Cavs’ Kenny Atkinson on Mavs-Lakers Trade: ‘Nothing Surprises Me Anymore’

CLEVELAND — The blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers and Anthony Davis to the Mavericks shocked the entire NBA.Kenny Atkinson, Cavaliers, Cavs, NBA

Except for maybe Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson.

“Nothing surprises me anymore,” Atkinson said before tipoff against those very Mavericks.

Actually, they’re not quite the Mavericks yet, as Davis has yet to arrive from LA. How could he? The trade took place just about 12 hours before Atkinson was interviewed — which is about the same time Davis himself reportedly found out.

Of course, the Mavs weren’t just missing Davis on Sunday. They were also without Kyrie Irving (as usual in Cleveland), Daniel Gafford, and P.J. Washington, three starters. That pretty much left Klay Thompson and coach Jason Kidd.

At some point, though, they will have all of those guys, with Davis and injured second-year center Dereck Lively II.

So that gives them lots of size, and not surprisingly, Mavs GM Nico Harrison compared their future frontcourt to that of the Cavaliers.

“I think if you look at the Cleveland Cavaliers, that’s what you’re going to see (with two big guys playing together),” Harrison told the Dallas Morning News, referencing Cavs center Jarrett Allen and forward Evan Mobley.

Harrison and Kidd then met with reporters before the game against the Cavs in Cleveland. So what a day for the Mavs, and the Cavs.

Anyway, Atkinson said he does believe that Dallas has done well for itself — even if it will be really weird watching the Mavs without Doncic. 

“(Acquiring Davis) gives them some versatility,” Atkinson said.

The Mavs, of course, are coming off a run to the NBA Finals just last season. It may or may not take them a while to get back. But if they go anytime soon, they’ll sure look a lot different than the previous version.

Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?

Be sure to follow Hoops Wire on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!

Leave a Reply