Even with loads of time to digest the information — and to verify the gorgeous Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis commerce had truly occurred and wasn’t the results of somebody hacking a preferred reporter’s account — Mavericks gamers nonetheless had a tough time coming to phrases with the fact of the blockbuster commerce.
“Surprised is an effective phrase,” Lesley McCaslin of Bally Sports activities Southwest reported Sunday. “I feel it’s protected to say there’s nonetheless slightly little bit of shock within the locker room. One of many gamers informed me it simply doesn’t really feel actual. P.J. Washington mentioned, ‘Look, we love Luca. Once you come to battle with a man, he’s your teammate and brother and clearly we want him one of the best,’ however they perceive that it’s additionally a enterprise and so they had a staff assembly this morning the place they might focus on all the pieces.
“Naji Marshall mentioned, ‘After all, all the pieces was enterprise as regular.’ He mentioned, ‘We love Luca. However we’re all professionals and they’re wanting ahead to getting to fulfill (Davis) and Max Christie and stay up for profitable video games.”
Hopefully, the assembly and greeting of the brand new teammates goes higher than the try to win video games, with the Mavericks opening the post-Doncic period with a blowout 144-101 loss on Sunday night time to Cleveland.
Dallas allowed 50 factors in its first 12 minutes because it opted to maneuver on from Doncic in alternate for Davis, Christie and a 2029 first-round decide. The staff additionally trailed by 45 factors at halftime.
Dallas, nonetheless, didn’t have Kyrie Irving, Washington, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Energetic II or Dwight Powell for the matchup in opposition to the Jap Convention’s prime staff.
That being mentioned, it’s comprehensible that the Mavericks would supply an uninspiring effort after the entrance workplace made one of the vital surprising trades in NBA historical past.
Dallas traded one of many NBA’s finest scorers for a 31-year-old who’s injury-prone and only one first-round decide at a time when lesser gamers just like the Knicks’ Mikal Bridges can fetch 5 first-rounders.
Making it all of the extra surprising is how Mavericks basic supervisor Nico Harrison famous how he solely talked to the Lakers, as a substitute of looking out league-wide for one of the best out there deal.
Even the Mavericks’ play-by-play tv announcer, Mark Followill, acknowledged how this commerce surprised him previous to Sunday’s sport.
“I’m sorry if I look slightly haggard right now,” Followill mentioned. “Like a variety of you, I didn’t sleep very nicely final night time. We’re surprised, we’re shocked, we’re going by way of it. You all know what I’m speaking about. The tip of 1 period, the start of one other. The information got here down final night time in studies, formally this morning at 10:05 Jap, 9:05 Central Time. Luka Doncic traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, with Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round decide sooner or later.”
He additionally tweeted: “However I’m as surprised and shocked as everybody else and I’m very empathetic to the entire feelings persons are feeling proper now. I admire everybody who has reached out and an MFFL hug to all of you.”
The Mavericks are again in motion Tuesday in Philadelphia in opposition to the 76ers and it’s affordable to count on Davis might go well with up for that sport.
Dallas (26-24) is tied for eighth within the Western Convention and only one sport away from being on the skin wanting in and can want Davis to hold the staff the way in which Doncic had for seven seasons.
“I perceive why [everyone] could be shocked, initially, however I do consider that we positioned ourselves to win now and likewise win sooner or later,” Harrison mentioned previous to Sunday’s loss. “And that’s finally the aim and why we’re right here. It’s a kind of issues the place it’s my job to make the robust choices that put our targets at the beginning.
“So I perceive the magnitude of it, however the best factor for me to do is do nothing and everybody would reward me for doing nothing. However we actually consider in it and time will inform if I’m proper.”