Mavs-Sixers preview: Help is on the way as Christie set to make debut

PHILADELPHIA – Say what you will about the NBA, and the Mavericks in particular, but one claim you cannot make it’s boring around these parts.

Maybe the most stunning trade in NBA history made sure of that when the Mavericks acquired Anthony Davis for Luka Dončić over the weekend. And knowing the way things go with this franchise, the roster might not be set with still time remaining before Thursday’s trade deadline.

But it’s time to take stock of what the Mavericks have as they prepare to continue their longest trip of the season against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday.

So what do they have now?

They have one of the best big men in the league in Davis, who not only averages 25.7 points per game and is headed to the All-Star Game, but also can clamp down defensively and rebound as well as anybody else in this league. And he’s led the league in blocked shots three times.

And despite the perception that he always fights the injury bug, he missed only four games until Saturday, when it was clear he did not need to be on the court against New York and jeopardize any trade that might have been in the works.

All he did in the four games before that was average 32.8 points and 15.5 rebounds.

Davis is a former No. 1 draft pick, just like Kyrie Irving. They are similar in age (Irving’s 32, Davis turns 32 on March 11). Purely for reference, Dirk Nowitzki was 32 when the Mavericks won the championship in 2011.

Davis’ presence is going to help Daniel Gafford – and it’s not like he’s needed a lot of help given the way he’s played of late since Dereck Lively suffered a stress fracture in his ankle.

But this move gives Gafford a sidekick in the paint defensively to help erase mistakes on the perimeter.

And fans should not sleep on Max Christie, who is more than just a throw-in to make numbers work in this mega-trade.

Christie is expected to make his Mavericks’ debut Tuesday against Philly as he was upgraded to active.

He was a starter more often than not (25 of the 46 games he played) for the Lakers this season. He has typically guarded the best wing player and his scoring has improved in each of his three seasons, to 8.5 per game this season.

While Mavericks’ fans will get their first look at Christie against the Sixers, it is uncertain whether Davis will play. He may be more likely to play in Boston on Thursday in an NBA Finals rematch against the Celtics.

Here’s what else to watch for as the Mavericks get back to work against the Sixers and try to refocus after an admittedly huge set of distractions over the weekend:

• The health situation has been unkind to the Mavericks. But that could improve against the Sixers. The latest injury report has Dwight Powell (hip) and Dereck Lively II (stress fracture, right ankle) as out. Davis and Christie both are questionable pending the trade completion and finalizing logistical challenges. That would indicate that Kyrie Irving, Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington, all of whom were out against Cleveland, are back.
• The Sixers have been derailed this season by the injuries to former MVP Joel Embiid. The center has played only 13 games and he’s been nursing knee problem. In addition, Paul George (illness) and Eric Gordon (knee) also missed Sunday’s game against Boston.
• Tyrese Maxey did not make the Eastern Conference All-Star team, but he’s certainly put up the numbers that are deserving. The point guard is averaging 27.7 points and six assists and had 34 points Sunday against the Celtics.
• The Sixers are prone to some mood swings. They lost seven in a row in January, then responded with four consecutive wins. Since then, they have lost to Denver and Boston.
• This is the fourth leg of this five-game trip that started out with a promising one-point win in New Orleans, but has careened off the rails since. The Mavericks lost in Detroit and Cleveland by a combined 48 points, although the setback against the Cavaliers Sunday could be excused because of the aftershock of the trade.
• Getting the Mavericks over the jolt of the trade is going to be Jason Kidd’s mission in the coming two games. It will not be easy. But his message has been clear. “It’s something that we are all in line (on),” Kidd said. “Luka, when I first came here, (I was) excited about the opportunity to coach an upcoming star who became a mega-star. I was blessed to have that opportunity. But when you look at the vision of the team and what Nico (Harrison) wants to build, I truly support that and truly believe that the players we are getting are the ones that can help us achieve that and win a championship.”

DALLAS MAVERICKS (26-24) at PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (19-29)

WHEN: 7 p.m. Tuesday.

WHERE: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia.

TV: KFAA 29, MAVSTV STREAM.

RADIO: KEGL 97.1 FM, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)

X: @ESefko