Markieff Morris was caught off guard when he learned he had been traded to the LA Lakers as part of the massive deal that also sent Luka Doncic to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis. The veteran forward, who signed a one-year, $3,303,771 contract, opened up about his emotions following the unexpected move.
Morris, who won a championship with the Lakers in 2020, admitted that the trade took him by surprise. Like many players involved in high-profile deals, he had no prior warning before receiving the news.
Luka Doncic arrives in style for first game with LeBron and the Lakers
“I got that call from the agent at 1 o’clock in the morning saying that I was traded, man,” Morris said. “When it first happened, I was in shock because obviously, I haven’t played in a couple of years. My first thought was, ‘Who the hell wants me? Who wants to trade for me?'”.
Morris was blindsided by the trade
Beyond the shock, Morris found it difficult to process the trade because he didn’t have time to prepare himself mentally or to help his family adjust.
“I got a lot of stuff going on in Dallas,” he added. “It hurt my heart, man. … My years in Dallas, I loved everything about it. I just wish it happened a little different. I wish I would’ve known before. I wish I would’ve been able to set my mind on being traded, been able to set my family on being traded.”
Luka Doncic’s Lakers debut set for Monday
While Morris processes the trade, all eyes are on Luka Doncic, who is set to make his Lakers debut against the Utah Jazz on Monday. The star guard, recovering from a calf injury, was originally expected to debut earlier, but the medical team opted for caution.
Meanwhile, excitement around Doncic’s arrival in Los Angeles is reaching new heights. A viral Gatorade ad featuring Doncic’s No. 77 replacing the two “Ls” in the Hollywood sign has only added to the anticipation.
With the pairing of Doncic and LeBron James, many are eager to see how the two ball-dominant superstars will mesh on the court. Some believe their similar playing styles might create challenges, while others are hopeful the duo will thrive together. For now, the basketball world is watching closely to see how this new Lakers era unfolds.
