of the future, or the final major asset of a pivot already underway.
Newsweek