CLEVELAND – Mavericks fans went through an initial shock after the blockbuster trade of Luka Dončić, and they weren’t the only ones.
Players said after they got shelled by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday that the trade to acquire Anthony Davis and Max Christie for Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris caught them by surprise, as well.
“I was like everybody – did Shams get hacked?” said Dante Exum, referring to ESPN’s Shams Charania, who broke the news of the trade. “It was a real big shock. I’ve been traded twice and you just learn that it’s how this business works and it’s something you have to adjust to. Everybody knew it was around that time and puts everybody on edge that anything can happen.”
The ginormous news shook the NBA and Klay Thompson, who has seen his share of developments through the years that have shaped and reshaped the league, said he could think of only one good comparison.
“It’s similar to LeBron going to Miami,” he said, referencing when LeBron James left Cleveland and took his talents to South Beach. “Obviously, that was on his own accord. But Luka (is similar). He’s a franchise player and I’m sure he’ll enjoy the sunshine in Cali.”
Other Mavericks could only shake their head and recall the shock of hearing the news just after midnight, Cleveland time, on Sunday morning.
“It’s tough, but we all have a job to do,” said Jaden Hardy. “Obviously a lot of people were caught off guard, same with the team. Like the rest of the world. He was special. A lot of guys felt for him. Still shocked right now.”
Dončić sent a group text to his Maverick teammates after news broke of the trade.
“He texted the team, thanking everybody for everything,” Hardy said. “That was nice from somebody that got traded, reaching out and letting everybody know (his thoughts).”
The Mavericks won’t have a lot of time to come to grips with the directional change of the franchise. This road trip continues in Philadelphia Tuesday and Boston Thursday.
It will be up to Jason Kidd and his staff to calm the waters.
“It’s going to take time,” Kidd said. “He has been a big part of the franchise for six years-plus. So right now, he’s been out for six weeks, so we have to lean in on that – that he hasn’t been with the team.
“Health is first, then with the newcomers, getting those guys involved, it’s going to take a little time. But we believe if we can get healthy and we have some time to get the newcomers familiar with the system, we can put some wins together.”
The Mavericks had only one starter in their lineup for Sunday’s debacle in Cleveland, where the Cavaliers jumped on the Mavericks early and pounded them 144-101.
How did Kidd handle that situation?
“It’s a matter of focusing on doing your job,” he said. “That’s all you can do. That’s what you can control. When you’re on the floor, play hard, try to make the right play, be unselfish. We’re judged on energy and effort and today we just got off to a slow start.”
Time, however, heals a lot of wounds and the Mavericks hope to get healthier as this trip goes along.
But the news of Sunday still left them in a stunned state.
“I think everybody was surprised, right?” Spencer Dinwiddie said. “The world was surprised. We were surprised, too. That’s my dog, man (he said of Luka). You’re going to miss him on the court and off the court. They’re both my friends. You just want to defer to them. They’re the ones going through it.”
For somebody like Thompson, who ended up playing only 22 games with Luka, it was a shock. But not something that he will allow to taint his situation.
“I live with no regrets,” Thompson said. “I’m happy to be a Maverick, incredibly grateful to be a Maverick. Excited to be in Dallas and very excited for what’s ahead.
“There will be an adjustment period, but AD is one of the greats, Kyrie as well. And it’s on the rest of us to play off them and try to elevate this franchise to some great heights. It’s the nature of the business.”
Oh yeah, they played a game: In other news, the Mavericks had a job to do before the dust had even settled on Sunday.
Kidd sent out a skeleton crew against the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers and the results were predictable.
The Mavericks gave up 50 points in the first quarter, fell behind by 51 early in the fourth quarter and eventually limped out of Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse with a 144-101 loss to the Cavaliers.
The list of missing players was lengthy for the Mavericks: Davis and Christie were not yet with the team after the trade. Also out were Dereck Lively II, Dwight Powell, Kyrie Irving, Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington.
The only starter still standing was Klay Thompson, who played just under 18 minutes.
“It’s tough,” said Quentin Grimes. “Especially when we’re missing a bunch of other guys as well. So it’s tough to go out there and play, especially against a team of that caliber.”
The Mavericks got a double-double from starting center Kylor Kelley, who finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds. And Exum, in just his second game back after missing the first 48 games after wrist surgery, had 14 points.
“I thought he was great,” Kidd said of Exum. “You can see he’s getting his legs. He fell, got up. He was fine. He’s trending in the right (way) and we need him to continue to trend as we get healthy because he’s going to be a big part of this.”
Kidd said he is hopeful that Washington, Gafford and Irving could return Tuesday at Philadelphia.
““Hopefully we can get healthy on this road trip,” he said. “We had quite a few guys out today. Hopefully in Philly we’ll have some guys back and we can build from there.”
The Cavaliers had a marvelous shooting day, hitting a franchise-record 26 three-pointers (on 45 tries).
“They shot the three at a high clip,” Kidd said. “That’s what they’ve done all year. We just didn’t do a good job of guarding the three.”
X: @ESefko
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