Superstars have been moved before. However, it’s ironic that one of the biggest trades in NBA history blindsided everyone. Shams Charania didn’t hear any whispers. Both Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis weren’t looped in until the last moment (and that was done for a reason). The Dallas Mavericks and the Lakers purposely maintained such secrecy. And aside from the few people within each organization, no other exceptions were made.

In fact, only after an agreement from both sides did the players’ agents hear about the move. Yes, even Rich Paul, who had two of his clients be part of the deal, wasn’t filled in. Like everybody else on that day, Paul would be consumed by shock. However, to some degree, he also wasn’t.

“99.9% of the time, I’m going to know what’s going on. The one time I didn’t was the one time we all didn’t per se know what was going on. It was a shock to everybody. Who was in it was a shock. I always knew the affinity that was had for AD from Nico’s perspective. So the destination wasn’t really a shock. The timing of it was a shock and obviously who was involved was a shock,” the Klutch Sports CEO said about the infamous trade.

Harrison preaches hard work and defensive mastery being the holy grail to winning a title. Likewise, Anthony Davis had been playing like an MVP. However, ‘The Brow’ loved LA, and Rich Paul knew that. So his knowing about the works behind the scenes could have complicated matters, as he would need to do everything to best serve the interests of his clients.

That’s also exactly why he commends the Lakers and the Mavericks for ‘moving mountains’.

“You don’t move mountains with everybody knowing. You can’t. And so I’m glad I didn’t know. And I’m glad whoever else didn’t know because it probably wouldn’t have happened if you did know. Because now you start to open up the opinions, the conversations, and different cans of worms,” Rich Paul stated.

Privacy could cost the Lakers Luka Doncic

Keeping the details of this trade under wraps did benefit the Los Angeles Lakers in some ways. Due to the Mavericks’ desire to make such a trade, they didn’t need to extinguish most of their pieces, which normally would be a sacrifice. Additionally, it didn’t give other teams an option to counter, although the Mavericks did reach out to other teams beforehand.

In the end, the Lakers got their guy. A 25-year-old Luka Doncic is viewed as the future of the franchise. “We have a 25-year-old global superstar that is going to get on the stage of the most popular and influential basketball brand on the globe,” Rob Pelinka noted. But for how long?

See, just like Rich Paul, Doncic’s agent Bill Duffy was also kept in the shadows about such a trade. The Lakers didn’t have an opportunity to speak with him about his client’s intentions. All that’s documented is Luka Doncic wanted to be a Maverick for life. With the tax rate in California and the future of the franchise still undiscovered post the LeBron James era, there’s a chance he could leave.

And it could be soon. Luka Doncic has two years left with a player option for his third season. He’s already lost over $100 million by being forced out of Dallas. Hence, if his destined fit with LeBron James doesn’t work out, the yearning for a championship and maybe sticking it to the Mavs could see him consider a future elsewhere.

His press conference did reverberate some positive thoughts, though. Doncic is fully committed to the organization and understands the prestige that comes with representing the Purple and Gold. However, it’s still too early to say what his future looks like.